Front turn signal ideas

[blueskies]

Do you have picture of them installed? I still don't understand how they work, they bolt behind my original headlight lens? Will they really show when the headlights are on?

I looked through my pics, but I don't have one that shows the headlights on the '35.

They work with a new lense housing, and the replaceable H-4 halogen bulbs, like these-

These particular units have a tri-bar setup with bluedots, but you can get them without. The new setup is a direct replacement for a standard sealed beam headlight bulb.

The parts that hold the turn signal bulbs are also the parts that hold the halogen bulbs. The turn signal bulbs hang down under the regular bulb, inside the housing. When you turn on the signal, it makes the headlight reflector flash amber light.

Here's another pic of a similar unit-

I kind of like these best though, thought about buying a set of these before I re-wired my park lights to work as turn signals-

They have a cool retro look and the turn signal is LED only in the bottom portion of the lense.

Pete

[38plymouth]

not that it matters for turn signals but out of curiosity do you have the slant back 38 plymouth or the hump back?

Jim

It's a humpback.

[Young Ed]

Isn't that a touring sedan? And the smooth backed ones were just sedans? Dad used to have a 39 roadking 2dr touring sedan. At least I think that was its official name.

[Jims50chrysler]

Here is a pic of the slant back that me and my friend are chopping for his wife.

Jim

[38plymouth]

Here is a pic of the slant back that me and my friend are chopping for his wife.

Jim

I would love to have the top chopped on our car, but, I don't think I could ever go through with it.

According to my vin number and the shop manual I believe my car is considered a P6 deluxe. I have heard them called trunk backs and touring sedans. I'm really not positive what the correct term for the car is.

[TodFitch]

Isn't that a touring sedan? And the smooth backed ones were just sedans? Dad used to have a 39 roadking 2dr touring sedan. At least I think that was its official name.

Correct. This comes from the fact that sedans did not originally have trunks. So when they came up with a sedan with trunk they called is a "touring sedan". The touring sedans quickly became so popular that the non-trunk "sedans" faded away. With the old conventional sedans defunct, the touring sedan became the sedan.

[38plymouth]

So, my car is called a touring sedan? The book shows either deluxe or a roadking. My vin falls under the deluxe category in the book.

[greg g]

Road king was the down market version. Less gee gaws cheaper trim. Mechanically they are pretty much the same.

[david lazarus]

Hi Guys, I have a '38 Dodge 4 door fastback, only ever seen one other, would kill for a two door (unchopped!!).

Turn signals...I fitted high output LEDs to the front, very good very bright, however are quite directional, and not easy to see if more than 45 degrees off front on. Also required some resistors to be fitted to create enough current to activate the flasher unit. These are just stuck onto front bumper (see pic) so can be removed if required.

[38plymouth]

Hi Guys, I have a '38 Dodge 4 door fastback, only ever seen one other, would kill for a two door (unchopped!!).

Turn signals...I fitted high output LEDs to the front, very good very bright, however are quite directional, and not easy to see if more than 45 degrees off front on. Also required some resistors to be fitted to create enough current to activate the flasher unit. These are just stuck onto front bumper (see pic) so can be removed if required.

Nice car, please tell me more about it. What size wheels and tires are those? Do you still have the stock suspension? I'm trying to figure a way to lower the front with the stock leaf springs and solid axle. I think I'm going to try pulling a couple of springs.

[Young Ed]

That should work. If you # the leaves 1-9(or whatever # for how many leaves you have) starting with 1 as the smallest pull out like # 5 & 7. I think you could get away with that and not hurt anything.

[david lazarus]

Hi There

Stock 16 inch wheels that I had split and widened from 4inch to 5 1/2 inch. Then fitted the radials (can't remember the tire code....must write it down), this made the hugest difference to the handling from the old crossply tires. My suspension is all stock, and the springs are all flat, which gives it a lower stance. I do plan to re-spring the car and will get the guy to keep the current stance just get stength back into spring leaves. I am told a good spring guy can do this sort of thing. I also dropped in a 3.23 diff from a 80's Ford Falcon, this only requires the spring perches to be moved on the donor diff and an adaptor to driveshaft. This gives the beast nice long legs for highway cruising (only have the 3 speed...no overdrive.

[38plymouth]

Hi There

Stock 16 inch wheels that I had split and widened from 4inch to 5 1/2 inch. Then fitted the radials (can't remember the tire code....must write it down), this made the hugest difference to the handling from the old crossply tires. My suspension is all stock, and the springs are all flat, which gives it a lower stance. I do plan to re-spring the car and will get the guy to keep the current stance just get stength back into spring leaves. I am told a good spring guy can do this sort of thing. I also dropped in a 3.23 diff from a 80's Ford Falcon, this only requires the spring perches to be moved on the donor diff and an adaptor to driveshaft. This gives the beast nice long legs for highway cruising (only have the 3 speed...no overdrive.

I want to add a set of radials too but I also want a second set of 15" wheels so I can keep my original 16's for shows. My springs in the front are flat, I'm afraid to get new ones, it would probably raise it a couple of inches.

[david lazarus]

Hi 38 Plymouth, I have managed to get a second set of rims (correct for the '38 year) which I may use if I ever decide to show. The interesting thing about my car is that it is Plymouth bodied from the firewall back. Being an export car and produced in small quantities (only 714) they were made at the Plymouth plant in Canada, and trimmed/front ended with the Dodge stuff. My front springs are also flat along with the rears but my spring guy is convinced he can retain the "at rest stance", but get better spring back into the car with custom made leaves. I will also get Teflon pads between the leaves to eliminate the squeeks (no spring covers...loooong gone!!).

Dave

[Jims50chrysler]

Hi David:

I understand the 2 door fastbacks are fairly rare I have only seen 3...2 of them I chopped the other was at the Street rod nationals in Columbus Ohio years ago. I am not sure of how many 4 door cars they made however I do know where there is one but it required more work than I could get done this winter.

Jim