To Blink or not to Blink. A thread about Blinkers.

[chance9888]

Hi all. I'm facing a dilemma. In an effort to keep my 1949 B PW original, my dad thinks i should keep the lights how he had it in high school. Of course, I don't like the whole concept. The way he had it included 2 cowl lights, and of course the two main head lights. However, before his family had bought it, the previous owner(s) torched a hole into the back of the truck for the brake light.

According to my dad, ALL POWER WAGONS ARE LIKE THIS. This is where he is obviously wrong. Now, his truck had one brake light, kind of offset to the left. The truck had no blinkers at all. Now, i'm facing the dilemma of whether I should weld up the hole and put normal brakes and blinkers.

He doesn't have a big problem with the brake lights, but he doesn't want blinkers. I want brakes and blinkers. Does anyone have any comments? The link is what the back of the truck looks like, now. (Please excuse, it was actually of the bed, but you can see the light.)

http://tinypic.com/r/9acx3r/3

[Kevin Mienke]

I would do whatever your dad wants to do, but....

Driving in today's traffic, there is something to be said for the safety benefit of adding blinkers. It can be done in a non-intrusive way. I chose to get period correct bottom-mount blinkers and attach to the rear valance.

[Kevin Mienke]

A photo...

[Bob Thompson]

I would do whatever your dad wants to do, but....

Driving in today's traffic, there is something to be said for the safety benefit of adding blinkers. It can be done in a non-intrusive way. I chose to get period correct bottom-mount blinkers and attach to the rear valance.

True Kevin, At least in theory. With so many of todays drivers busy texting about the special latte' they are drinking while downloading a new app' for their cell phone . I'm not sure it does much good.

Your installation is very nice. Fenway is a great looking truck.

[chance9888]

Ok Guys, I think i'm going to do it. After talking to my brother, who also has worked on the truck for sometime, he agrees that blinkers would make it safer and easier to maneuver in heavy traffic. As far as the brake light goes, as soon as someone puts down the tailgate, the brake light is hidden in narnia. I've decided that I will just put the original type brake lights, but get cheap blinkers from napa and do what this guy did.

http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/best/arrow.php

Thanks for all of your opinions.

[NNICKB]

Later FFPWs (WM300) had OEM turn signals that were basically an "add on" by the factory. You might be able to find a set of originals or reproductions from one of the Power Wagon suppliers. If not, you can find very similar generic lights and switches from Napa or someplace, and mount them in the same location. See below.

[maineSS]

If you plan on driving in traffic, you want other people to be well aware of your intentions- and signals used 60+ years ago included hand signals nobody recognizes today. I added a set of large amber turn signals to the front bumper, and two standard truck-type red tailights from NAPA to the rear. Also consider upgrading your braking- today's cars stop MUCH shorter than you can from an identical speed, and you are totally at fault when you rearend someone, even if they just cut in front of you before deciding to stop.

The PW cab noise level is high enough to mask the blinker relay noise, so you can drive for miles with your turn signal on if you haven't fitted self-cancelling turn signals. I tried a blinker relay with a piezo buzzer that chirps loudly enough to remind you- it just plugs in. You can buy it from www.turnalarm.com, or make your own if you're handy electronically- the buzzer is just soldered into the correct terminals on the relay, and held in place with a large piece of heatshrink tubing.

[Kaiser2boy]

Ha ha ha , I have an M37 that had no turn signals and found out quickly that many people have no idea about hand signals. I used hand signals and found that many drivers thought I was waving at them and waved back.
Dont get upset but most of them were women.
I also did not want to strap on some clumsy looking add-a-light thing from JC Whitney.
I ended up modifying the Black Out lamps into turn signals and brake lights. They still look original but work well as blinkers.
I installed a beeper from radio shack that runs on any DC voltage from 8 to 28 volts. It is loud enough to hear over any noise from the truck. It only cost $5.00 or $6.00 dollars.

[Blisters]

Kevin and NNICKB's set-ups are really nice. I have a military truck so normal lights don't look right- I set up an adapter for the trailer plug and use a magnet-base tail light set which unplugs and stows when I'm at a show.

[Kaiser2boy]

BLISTERS, does the NNICB set up have front lights also.
If so how do you run the wires to the front?
Does the system have a left-right lever and is it also quickly removable for shows?

[NNICKB]

The lights shown on my truck are the factory originals- 1967. They are virtually the same as generic units from your local auto parts store, so if you mount them in the "correct" location, you will have the original "look."

I personally don't use the turn signals much, as I don't like to tip my hand. Most people know to stay out of the way when the Dodge is coming.

[Kaiser2boy]

Ha Ha Ha, I know what you mean. I see that you have a civilian PW. I have an M37 and it never had turn signals at all.
Its funny but people do tend to give respect to such a brutish looking truck. I joke around saying " it aint fast or fancy but what ever it cant climb over it can push out of the way".

[NNICKB]

My Dad was always an "extreme thinker" when it comes to vehicles, and I inherited a certain amount of this. The PW is pretty extreme compared to the standard issue pickups of today, and that is why we like it. But for running about town, we have always had a very small car in the fleet. I am amazed at how much courtesy and respect the big Dodge commands, compared to our wittle cars.

[Clint Dixon]

Hi all. I'm facing a dilemma. In an effort to keep my 1949 B PW original, my dad thinks i should keep the lights how he had it in high school. Of course, I don't like the whole concept. The way he had it included 2 cowl lights, and of course the two main head lights. However, before his family had bought it, the previous owner(s) torched a hole into the back of the truck for the brake light. According to my dad, ALL POWER WAGONS ARE LIKE THIS. This is where he is obviously wrong. Now, his truck had one brake light, kind of offset to the left. The truck had no blinkers at all. Now, i'm facing the dilemma of whether I should weld up the hole and put normal brakes and blinkers. He doesn't have a big problem with the brake lights, but he doesn't want blinkers. I want brakes and blinkers. Does anyone have any comments? The link is what the back of the truck looks like, now. (Please excuse, it was actually of the bed, but you can see the light.)

http://tinypic.com/r/9acx3r/3

Early Power Wagons, like your '49, came from the factory with one rear light mounted near the lower edge of the driver's side rear stake pocket on the pickup box. Even the trucks ordered as a cab/chassis (without pickup bed) had this rear light mounted off of the truck's frame in the same general location.

This one rear light housing contained a socket that would accept a dual filament bulb. One filament functioned as the tail light and one functioned as the brake light. On the underside of the light bucket was a glass window allowing light shine through and illuminate the license plate, which was attached by a bracket to the tail light housing and bracket assembly. You can see Kevin's driver side tail light and license plate combination on the driver's side rear of his pickup bed in the photos he posted above.

There was also an optional passenger side tail light available. This was a rare option that is not often found now.

Many of these lights got knocked off over time. Owners added lights where ever was convenient. Cutting a hole in the rear crossmember was not uncommon and made for a secure place to mount a light out of harm's way.

Signal-Stat made several different turn signal kits up through the 1940's and 1950's. One of these, the Model 900, could be wired into the existing cowl light and tail light circuits. This converted your cowl lights to double duty. They remained cowl lights and functioned as Dodge intended, but also functioned as turn signals. No changes had be made to the cowl light buckets, socket, or light bulb. This kit also added turn signal functionality to the brake light circuit in the rear tail light bucket. Again, no alterations had to be made to the tail light itself or the socket or bulb. All wiring changes took place in the engine compartment and under the dash with the Signal-Stat unit performing the switching operation.

You can still find these units. I can find a copy of the wiring diagram online.

[chance9888]

Ok guys, I ended up buying some cheap plastic lights from NAPA. I was going to paint the arrow, but I figured I would probably mess it all up. Also, I put them in the grill, not on the fender. This was to avoid getting them torn off if I ever knock into a tree branch or something