6 volt turn signal conversion question

[Big Blue 1950]

I am having my 1950 painted this winter. In the mid-50's turn signals were installed on top of the front fenders and box as per DOT requirements. The truck came from the factory without turn signals. I want to remove the add-on lights and use the parking lights/tail lights as turn signals. This would return the truck to its original look.

How do I do this? The truck remains a 6 volt system. The turn signal wand is installed for the bolted on turn lights that I want to remove.

Suggestions?

[HUSSEY]

For my front parking lamps I picked up P/N 36-4139 from LMC which goes from a single filament bulb to a dual filament 1157 bulb in the front park lamps. Mine came with an 1157 bulb.

I would image that you would just need to find the 6V equivalent which according to my "Official 12 Volt Conversion Guide" by Randy Rundle is an 1154, or and 1154A if you have a clear lens.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=61

I assumed that your tail lamps already have dual filament bulb sockets in them. If not, you just have to buy new one's of those too.

[mr48chev]

If the sockets that Hussey showed fit right in without a hassle 6.95 each is the bargain of the year. I changed mine to some "universal" sockets from the parts house that I almost paid that much for and spent way too much time getting them to fit.

There is a double element pigtail that fits and there is a straight a cross pin two element bulb that fits but it isn't worth the fight (I did it in 1973) and hassle as the bulbs never want to stay lined up right with the pigtails.

On the rear if you just want to run one light on each side instead of having a separate turn light if your switch doesn't have the brake lights running though it the simple way is to figure out how to mount a second single element bulb in the housing.

While you have things apart paint the inside off the light housings white as that will help throw a lot more light than black or silver do.

Here is something for everyone to stick in their save for later file. it shows the 6 and 12 V versions of automotive bulbs. Plus the 24 volt versions for what that is worth. http://www.fme-cat.com/Docs/4102.pdf Handy to have.

[HUSSEY]

The bulb socket is designed just like the orginal one and goes in it's place. Funny, I didn't realize that the front park lamps were only park and not park/signal then recall seing that bulb conversion in LMC's catalog.

Here's a picture of it installed:

[Coupeguy2001]

turn signal switches don't care what the voltage is. they have a current limit, and you cant exceed the current with 1157 bulbs. If they worked with 6 volts, they will work with 12. change your sockets to dual element sockets,
You just need to change to a one wire alternator, put in a 12 volt starter, the resistor adapter for the 12 to 6 volt gauges, and change all your light bulbs to 12 volt ones.