TF cab lighting

[capnduane]

When I redid my '55 pickup two years ago, I added a repo cab light and did not hook it up, as there was no power to the wires inside the cab top. Sometimes I would forget to lock up the truck and then I'd have to use a flashlight to see the keys, keyhole, and steering wheel lock bar. I found some lights at the Pep Boys, they were for license plate lights, kinda retro looking and had chrome hoods over them. I put them on the kick plates at the sides of the cab just in front of the doors. Added a switch for them on the steering column brace and while under the dash, found a set of old wires tucked up under the lip of the dash on the drivers end. Bingo! The wires for the cab light... Hooked the cab light wires up, and wired the leads into the switch for my new lights and flipped the switch.... Now I have a cab light that works, and a set of courtesy lights on each side of the cab. Best part of the deal, was new lights and switch were less than 10 bucks! My next project is a set of backup lights, just haven't found any that I like the looks of.

[mr48chev]

Looks good, I lost track of how many trucks I ended up putting courtesy lights that came on when you opened the door in trucks that didn't come with the when I was in high school auto shop in the early 60's.

The shop teacher had me do one for someone and the word must have got out because I did a half dozen of them before the year was out.

[_Ogre]

good looking lights, very retro looking

if you want them to come on with the headlight switch, like the dome light
run an un-switched hot wire to them and ground with the dome light ground on the headlight switch

if you want them to come on when the door opens make this simple bracket for the top hinge
when the door opens the switch grounds to the body

door closed


door open


this is the 55-59 headlight switch showing ''white-ground for dome light''

[capnduane]

Thanks guys for the neat tips and ideas. I have some of those door switches, I'll have to give them some thought.