If you value your life at all it is a good idea to have turn signals front and back.Also make them visable so joe public can see them.A lot of street rods have too small lights trying to look cool but you might not look cool riding on a tow truck after getting slammed into because the morons didn't know you were turning.Why ask for trouble when it is really no big deal installing lights?My advice is PUT TURN LIGHTS on that sucker.Also make sure your brake lights are bright enough.A third brake light is also a good safety measure.
Thanks for all the input I think I will wire up some signals to the rear tail lights in some fashion. I haven't picked out the tail lights for the sedan yet but I did buy some WWII B17 Bomber lights off ebay but haven't decided whether to use them or not they are about 4" in diameter so if I use them and still get rearended at least I tried. Here in Ok City there are plenty of morons on the road so you guys are right, better to be safe than sorry.
Found some neat old signal switches at the wrecking yard. Some from old GM cars like Pontiac and Chevrolet. They clamp on and look the part of an old car. $0.02
The Michigan state government does still include hand signals in the driver's manual, although it's not surprising the driver's instructors don't teach it. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/SOS_WEDMK_8_Basic_Skills_Laws_and_Safety_158270_7.pdf pages 86 and 87.
66Newport beat me to it but you really should consider finding an old clamp on setup. They look a whole lot cooler than you might think from just lookin at them plus they aren;t hard to find and they will cover all aspects of flashy lights already discussed.
you could always go for the hidden turn signal switch best of both worlds. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hi-Tech-Turn-Signal-Module-Standard,2366.html I know its not traditional but it could almost be outa sight
when signaling left, look over your shoulder and point at the lane with your pointy finger, kinda towards the ground. that always works for me, and it seems that everyone understands i want that lane.
The reason they don't teach hand signals anymore is that you need your hands for the cellphone and the cup of latte'. ....there are lots of real cool old small lights to use as front signals. i just got a bullitt shaped pair at a swap with clear jeweled lenses facing front and mini jeweled red lens facing the rear. My son wired them up to a batt and I was surprized how bright they are. too many jackasses out there to run without signals IMO
Hand signals work, but what about when you're driving at night? And besides apparently it's fine to cut someone off as long as you used your blinker
If you want to be old school/traditional, use one of the add-on turn signal switches that attaches to the column with a hose clamp. Not having turn signals front and rear is just setting yourself up for an accident that will tear up some hard to replace sheet metal (and possibly damage some even harder to replace human body parts).
Yep, people don't understand hand signals. My '31 Sedan has rear turn signals but no fronts. I was planning to turn left, nearly stopped, using hand signals. So the joker coming towards me stops and starts chatting in the middle of the street 'cause he thought my hand sticking out the window meant I wanted to talk to him. Problem is I was on the blind side of a hill (a.k.a. rear end collision), so I had to keep driving, make a left at the next opportunity and go back. I also have a '27 roadster without turn signals, it has been my experience that the average motorist understands hand signals when I am in my roadster, not so much when I am in the sedan. Go figure..............
I didn't want to clutter up my column either with one of those units. I added a 3 position toggle on the bottom side of my dash that's hooked up to one of those relay units for trailer wiring. It basically combines the inputs of the turn signal inputs and brake switch just like those aftermarket units do. The taillights look stock since it uses the brake light and I'm using a dual filament bulb up front to keep the same bulb for my park and turn signal light. I went one step further and put in some of those chrome looking bulbs that light up amber. That way when they're not lit up the reflectors look nice and clean and don't have an amber cast to them.
I too often curse people for not signalling - or for signalling actions rather than intentions - to consider not having really serious turn signals on any of my cars. Worst recently was soccer mom in an SUV standing still in the middle of the road. I was last in a fairly long queue approaching from the other direction. I thought she had just broken down or something because there wasn't a turn signal in sight despite the string of cars backed up behind her. Some doubtless were checking to see if it was safe to pull out and pass this unaccountably stationary vehicle. As soon as I'd passed, though, sure enough, she turned to a driveway across the road, signalling as she did so. Why do people signal only when what they're doing is quite obvious, but don't signal when you'd really like to know what they've got in mind? -but let me arrest this before it turns into a rant. Luckily the Morris has provision for signals. There's a stock (non-self-cancelling) switch, and dual-filament bulbs in the taillights and sidelights do the trick. I'd really like to add side repeaters if I can find ones that will look right. For the '31 I've got a selection of apparently French-made fender-top running lights, c.1930, which I'll wire up as front turn signals and side marker lights. On the back I'd like something like the "diver's helmet" taillights that were popular on more expensive cars of the '20s, if I can find any, as dedicated turn signals: I'm looking at '30s-style "D" tail/brake lights flanking the number plate:
i say yes on the blinkers. tons of options as posted. better safe than sorry, ...........and how about all the f*ckin' brainless turds on the roads today who don't know how to use their own got damn factory installed turn signals! (did i say that out loud?)
When I was planing stage on my truck I knew that I wanted turn signals but never cared for the add on type that I had seen in the past,,,my solution,,go big,, I converted a old set of foglights to 12 volt and made them into running lights/turn signals,,works great! HRP
Nope. When I was in Driver's Ed in 1979 I was one of maybe 4 kids who knew the proper hand signals. I can't imagine having a car, any kind of car, that didn't have emergency 4 way flashers and directional signals.
I used a ron francis switch under the edge of the dash for my turnsignal switch. I am thinking of switching to an old style column switch though.
Knowingly having no working turn signals would be a great way to be held negligent by a opposing insurance company should you get into an accident, or prevent recovery should you be hit by someone. Just saying
Blinkers really wouldn't be a bad idea. I've had a few close calls in mine over the last 5 years. I just use the good ol arm signal in my roadster. I plan on rewiring my car and cleaning up the bottom end (radius rods, axles, etc..) this winter. I think I will use them the next go around. One thing to always keep in mind. Blinkers or not, you can't fix stupid or bad drivers. They will hit you with them or without them.
Being "too cool" to have turn signals on your car is just nuts. Discrete turn signals that don't stand out when they aren't on are ok in my book but with the idiots running the roads around here I want every advantage I can get. They do teach hand signals in drivers ed in Wa state and it is required on the drivers test but I can't remember the last time I saw anyone who wasn't on a bike making a hand signal. And around here the minivan driving, cell phone yacking, Latte drinking soccer moms just flat aren't going to notice your hand sticking out the window of any vehicle let alone a rod that they probably got closer to because the kids wanted a better look. I hate to say it but one of these days we will be having a H.A.M.B. funeral because someone in the group was too hung up on having clean columns and no extra lights on the outside and got run over by someone expecting to see visible stop and turn lights on the back of a car. As a test, have you ever followed your own vehicle down the street/road at night to check how visible the lights are? It might shock the crap out of you on how hard it is to see your rig when coming up behind it at night. <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
California spec cars all seem to have a factory installed turn signal delete option. That having been said, when I was a kid a school friend of mine's dad only had one arm. I asked my buddy how his dad had lost his arm. My buddy said his dad was signaling with his arm to turn and a truck didn't see it and overtook real close, amputating his dad's arm.
I have beern cruzing my Savoy Suburban without turn signals or brake lights for two years, Not cool!! I am guilty of unsafe driving and need my bare butt spanked, Denise may I get an assist on that? I am going for a new wiring harness next cold weather season, will be doing hazard flashers as well. Get that saftey stuff on the rod and avoid a lot of anxious moments!! ~Sololobo~
I share these same opinions and I'll rant just a bit. When I learned to drive (NJ in the 60's), Driver's Ed included the concept of COURTESY TO FELLOW MOTORISTS. That included signalling your intentions to turn by using your turn signal INDICATORS. It pisses me when people don't signal, AND when they signal DURING the manuever, ie: turn DECORATING. Lame I guess, and not part of the bad-ass hot rodder handbook but I vote for blinkers front and rear and their use. Rant over.
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