Parking light jumper

[Supermike]

Another thread got me thinking about this... on my '67, I'd really like to make the parking lights stay on when the headlights are on (but also have the option of using the parking-lights-only switch).

I've seen the documentation here on how to do it, though the illustration does not really show me what needs to be done, other than a drawing. I'd like to see some pictures if anyone's done it.

That being said, I have one of those headlight wiring harnesses from 390Nut... so I wonder how I'd go about making this change. Any idears?

[fordman]

i dont have any pics but i can decifer this for you. i am looking at this page. http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... ghts02.jpg
for the wire coming out of the switch it is wire number 11 black with a yellow stripe. you would cut that iwre in two. take that wire and put it into a butterfly connector. and snap that connector onto wire number 15 red with a yellow stripe. i think that shoould do it. or you might even be able to hook it into wire number 34 dash lights whiich is green with a black stripe.

[FORDification]

Just run the jumper wire directly at the headlight switch. Pull the harness connector off the switch, insert each end of the jumper into the appropriate wire connector in the harness connector, and then plug the harness connector back in:

[Supermike]

Just run the jumper wire directly at the headlight switch. Pull the harness connector off the switch, insert each end of the jumper into the appropriate wire connector in the harness connector, and then plug the harness connector back in:

Ahhh! On the SWITCH!! Gotcha! This may be a stupid question, but what kind of wire should I use (gauge, type, color, etc.?). Is there any way it should be crimped on the ends or special kind of "wire connector"? I'm no wiring expert, but given that bit of info I should be able to figure it out.

My truck has now been pressed into service as a semi-daily driver (like a couple days a week), and I leave for work at 6:30am. So that extra bit of light would probably help.

THANKS!!

[fordman]

the headlight switch plug. has female spade connectors in it. you could remove those connectors cut them off and put a new connector on it for both wires that are shown on kieth diagram. or you could use a butterfly connector on each wire. all a butterfly connector does is poke through the plastic sheathing of the wire and makes a connection straight to each wire inside the clip. imo those kind of connectors are the best kind of splice type connectors to use. you dont have to cut the original wire to use those kind of connectors. as far as wire size i would use the same size thats in the wiring harness. i dont know what size it is.

[Supermike]

Thanks... I'd prefer not to splice into the existing wire if I don't have to, as once you've done that it's permanent. I wonder if I could use a male spade adapter, crimp one on each end of the wire, then slide (aka jam) it up alongside the female connector that's already in place, allowing basic friction to hold it in place?

I think the gauge of the wire is important, as it's a short run and I don't want it to get too hot... anyone know??

[fordman]

i thought about jamming the wire down beside the other one and i wasnt too sure it woul work when i looked at the plug.

[Supermike]

You know... one question about this... does anyone think it would make it harder to see the turn signals in the front?

[fordman]

goos question. i dont know if wiring it like this would shut off the soild light when the turn signal was on or not. there should be a way to hook them up like that thought. but i wouldnt know how right now. id have to study it for a while.

[QC]

The front bulbs would have to be double filament for this to work with the signals. I don't know if the '67 -'69's are.

[fordman]

i think they are only single element sockets so i guess it woldnt work.

[Thunderfoot]

They are Double Element bulbs so the Turn Signal lights are brighter then the marker lights!!! it will work just fine.

Using the Terminals like Fordman was talking about where they clamp onto the wire will not hurt the factory wires, if you decide to remove them later.
I would use 14 gauge wire for the jumper wire for this myself.

[Supermike]

Confirmed! They ARE double element bulbs, and as Thunderfoot noted, and the turn signal lights are brighter than the marker lights. With the parking lights on, you can still see the signals flashing. I'd probably see it even better if I replaced my cracked up parking light lenses.

I actually bought some red 14g wire on my way home yesterday afternoon, cut a 3-4" piece, and crimped on some male spade connectors. I then just slid the spade up alongside the two connections I needed (brown and black/yellow). There appears to be enough "friction" there to hold them in place just fine. It worked like a charm!

The only issue I noticed this morning is that for some reason, the signals refused to flash once or twice for whatever reason. It was not persistant, though. If I put the truck in park and then back in drive, they would work. I don't know that that really did anything, as it may have worked again without me doing that. This is not an issue I had until I installed the jumper. It may be that the connection is a bit loose in there or something, or it could have been a fluke.

FYI, I would not have used 16g or 18g, as that seems like it would be too lite and maybe get hot. And 12g wire seemed like it would have been overkill.

[Thunderfoot]

Good deal, glad you got it working and sounds like the connetors you used should work just fine. Not sure what might of been the deal with the flasher for the turns, it could be that it is getting weak and with the colder weather it is acting up. If you continue to see problems I would replace the Flasher first.

[Supermike]

Yeah, the flasher is actually only a few months old, but you know how those dang things are... they go out without reason sometimes.