Turn signals

[MaineShark]

I'm having some clearance problems between my new transmission cooler and the front turn signal socket. I'd like to play with it, either trimming some of the excess plastic, or something. But I don't want to start cutting on the socket, just to experiement.

So, does anyone know if the same socket is used in any other cars, so I could get one from a junkyard?

Alternatively, has anyone replaced the entire reflector assembly with something lower-profile, like an LED array?

Joe

 

[Pancho]

From what I recall, all of the bulb sockets are standard GM, you can get them just about everywhere.....
You should also be able to find some that have the same twist/lock indexing pattern but have the wires exiting at 90° instead of straight back, if that's where your clearance problem is.

Have you seen any LEDs available for the front turns, or the rear stop/tail/turn? If so where ?

 

[clar2001]

Were did you mount your cooler.?

 

[MaineShark]

Were did you mount your cooler.?

See this post.

The coolers (one for transmission and one for power steering) are mounted behind the forward grills. You can see the headlight beeking through behind the cooler. It has just enough clearance to close without contact.

The point of interference is the outboard fitting (covered by a blue cap in the photo). To put the cooler to clear the headlight, the fitting just barely clears the turn signal lamp socket. I mean, the grill/lamp assembly installs fine, as-is, but there is only a paper-thin clearance between the fitting and the socket. Add a rubber hose, and there would be interference.

So, I either need a differently-shaped socket, or to replace the whole lamp/reflector assembly with some other unit, which won't stick back as far. The only thing I can think of that meets that requirement would be an LED array of some sort. I'm going to take some measurements and see if I can find one that is the correct size.

I'm also going to try and find any sockets that might mount the same, at the front, but nost stick back so far. If anyone knows of such an application, please let me know.

Joe

 

[MaineShark]

Okay, I figured this one out.

Rather than change the socket, or the whole assembly, I just moved the grill forward. A few bolts and some 1/2" long nylon spacers, and the grill unit sits just far enough forward to clear. It's now flush with the nose, instead of set back.

Changing the bulbs will be a little more difficult, since it just clears (the back of the socket is against the cooler hose, so there is no way to remove the socket from the reflector to change the bulb). I'll need to unbolt the grill and pull it out, in order to change my turn signal bulbs. Hopefully, they won't burn out too often

Joe