Delux Side Marker Lights - Clear, Amber, Red

[Baby John]

OK I know this question is a matter of opinion but I'm needing a little help deciding so I'm asking for opinions.

What combination of side marker lights should we go with? The truck is going to be black, and we "might" go with a red top and hood in the usual 2 tone step side pattern where we follow the line along the sides of the hood, down the door and around the cab.

Red Front and Back

Clear Front and Back

Amber Front and Back

Clear Front, Red Back

Amber Front, Red Back - This is the stock configuration

[Sinister]

Amber Front, Red Back.

[70 shorty]

I agree, I like the stock setup. That's what I run on mine.

[Baby John]

I'm thinking the same way, but when I saw the clear ones I wondered if maybe this might not be the preferred color.

[jdcole]

Do not do red front and back. That is illegal.

[cedorris]

Originally Posted by jdcole

Do not do red front and back. That is illegal.

That's true. You can't have red on the front.



I like the stock setup personally.

[BIGBLU 72]

we have clear ones with colored bulbs that make them light up in the stock colors on our dually

[big_al_71]

I would just shaved them off, as I will when I repaint my truck....

[Classic Heartbeat]

Amber Front, Red Back. Any other configuration is illegal. The law reads that any lense on the front/side of the vehicle has to reflect back amber. The rear/side has to reflect back red. This is how you are supposed to know whitch end of the vehicle is front when there aren't any lights lit up on it. It is also why that amber or red lights of any kind do not make the clear lenses legal if placed on the rear or sides of a vehicle. (Yes it includes taillights.) The only clear lenses that are legal to run are the headlight lenses and front parking light lenses. We were given notice that if we continued to sell the clear side markers or taillight lenses, (even with the disclaimer, witch by the way in court means nothing) we would be subject to future fines and penalties.
This is Federal law, but heck do what you want. Just know that you could be issued a citation if you vary from it. WES

[mvfd70]

So does that mean it is illegal to shave the marker lights on a 68-72 truck? And I guess if one has a 67 with any other year cab they would have to add markers if it is not titled as a 67. I'm just curious since I see so many people shaving the lights

[Classic Heartbeat]

The law came into effect for 1968. This is why 67 and older are exempt from this law. (Keeping in mind I now am only talking about side markers)
If it is titled 68-69 it must have side markers but they just need to reflect and do not have to be lit up. The law changed for 1970 model years and newer to the side markers must light up.
So the answer to the shaving question is yes. Unless you mount other lenses that comply with the laws of the year the truck was built. The answer to the second question is also yes. For the same reason as above. The vehicle must comply with federal standards for the year it was built. WES

[UltraBlue71]

Hopefully we dont have any State Trooper board members, that would be a tough fix it ticket....
BREAK OUT THE PLASMA TORCHES AND CUT EM BACK IN!
I love my sidemarker lights, legal or illegal...but the SS trim fell off one of my $10 offshore specials

[BIGBLU 72]

so can you still buy them anywhere? cause im willing to take my chances when i redo my 68

[Longhorn Man]

you can still find them on e bay.
Wes is 100% dead on right. You can get away with it in many areas, but, it is a federal law, and is supposed to be enforced 50 wide, plus DC and all territories

[Classic Heartbeat]

I love my sidemarker lights, legal or illegal...but the SS trim fell off one of my $10 offshore specials.

Those have been poor quality now for several years. Buy Genuine GM or if you still have the bezel glue it back on, then pull the other bezels off and do the same with them.

so can you still buy them anywhere? cause im willing to take my chances when i redo my 68

Sure, lots of venders still have them, but they are taking their chances. WES

[unclewatts]

One more who believes in amber front red back.

[chevjayfsd]

Does anyone really care if it is illegal?

I think amber/red looks the best btw... The clear look like absolute hell... And I think the clear craze does not belong on our rides...

[Baby John]

Originally Posted by chevjayfsd

Does anyone really care if it is illegal?

I think amber/red looks the best btw... The clear look like absolute hell... And I think the clear craze does not belong on our rides...

Ha! That's funny! I was thinking the same thing yesterday but I realized I live in Mississippi. Most of the cops around my home town still live at home with their Mamas (literally). That's not because they're kids, it's because they have the Lemont Sanford Syndrome. I doubt seriously any one of them would be able to make determination that my truck was made in '72 and that it came with side lights from the factory, or when any specific law regarding side marker lights, or reflectors came into play.

I assumed that other more sophisticated states might be tougher on this rule.

[Baby John]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Those have been poor quality now for several years. Buy Genuine GM or if you still have the bezel glue it back on, then pull the other bezels off and do the same with them.

Sure, lots of venders still have them, but they are taking their chances. WES

Classic Heartbeat, I was about to buy mine (amber and red) from Brothers. Do you know if the one's they sell fall into the poor quality category? Where would I get Genuine GM side markers?

[cedorris]

Originally Posted by chevjayfsd

Does anyone really care if it is illegal?

Every cop and country deputy in my town does. They love to pull folks over. I got pulled over for not wearing the shoulder strap on my 72 Super.... yep, that's right... I got pulled over and detained for not wear the SHOULDER strap on a vehicle that predated that law. After taking 28 mins to "verify" that my truck was exempt and hassling me about wear I was going and calling me a liar I was released.

If you have an officer that is strict or a jerk or if you happen to be driving through an area with any kind of known drug activity or anything like that... you'll be pulled over because they will be hoping for a bigger bust or warrants.

Keep it Amber in front and Red in back... save yourself the hassle.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Classic Heartbeat, I was about to buy mine (amber and red) from Brothers. Do you know if the one's they sell fall into the poor quality category? Where would I get Genuine GM side markers?

Although I don't presume to know everybodies supplier on these, but there are only 2 manufactures that I know of and both of those are experiencing the same issue with the bezels. That would lead me to believe there is a glue problem of some sort. I as well as other venders use to open up every light and pry on the bezels. If they came off, we knew that that particular light was bad. That worked for a while, and then I started seeing more and more truck showing up with marker lights missing their bezels. So I started asking my customers about them and their responce was that they lost them in a car wash or generaly while washing their trucks. Some just lost them driving down the road. This was generaly a couple of months after they were purchased and not all of them were purchased from us. So now if I sell any, I prewarn the customer and tell them that they will probably fall off and they should keep an eye on them to glue them back on, or we try to sell them Genuine GM at least for as long as we can get them. WES

[Longhorn Man]

as far as the seatbelt comment, if your truck has shoulder belts, then you have to wear them. Even though the truck predates any law, and it was optional, if its there, then you are required to wear it.

[ripdog28]

All states are diffrent so there is small diffrences but, If your vehicle was equipted with it then you must wear it. As far as side markers, the officer or deputy is just looking if they hassle you over side markers. I know these trucks and do drive a patrol car, I would only pull a 62-72 over without side markers just to compliment them. Personally, i like the side markers and am keeping mine.

[msgross]

personally I like to follow the law and be safe as well.

[UltraBlue71]

I have known a few cops that were into cars, my dad painted a 38 Chevy Sedan for a MO State Trooper once, but I bet your average policeman/sherriff/trooper would not even think of writing a ticket for a shaved sidemarker, now a yearly safety and emmisions inspection, thats another story, I'm more likely to get a noise ticket or a speeding ticket and then they might notice, I got pulled over in my truck this spring, speeding, the cop asked me where my seatbelts were and I told him that my truck wasnt built with them and he told me I better get seatbelts in it and let me go...