Firebird Marker Lights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mixup · 05-14-2004, 11:23 AM

I read an old post awhile ago about firebird marker lights fitting our trucks. Does anyone know what year Firebird lights to use?

Longhorn Man · 05-14-2004, 11:26 AM

If I am remembering the right post, that would be about 77 - 81...might be the same style on the 70 - 76, but I am unsure, and you'll be hard pressed to locate one of those years in a junk yard anyways.

Mixup · 05-14-2004, 11:58 AM

Thanks for the quick answer longhorn man. There are plenty of old Firebirds here in the junkyards. I picked some up already but they have a slight angle to them. I think they have to be older then 76 but I'm not sure.

**phase_one** · 05-14-2004, 12:51 PM

Anyone have pictures of the lights off a firebird?

2wdBlazer · 05-14-2004, 12:59 PM

I have them on my 2wd. Sorry no pics. It makes the lights sit just flush or maybe a little deeper depending if you put in a spacer or not. They are not perfectly rectangle but very close. It is not noticable when installed.

Mixup · 05-14-2004, 02:03 PM

2WD Blazer do you know what year they are from?

2wdBlazer · 05-14-2004, 08:14 PM

All second gen. 70-81

darcane · 05-15-2004, 02:56 AM

I like the looks of the Van side markers which are a direct fit for our trucks. They were used on full size vans from the early 80's to the mid 90's and there's plenty of them in the junkyards. Attached is a pic of the front side marker on my truck.

Longhorn Man · 05-15-2004, 06:15 AM

thosw ones put out more light from the same bulb too for those of you who dig that sort of thing.

2wdBlazer · 06-09-2004, 06:16 PM

New digicam came in so heres my pics.

2wdBlazer · 06-10-2004, 08:44 AM

TTT for those that didn't see them.

stickshift_or_walk · 06-14-2004, 03:15 PM

Hey Guys,

Back up to the van side marker lights. I like that idea, looks really clean. Since my '69 C10 has reflector only, does anyone know the trick to wiring a new bulb in the running light/blinker circuit so that the front blinker and side blinker will flash opposite each other?

I know a lot of later vehicles do that, but did the 67-72's with bulbs in the side markers blink when stock? If so, was it opposite of the front blinker?

...SSOW...

**'70_402** · 06-14-2004, 04:26 PM

i think the alternating lights has alot to do with the switch and flasher itself

Hotrod70C10 · 06-14-2004, 05:08 PM

I don't think any of the sidemarkers flashed from 69-72.
My 70's sidemarkers just light up when i turn the lights on, they don't blink.

MMGOODIE · 06-14-2004, 05:19 PM

both my 69 and 72's blink.

67cst · 06-14-2004, 07:21 PM

my 71 side markers blinked,

btw there is a set of those firebird side markers at the local yard, if anyone is interested ill go get them, they are the amber lense

RON WOODGEARD · 06-14-2004, 10:20 PM

If I remember correctly,, If you want the side marker to blink opposite the turn signal, You wire the positive wire of the side marker to the negative of the turn signal and the negative of the side marker to the positive of the turn signal ?????

There was an ongoing thread about this a couple of years ago,, I think this is how they said to do it...(even though it doesn't make much sense to me)
It would be real easy to test..

Too bad we lost so much information with the changeover...

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 06-14-2004, 10:44 PM

Man those marker's sure clean up the side's they look good maybe I will have to locate a set....

RON WOODGEARD · 06-15-2004, 02:17 AM

The guys over at My Old Truck had the answer !!!

How to: Blinking Side Marker Lights
A simple modification that goes a long way.
Text and Illustration by Bruce Godfrey

Some years ago, I met a guy at a 510 parts garage sale who was trying to figure out how to rig up a dual-filament bulb socket for his side-marker lights. He told me a story about a wreck he was in which resulted in his car being totaled, and that could have been avoided if his turn signals had been visible from the side. He was in the process of building a new Dime with the insurance money and he wanted to include this feature. Having signals visible from the side can make a difference in heavy traffic. Also, when you are at an intersection, folks approaching from the right or left generally can not see your front signals until they are nearly in front of you. Same thing when you try to pull out of a parking lot onto the street. At the time, I could not think of an easy way to rig the side-marker lights to blink. Then I joined the bluebirds e-mail listserv. I posed the question to the list, and Thomas Walter, an electrical engineer, responded. Turned out Tom worked a few buildings over from me, so we met in the parking lot after work one day and he told me about the way GM cars are wired so that the side marker lights blink.

It was very simple—they just wired the ground side of the side marker light to the hot side of the turn-signal filament of the front signal/parking light. This way, when the turn-signal filament of the front dual-filament bulb is off, the side marker light finds ground through that filament. So with just the parking lights on, things are as they normally are with the side marker light, just with a longer path to ground. When the turn signal on that side is activated, then during its “on” phase, the side marker light gets 12 V at both sides of the filament. So no net current flows, and it is turned off. When the signal blinks off, current flows through the marker filament, then through the dual filament to ground, and the side marker light blinks back on. You see the same thing happen on most American cars—the side-marker light blinks as a turn signal, but out of phase with the front turn signal.

stickshift_or_walk · 06-15-2004, 10:34 AM

Thanks, Ron, and everyone else. Sounds pretty reasonable...we'll give it a shot.

FYI, AutoZone shows they can order side marker lights for the vans for $16 each. I was suprised (as were the clerks) that they also list the originals for the '69 C10 at the same price, both with and without chrome. At least, that's what their computer showed.

I think I'll still check out the local salvage yards for the van markers since I like the clean looks, but if you're looking for originals, you might try AZ.

Keep the shiny side up...SSOW...

DeepPurple · 06-15-2004, 01:38 PM

While a little late, here's the one of the original threads on the firebird marker lights

jimfulco · 06-15-2004, 11:59 PM

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...rkerflash.html

MMGOODIE · 06-16-2004, 10:42 AM

since this is so popular, here are some ebay links for the markers, Not mine

http://search.ebay.com/firebird-side...ogZ1QQfromZR10

05-14-2004, 11:23 AM	#1
Mixup Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 358	Firebird Marker Lights I read an old post awhile ago about firebird marker lights fitting our trucks. Does anyone know what year Firebird lights to use? __________________ 1980 Chevy Shortbed Pickup 1969 Z28 engine Turbo 350

05-14-2004, 11:58 AM	#3
Mixup Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 358	Thanks for the quick answer longhorn man. There are plenty of old Firebirds here in the junkyards. I picked some up already but they have a slight angle to them. I think they have to be older then 76 but I'm not sure. __________________ 1980 Chevy Shortbed Pickup 1969 Z28 engine Turbo 350

05-14-2004, 12:51 PM	#4
phase_one Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Praireville. LA 70769 Posts: 390	Anyone have pictures of the lights off a firebird? __________________ 11 Surbaban 70 C 10 still in progress

05-14-2004, 12:59 PM	#5
2wdBlazer The Blazer King Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Valrico, Fl (Tampa) Posts: 1,213	I have them on my 2wd. Sorry no pics. It makes the lights sit just flush or maybe a little deeper depending if you put in a spacer or not. They are not perfectly rectangle but very close. It is not noticable when installed. __________________ 72 2wd Blazer. Its the superbichinest, megacoolinest, superflowinest.

05-14-2004, 02:03 PM	#6
Mixup Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 358	2WD Blazer do you know what year they are from? __________________ 1980 Chevy Shortbed Pickup 1969 Z28 engine Turbo 350

05-14-2004, 11:26 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	If I am remembering the right post, that would be about 77 - 81...might be the same style on the 70 - 76, but I am unsure, and you'll be hard pressed to locate one of those years in a junk yard anyways.

05-14-2004, 08:14 PM	#7
2wdBlazer The Blazer King Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Valrico, Fl (Tampa) Posts: 1,213	All second gen. 70-81 __________________ 72 2wd Blazer. Its the superbichinest, megacoolinest, superflowinest.

05-15-2004, 02:56 AM	#8
darcane Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 414	I like the looks of the Van side markers which are a direct fit for our trucks. They were used on full size vans from the early 80's to the mid 90's and there's plenty of them in the junkyards. Attached is a pic of the front side marker on my truck. Attached Images __________________ *Mike Lackey* '68 C10

05-15-2004, 06:15 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	thosw ones put out more light from the same bulb too for those of you who dig that sort of thing.

06-09-2004, 06:16 PM	#10
2wdBlazer The Blazer King Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Valrico, Fl (Tampa) Posts: 1,213	New digicam came in so heres my pics. Attached Images __________________ 72 2wd Blazer. Its the superbichinest, megacoolinest, superflowinest.

06-10-2004, 08:44 AM	#11
2wdBlazer The Blazer King Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Valrico, Fl (Tampa) Posts: 1,213	TTT for those that didn't see them. __________________ 72 2wd Blazer. Its the superbichinest, megacoolinest, superflowinest.

06-14-2004, 03:15 PM	#12
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 348	Hey Guys, Back up to the van side marker lights. I like that idea, looks really clean. Since my '69 C10 has reflector only, does anyone know the trick to wiring a new bulb in the running light/blinker circuit so that the front blinker and side blinker will flash opposite each other? I know a lot of later vehicles do that, but did the 67-72's with bulbs in the side markers blink when stock? If so, was it opposite of the front blinker? ...SSOW...

06-14-2004, 04:26 PM	#13
'70_402 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pampa, Texas Posts: 1,554	i think the alternating lights has alot to do with the switch and flasher itself __________________ https://www.ebay.com/itm/295742064443

06-14-2004, 05:08 PM	#14
Hotrod70C10 Low & Slow Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,047	I don't think any of the sidemarkers flashed from 69-72. My 70's sidemarkers just light up when i turn the lights on, they don't blink. __________________ 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop

06-14-2004, 05:19 PM	#15
MMGOODIE I love doing it topless Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: MossyRock, WA Posts: 493	both my 69 and 72's blink. __________________ Mikey "If you can read this, thank a teacher; If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier."



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06-14-2004, 07:21 PM	#16
67cst i love summertime Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kelowna BC Posts: 4,303	my 71 side markers blinked, btw there is a set of those firebird side markers at the local yard, if anyone is interested ill go get them, they are the amber lense __________________ 1967 shortbox stepside Chevy, 365 hp 327, th400. GLOVE BOX LIGHTS FORSALE, click link for info http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=273724

06-14-2004, 10:20 PM	#17
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	If I remember correctly,, If you want the side marker to blink opposite the turn signal, You wire the positive wire of the side marker to the negative of the turn signal and the negative of the side marker to the positive of the turn signal ????? There was an ongoing thread about this a couple of years ago,, I think this is how they said to do it...(even though it doesn't make much sense to me) It would be real easy to test.. Too bad we lost so much information with the changeover...

06-14-2004, 10:44 PM	#18
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,594	Man those marker's sure clean up the side's they look good maybe I will have to locate a set....

06-15-2004, 02:17 AM	#19
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	The guys over at My Old Truck had the answer !!! How to: Blinking Side Marker Lights A simple modification that goes a long way. Text and Illustration by Bruce Godfrey Some years ago, I met a guy at a 510 parts garage sale who was trying to figure out how to rig up a dual-filament bulb socket for his side-marker lights. He told me a story about a wreck he was in which resulted in his car being totaled, and that could have been avoided if his turn signals had been visible from the side. He was in the process of building a new Dime with the insurance money and he wanted to include this feature. Having signals visible from the side can make a difference in heavy traffic. Also, when you are at an intersection, folks approaching from the right or left generally can not see your front signals until they are nearly in front of you. Same thing when you try to pull out of a parking lot onto the street. At the time, I could not think of an easy way to rig the side-marker lights to blink. Then I joined the bluebirds e-mail listserv. I posed the question to the list, and Thomas Walter, an electrical engineer, responded. Turned out Tom worked a few buildings over from me, so we met in the parking lot after work one day and he told me about the way GM cars are wired so that the side marker lights blink. It was very simple—they just wired the ground side of the side marker light to the hot side of the turn-signal filament of the front signal/parking light. This way, when the turn-signal filament of the front dual-filament bulb is off, the side marker light finds ground through that filament. So with just the parking lights on, things are as they normally are with the side marker light, just with a longer path to ground. When the turn signal on that side is activated, then during its “on” phase, the side marker light gets 12 V at both sides of the filament. So no net current flows, and it is turned off. When the signal blinks off, current flows through the marker filament, then through the dual filament to ground, and the side marker light blinks back on. You see the same thing happen on most American cars—the side-marker light blinks as a turn signal, but out of phase with the front turn signal.

06-15-2004, 10:34 AM	#20
stickshift_or_walk Left Foot Functioning Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duncan, OK Posts: 348	Thanks, Ron, and everyone else. Sounds pretty reasonable...we'll give it a shot. FYI, AutoZone shows they can order side marker lights for the vans for $16 each. I was suprised (as were the clerks) that they also list the originals for the '69 C10 at the same price, both with and without chrome. At least, that's what their computer showed. I think I'll still check out the local salvage yards for the van markers since I like the clean looks, but if you're looking for originals, you might try AZ. Keep the shiny side up...SSOW...

06-15-2004, 01:38 PM	#21
DeepPurple Real Deep... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St. Louis Posts: 116	While a little late, here's the one of the original threads on the firebird marker lights __________________ 1970 GMC C10 (Deep Purple) 383/700-R4 Mass Modifications 1976 GMC K5 Jimmy (Big Blue) 400/TH350 Coming soon to a drive-in near you... We have done So Much with So Little for So Long.. We are now qualified to do Anything with Nothing.

06-15-2004, 11:59 PM	#22
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...rkerflash.html

06-16-2004, 10:42 AM	#23
MMGOODIE I love doing it topless Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: MossyRock, WA Posts: 493	since this is so popular, here are some ebay links for the markers, Not mine http://search.ebay.com/firebird-side...ogZ1QQfromZR10 __________________ Mikey "If you can read this, thank a teacher; If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier."

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