This page attempts to show the various placements of front turn signal lights that were used
on the Power Wagon over the years. There appears to be no set pattern; from what I've found
so far there are basically eight different placements (see list below). Since turn signals were not
factory installed in the early years it was left up to the dealer or owner to determine placement.
This has resulted in a wide variety of mounting variations as can be seen in the pictures below.
Kevin Foust (Kevin in Ohio) was kind enough to provide some pictures of the various Vintage Turn signals
available in this era.
1. Between radiator and headlights but to the rear of the headlights (1947)
2. Between radiator and headlights but to the front of the headlights (1948)
3. Top center of the fenders towards the outer edge (1948, 1954, 1962)
4. In the grill (1951)
5. On the radiator shell adjacent to the top edge of the grill (1955, 1956)
6. On the fenders to the outside and rear of the headlights (1955)
7. On the radiator shell adjacent to the bottom edge of the grill (1955)
8. On the radiator shell adjacent to and slightly lower than the crosspiece of the upper
grill (1966, 1967)
Consensus from readers on Joe's Forum is that turn signals were a dealer installed option at least up to
1960:
From Alan Koester, 23Aug03:
I asked this very question to our local Dodge dealer who is older than dirt, when he was selling
WDX Power Wagons, he said the front turn signals were not installed at the factory! These were
an option and were installed by the dealer prior to delivery if turn signals were wanted. He
told me there were two locations reccomended by Dodge, one on the fender lateral to the
headlights, and the second on the grill. The grill was predrilled, but the fenders had to be
drilled. The final location depended on the mechanic who installed them and whether they
followed the instructions or not. I have never seen a service bulliten on this but the guy
didn't seem to have Alzheimer's, so I assume the info is at least partially correct. Hope this
helps!
From Clint Dixon, 23Aug03:
The first mention of directional signals for a Power-Wagon is found in the 1953 parts manual
D-14468. From there, they are also found in 1954 D-15078 and 1956 D-15788. All three of these
parts manuals show them as being a MoPar accessory, which suggests, that they were dealer
(or owner) installed through these years. Prior to 1953, there is no mention of directional
signals in any of the Power-Wagon specific parts manuals. Turn signal kits were available, of
course, for installation by the owner from several companies. One of the most notable being
Signal-Stat with their "arrow type" model 700 series lamps that are popular with collectors.
Some of these signals, from outside vendors, may have also have found their way to the Dodge
dealerships and some probably were installed by the Dodge mechanics.
The first photo I can find of a Power-Wagon appearing factory equipped with directional signals
is of a W300 from 1957, as seen in the DMA 3335 sales brochure dated 9-56. These were installed
on a factory L-shaped bracket that bolted to two holes drilled into each of the radiator
"side shell and supports". This placement located the directional signals inboard of, and
slightly above, the headlight buckets. I can find no part number for these special brackets,
but they appear to have been used up until Dodge redesigned the radiator cowl assembly for the
longer 251ci engine in 1961. I had one of these radiator cowl assemblies from a 1957 W300, and
the directional signal bracket mounting holes appeared to be factory punched.
The 1958 L-Series Dodge Truck Sales Manual (salesman's book) dated Sept. 1957, lists
directional signals as "other extra equipment", but does not distinguish this equipment as being
factory installed or dealer installed MoPar. The 1960 P-Series Dodge Truck Sales Manual dated
Nov. 1959, lists directional signals as "factory installed extra equipment, as do following
salesman's books and sales brochures.
Beginning in 1961, where directional signals are found shown in the sales brochures, they are
shown bolted directly to existing holes found in the sides of extended grill.
Most of the older directional signals that I have seen on pre '57 Power-Wagons were mounted on
the crown of the front fenders.
From Mike Stone, 23Aug03: (edited)
Mopar Dodge Trucks Parts Books have the story:
In the 1959 Parts Book listed only as a group 1 accessory code 1-25-0.
From the 1963-68 Parts Book:
1. Code 8-50-0 directional,signal,& parking; there is no listing for WM series in the 59
parts book
2. WM300 listings under 8-50-0 (serial number specific) and also under 8-50-303 (dealer kits)
So it appears that these were Dealer Installed aftermarket options rather than factory which
would explain the random location that your pictures show. There might have been a template in
the kit or certain states may have had specific locations - who knows ? the phantom
I would imagine that most fire departments and utility companies would have had to retrofit all
their trucks in the late 50's and early 60's and would probably have used whatever aftermarket
kit was available at the time. Private individuals & companies might have done the same to
comply with state and local laws; bottom line on early trucks random placement as you look at
pictures you will find them everywhere:
maui dave's carryall - under the fender below the headlights - same with paul B's wc4, my 48 -
on the front bumper
Click on a thumbnail to see the full sized picture
1947 WDX: Garth Quapp's '47. Turn signal lights are mounted on the fender and
located in between the radiator shell and the headlight buckets and to the rear
of the headlights. From Garth, 23Aug03: The signal lights on the WDX were not installed by
the dealer, but buy the first owner. The way he installed them was to build a
bracket so that the lights would be vertical on the fender and then he welded
the brackets to the fender so it looked like a clean install. Plus you didn't
have to drill a big hole into the fender.
1947 WDX: Tom Petroff's '47. NOS Signal-Stat turn signal lights are mounted on the fender. Tom also has period MoPar script fog lights mounted on the front bumper.
1948 B1-PW: Lucky's '48. Turn signals mounted on the top center of the fenders and
located slightly to the outer edge.
1948 B1-PW: Jerry Hogan's '48. Turn signal lights are mounted on the fender and
located in between the radiator shell and the headlight buckets and forward of the
headlights.
1948 B1-PW: Chris Becker's '48. Turn signal lights are hung from the rear
view mirror arms. From Chris, 4Jan04:The lights under front bumper are not
turn signal but my daytime running lights. Thay are hooked up to the ignition
switch so when you turn the ignition on the those fog lights are on. Not only
are the turn signals on the mirrors but also at the top of the headlight buckets,
there are small glass cones with a 2 filament bulb in them for parking light and
turn signals. These are not an original set of Dodge Power Wagon headlights but
a set of commercial headlight off a 1938 Dodge 2 ton truck manufactured by K-D
Lamps of Peoria, Illnois. I didn't want to drill large bolt holes in the straight
sheet metal of the fenders so I found these lights and they work pretty good.
I added the lights on the mirrors for saftey reasons.
1949 B1-PW: Will Watson's '49. Turn signals mounted on the radiator shell right at the
edge and on the side of the grill and are in line, when viewed from the front, with the top line of the
grill.
1950 B2-PW: Unknown owner. Turn signal lights are mounted under the front fender.
This truck was sold on eBay in October, 2003. VIN: 88766210
1951 B3-PW: Clint Dixon's '51. This one is interesting because the turn signals are
located in the grill. From Clint, 23Aug03: Those shown on my '51 were installed behind the grill by the orginal
owner. I bought the truck from his widow. She could not remember the exact dates, but she said
that when the state of Wisconsin came out with the law mandating the use of turn signals
(sometime in the late '50s or early '60s) she bought them for him as a Christmas present and he
installed them behind the grill.
1954 C1-PW: Brian Wood's '54. Like the '48 B1-PW above the turn signals are mounted
on the top center of the fenders and located slightly to the outer edge.
1955 C3-PW: Phil Street's '55. Turn signals mounted on the radiator shell in line with
the top line of the grill.
1955 C3-PW: Todd Somers's '55. Turn signals located outside and slightly behind the
headlight buckets mounted on the fenders.
1955 C3-PW: Ed Tavernier's '55. Like the '48 B1-PW above the turn signals are mounted
on the top center of the fenders and located slightly to the outer edge. From Ed, 23Aug03: [There is a] 1/2 inch difference between the two [turn signals] in
distance from the edges!
1956 C4-PW: ?. Like my '55 above the turn signals are mounted on the radiator shell in
line with the top line of the grill.
1957 ?: Tim Holloway's '57-'58. The turn signals are double-ended and are mounted
just below the cowl lights. Honorable mention goes to the plow lights.
1962 WM300: Glen Reid's '62. Like the '48 B1-PW above the turn signals are mounted
on the top center of the fenders and located slightly to the outer edge.
1966 WM300: Steve Littler's '66. Turn signals mounted on the radiator shell
but adjacent to and slightly lower than the crosspiece of the upper grill.
1967 WM300: Todd Somers's '67. Like the '66 WM300 above the turn signals are mounted
on the radiator shell but adjacent to and slightly lower than the crosspiece of the upper
grill.
