Turn Signal Switch Install in a '54 Belair
With many of you that are building street rods, rat rods or muscle cars, there are some things you just need to try. I was pulling the original power glide shift lever rod on my 54 Belair, since I have a TH400 with a floor shift. To accomplish this I had to remove the steering wheel. Let me tell you, using a Steering Wheel Puller such as Speedway’s part #91032615, could save hours of head ache, and save your old factory steering wheel too!
Once I had the steering wheel off I decided to clean all the dead bugs, spider webs and whatever else was able to sneak its way in and create a home. After all, the old girl has sat in a barn since 1966. After removing the turn signal cam mechanism I noticed the wires under the turn signal switch were loose. A little tug and three of them fell off the back, and with that we get to the meat and potatoes for this article.
In order to use my stock turn signals I would need a new switch. After checking wiring schematics, color combinations and so on, I found that Speedway’s 1955 Chevy OEM Style Turn Signal Switch, part #91037788, was a perfect match. Now, before you go crazy cutting terminals and pulling wires, step back and take some notes. Label the wires if you don’t have a wiring schematic and maybe take a few pictures with your phone, or Polaroid camera if that is all you have.
Before pulling wires up through the steering column make sure to attach what electricians call a fish tape. I used a long piece of bailing wire bent into a small hook and wrapped one of the turn signal switch wires around it. Then, using black electrical tape I taped all the wires together tight not to add too much circumference. That way when I removed the switch and pulled the wires up from the bottom of steering column I had a wire to attach to the new turn signal switch wires and simply pulled the wires back down. This is so much easier than trying to snake the new wires down the inside of the steering column!
Once I had the wires pulled down I used female blade terminals on my wiring harness for connections for easy removal. The male blade terminal is already terminated on the switch wires. Follow the schematic for your harness as far as turn signal, tail lights and brake lights. The color code on this switch is White – 12v feed from brake switch, Dark Green – RH tail/stop, Yellow – LH tail/stop, Purple – 12v feed turn signal flasher, Brown – 12v feed hazard flasher, Dark Blue – RH front park/turn, Light Blue – LH front park/turn and Black is horn.
With everything plugged in and the new switch tucked in its place, I reinstalled the turn signal cam followed by the steering wheel. Everything went back together and turn signals worked perfectly! Just goes to show that with a little research there are certain parts that may work even though they are not listed for your year, make and model. Luckily this switch required no modification and was a simple swap, old one for a new one. So, before giving up or trying to fix what you already have, use all of your resources. Friends, family, internet, books or give one of us Techs a call here at Speedway Motors. We just may have the answer you are looking for!
