1969 mach front turn signal lights

[james the flame 11]

Good evening everyone, My car came with no front turn signal lights that mount to the front bumper. I have purchased 2 new complete light assemblies from virginia mustang. I got ready to install them this past weekend and they just flat don't fit!!! The 2 hole pattern lines up but to sit properly in the valance I would have to space the light bracket down about a whole inch. As you know the valance can only bolt to a specific location so what is going on??? Has anyone had this problem?? Do you believe they are just a cheap aftermarket?? I have had very good results with everything I have purchased from them in the past. About $3,000 worth of stuff. Please give me any suggestions that might help or advise. Thanks, James

[Pakrat 1,043]

Just to be clear first, are you talking about these parking light assemblies?

 

[foothilltom 33]

Assuming you're talking about PakRat's parking/indicator lights, I just installed mine last night and the fit isn't great, let me tell you. I think it's just a combination of an imprecise design with the front valance not fitting perfectly, the bumper arms not fitting perfectly, etc.

 

Both of my coupes have a slight "bend" in the bracket of the parking lamp assembly to accommodate this crappy fit. It looks like they put it in a vice and bent it about 15 degrees "upward". If the bracket was just flat, the lamps would not sit right in the valance.

 

As it is, I still have to jimmy the valance a bit just to get to one of the screw holes in the face of the lamp.

 

In short, I don't believe a perfect fit is in the cards. So long as the lamp is visible and you can get to the face plate to replace the inevitable bulb, you're ahead of the game.

 

My $.02,

Tom

[ETstang 10]

I had the same problem when I removed mine to clean up - new bulbs - reinstall. The bracket is a lousy fit - you need to take it off - bend - install - take-off - bend - install - etc.

Good luck

[james the flame 11]

Thank you gentlemen, Those are the lights Pak. Guess I'll bend mine like everyone else. Damn shame to pay $60 each just to put them in the vise. At least I know I'm not the only one. Thanks, James

[Pakrat 1,043]

I had the same problem when I removed mine to clean up - new bulbs - reinstall. The bracket is a lousy fit - you need to take it off - bend - install - take-off - bend - install - etc.

Good luck

 

Are you saying that just by removing and cleaning your originals that they suddenly didn't fit back like they did prior?

[jmlay 74]

Make sure you have the ones for the correct year. 69 & 70 brackets are no the same.

 

Mike

[james the flame 11]

When I bought my car someone had removed the park lights completly. I had nothing to compare to. I ordered my new light from virginia mustang. If I'm not mistaken the catalouge said will fit 69-70 mustang. They did not show a seperate bracket for each year model. What do you think??

[Pakrat 1,043]

When I bought my car someone had removed the park lights completly. I had nothing to compare to. I ordered my new light from virginia mustang. If I'm not mistaken the catalouge said will fit 69-70 mustang. They did not show a seperate bracket for each year model. What do you think??

 

Post pictures of what they sent you with the brackets clearly visible. My originals are still off the car since repainting so I can take pics this weekend of them for you to compare to.

[EastYorkStang 58]

Easy way to check is 69 lights have three wires leading to the light. Where as the 70 has 2. ON the 70 the ground is through the mounting bracket.

[jmlay 74]

69:

 

 

70:

 

 

Mike

Edited October 16, 2008 by jmlay

[james the flame 11]

Thanks everyone. Mine has 3 wires . I went ahead and mounted them today with rubber spacers to set it in the valance nicely. Damn mounting holes were metric also. I drilled them out and used long bolts and nuts. James

[JCB-69CJ 11]

Hi all, I now see I also have the 70 (2 wire) parking lights in my 69, which means the parking lights don't work but the turn signals do. Is there a way to get the parking lights to work by rewiring or am I stuck purchasing 69 lights? Since the unit is self grounded , can I split the 2 wire connection and splice each one into the 2 power connectors in the 3 wire harness connection?

[bnickel 10,004]

Hi all, I now see I also have the 70 (2 wire) parking lights in my 69, which means the parking lights don't work but the turn signals do. Is there a way to get the parking lights to work by rewiring or am I stuck purchasing 69 lights? Since the unit is self grounded , can I split the 2 wire connection and splice each one into the 2 power connectors in the 3 wire harness connection?

 

 

that doesn't have anything to do with the lights themselves, it's in the headlight switch. and BTW, 69 parking lights don't come on with the headlights, they only come on when the headlight switch is in the park position and go off when the headlights come one. 70 models have park lights that come on with the headlights but again it's a function of the headlight switch NOT the park lights.

 

 

as for the different fit between the 69 and 70 park lights Ford updated the design in 70 to make it easier to change the park light bulbs. it was more difficult if not darn near impossible to change the bulbs on 69's without bending the bracket up or removing the assembly altogether. over the years people either bent the bracket on original cars or they changed out the original valance for a repro valance which i understand is slightly different to help with bulb changes as well. i know when i first got my car changing the bulbs was not an easy job. over the years i've changed valances out for a 70 valance at on point and now it has a repro 69 valance and the park light assemblies have also been changed out as well.

[JCB-69CJ 11]

Thanks BNICKEL, I will purchase the correct 3 wire lights. I like the parking lights on with the headlights, so I might replace the 69 switch with a 70.

[Pakrat 1,043]

I've always wanted to try to modify mine with some real good fog or night driving lights and then run a seperate switch to them.

[bnickel 10,004]

I've always wanted to try to modify mine with some real good fog or night driving lights and then run a seperate switch to them.

 

 

i plan on doing some driving lights in the valance of the cougar, kinda like the 68 cougar XR7-G.

 

 

http://www.myteesamoyeds.com/jkarvoski.html

[parking light 0]

 we have The light assembly off an original 70 car and it matches the restoration ones in the various catalogs.  We have modified the mounting to get a good alignment and back space in the valiance. They need to go up and forward.  Made the new bracelet from aluminum angle. Once done you can't see the fabrication of the bracelet and can still reach the lens screws from the front. Can't figure out how to include a picture. Email for a picture, thanks

evelyn.vlasak@earthlink.net