What I Did During COVID Part 1 1940 56S Rear Turn Signal Assy

[Daves1940Buick56S]

In the Spring while things were quiet I decided to tackle the rear turn signal assembly on my 1940 56S. I knew the pot metal wings had fractured long ago and it leaked into the light buckets, rusting them and finally shorting out the left signal.

 

1. Removed it and it's a pile 'o parts

 

2. Stripped and JB Welded back together. If you do this, remember to assemble on the trunk lid installed in place and glue it there as there is a compound curve on the trunk that must be matched. I used a couple of thin newspaper sheets to protect the trunk. Then sanded the whole assy down after curing. (Derusting, sanding, and painting the lamp buckets is not shown in this thread)

 

3. Primed

 

4. Sanded and painted

 

5. Side trim installed

 

6. Lenses installed. I stuck with the old ones since the new ones don't have the shield behind the letters that makes the cool "arrow" effect.

 

7. New shield installed.

 

8. Installed on the car.

 

 

[dibarlaw]

Dave:

 I will have to get on to my 1937s rear light as I want to ad a dual filament socket so it also acts as a 3rd (higher) brake light. I will probably paint the assembly close to the correct Hampton gray. Thanks for the inspiration.

[valk]

..never mind...

Edited October 23, 2020 by valk
no one cares (see edit history)

[Kayden]

Dave: How did you remove the housing from the trunk lid? I have a 1940 Super 51 and I can't see any way to access removal screws from the outside or inside of the trunk. 

[Daves1940Buick56S]

Sorry for the delay.

 

The structure from the top down is the pot metal shell with insert red lenses held by 2 brackets which is in turn held to the shell by screws. From the 2 brackets are 4 studs which are pressed into the bracket. This is a failure point as the studs can be twisted loose from the bracket. Another failure point is the castings with the threaded holes on the shell. And of course where the wings of the shell attach. Skill using JB Weld is useful here.

 

So the shell assembly with the 4 studs pointing down is inserted thru a gasket into the corresponding holes on the decklid. On the underside the lamp buckets go over the studs (with an intervening gasket of course) and nuts hold them on.

 

Very carefully remove the nuts. Use penetrating oil or grease to make sure the studs don't snap off or, more importantly, tear a hole into the brackets inside the shell. Pry off the buckets (sockets and lamps come with) and then *extremely carefully* pry off the shell assembly from the decklid. Make sure it goes up evenly or the wings will break off.

 

Cheers Dave

[Kayden]

Thank you.

[dibarlaw]

On 10/15/2020 at 10:59 AM, dibarlaw said:

Dave:

 I will have to get on to my 1937s rear light as I want to ad a dual filament socket so it also acts as a 3rd (higher) brake light. I will probably paint the assembly close to the correct Hampton gray. Thanks for the inspiration.

Dave :

 You inspired me... See the email attachment I sent you.

 

 And it even works!
 

 

[Talarico8447]

Nice work.