TBird Emergency/Parling Brake Warning Light


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By paul2748 - 5 Years Ago
A rare option, the 55/56 Tbirds had a emergency brake warning light mounted on the left side of the dash. I've run across a couple that look like the original but need a measurement. Any one happen to have this option in their Bird? I need the outside diameter of the bezel around the jewel/lens and the diameter of the lens itself.

Thanks
By Rusty_S85 - 5 Years Ago
This is for a '56 listing but it should be the same, 11/16" is the size of the hole you are to drill.  There is currently one for sale but I doubt you want to spend $600 for this kit.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/uploads/images/8471c760-40e7-4e90-936a-d6a3.jpg
By miker - 5 Years Ago
Ha, I could have used one of those, but not for $600. Since my wife couldn’t seem to remember to take the brake off in the bird till they started to smoke. “I looked at the dash, there wasn’t a brake light on”. Her car has a light, and I check it works often.
By Rusty_S85 - 5 Years Ago
miker (1/28/2019)
Ha, I could have used one of those, but not for $600. Since my wife couldn’t seem to remember to take the brake off in the bird till they started to smoke. “I looked at the dash, there wasn’t a brake light on”. Her car has a light, and I check it works often.

I like them as they flash.  one in my old scrubrolet was weird though the bulb was designed as a flashing bulb where the bulb would flash when ever it had power.  Ford used a flasher box where you just put a regular bulb in it and it would flash by the box output.

I found some cheaper than $600 but at last I cant bring myself to drill a 11/16" hole in my dash to install a feature that the car didn't have.
By paul2748 - 5 Years Ago
I got all the info on installation, just need the measurements as noted above. I got almost all the parts, but missing the flasher.  I would like to get an original flasher, Tung Sol # 642.  I know I can rig up some other kind of flasher
By Rusty_S85 - 5 Years Ago
paul2748 (1/29/2019)
I got all the info on installation, just need the measurements as noted above. I got almost all the parts, but missing the flasher.  I would like to get an original flasher, Tung Sol # 642.  I know I can rig up some other kind of flasher


How much are you willing to pay?

here is a complete NOS unit for $450.  This is a 1955 style one.  1956 was a bit different.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-NOS-Ford-Accessory-Hand-Brake-Warning-Light-Kit-B5A-18159-A-FoMoCo-55/292113888170?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D5b5f29a2a43f4bee87be3ebd642af477%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D173114835301%26itm%3D292113888170&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A3e0584dc-2430-11e9-aa9d-74dbd1809109%7Cparentrq%3A9c6b95331680aa48031ecf56ffebb84d%7Ciid%3A1
By paul2748 - 5 Years Ago
Yes - I saw that- been on the market now for over a year or two. As mentioned above, got almost all the parts, just checking on the size of the light itself and need  the 12V flasher.  Any way, I wouldn't trust a 6V flasher running on 12V.  Oddly enough, the light unit and the switch is the same as a later American Motors car (if the size works out ok)

Rusty_S85 (1/29/2019)
paul2748 (1/29/2019)
I got all the info on installation, just need the measurements as noted above. I got almost all the parts, but missing the flasher.  I would like to get an original flasher, Tung Sol # 642.  I know I can rig up some other kind of flasher


How much are you willing to pay?

here is a complete NOS unit for $450.  This is a 1955 style one.  1956 was a bit different.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-NOS-Ford-Accessory-Hand-Brake-Warning-Light-Kit-B5A-18159-A-FoMoCo-55/292113888170?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D5b5f29a2a43f4bee87be3ebd642af477%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D173114835301%26itm%3D292113888170&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A3e0584dc-2430-11e9-aa9d-74dbd1809109%7Cparentrq%3A9c6b95331680aa48031ecf56ffebb84d%7Ciid%3A1


By Rusty_S85 - 5 Years Ago
paul2748 (1/30/2019)
Yes - I saw that- been on the market now for over a year or two. As mentioned above, got almost all the parts, just checking on the size of the light itself and need  the 12V flasher.  Any way, I wouldn't trust a 6V flasher running on 12V.  Oddly enough, the light unit and the switch is the same as a later American Motors car (if the size works out ok)

Rusty_S85 (1/29/2019)
paul2748 (1/29/2019)
I got all the info on installation, just need the measurements as noted above. I got almost all the parts, but missing the flasher.  I would like to get an original flasher, Tung Sol # 642.  I know I can rig up some other kind of flasher


How much are you willing to pay?

here is a complete NOS unit for $450.  This is a 1955 style one.  1956 was a bit different.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-NOS-Ford-Accessory-Hand-Brake-Warning-Light-Kit-B5A-18159-A-FoMoCo-55/292113888170?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D5b5f29a2a43f4bee87be3ebd642af477%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D173114835301%26itm%3D292113888170&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A3e0584dc-2430-11e9-aa9d-74dbd1809109%7Cparentrq%3A9c6b95331680aa48031ecf56ffebb84d%7Ciid%3A1



flasher wise you could get any old 2 prong flasher and just use female spades to connect.  once power flows through it will flash.
By KULTULZ - 5 Years Ago
New Old Stock 1955 Ford Accessory Hand Brake Warning light kit. Notice it has the correct black wiring harness not the 1952 1954 Heavy Type of wire. this will also work on a 1956 but will flash faster because it has a 6 volt flasher unit. Part number B5A-18159-A in the original box.


Be advised this part is an ACCESSORY KIT (BASIC PN IN 18000 SERIES) and has a FORD PN Prefix (B5A), not BIRD. Being B5A it will be 6V.

The info was deleted from the 49/59 MPC. dmsfr has the original SERVICE PN's within a thread at the other forum. I would think you would need the instr. sheet from a BIRD KIT to get position correct.
By Rusty_S85 - 5 Years Ago
KULTULZ (1/31/2019)
New Old Stock 1955 Ford Accessory Hand Brake Warning light kit. Notice it has the correct black wiring harness not the 1952 1954 Heavy Type of wire. this will also work on a 1956 but will flash faster because it has a 6 volt flasher unit. Part number B5A-18159-A in the original box.


Be advised this part is an ACCESSORY KIT (BASIC PN IN 18000 SERIES) and has a FORD PN Prefix (B5A), not BIRD. Being B5A it will be 6V.

The info was deleted from the 49/59 MPC. dmsfr has the original SERVICE PN's within a thread at the other forum. I would think you would need the instr. sheet from a BIRD KIT to get position correct.

Correct, the 12v version is B6A-18159-A.  They are both of the same kit, based off my accessory guide it states its for all Ford cars which includes Thunderbird.  So I don't know if there is a different location for mounting or not but the kits should be the same for bird or car.
By paul2748 - 5 Years Ago
Got all the Bird info on it, including the position if the light and switch.  Actually contained in the Electrical Installation Manual for a 56 Bird.  56 Bird kit is SK-FEF-15848-A

Rusty - no electrician, but I don't know if the small bulb has enough resistance? to operate a conventional flasher that operates 2  much bigger bulbs.


KULTULZ (1/31/2019)
Be advised this part is an ACCESSORY KIT (BASIC PN IN 18000 SERIES) and has a FORD PN Prefix (B5A), not BIRD. Being B5A it will be 6V.

The info was deleted from the 49/59 MPC. dmsfr has the original SERVICE PN's within a thread at the other forum. I would think you would need the instr. sheet from a BIRD KIT to get position correct.


By bergmanj - 5 Years Ago
Paul,

I think that you may have meant "...small bulb [has too much] resistance..."; it can be made to work by paralleling some lower resistance across the bulb connections; have to know the rated load (in amps) of the flasher, though, to figure it out.

Regards, JLB
By Rusty_S85 - 5 Years Ago
paul2748 (1/31/2019)
Got all the Bird info on it, including the position if the light and switch.  Actually contained in the Electrical Installation Manual for a 56 Bird.  56 Bird kit is SK-FEF-15848-A

Rusty - no electrician, but I don't know if the small bulb has enough resistance? to operate a conventional flasher that operates 2  much bigger bulbs.


KULTULZ (1/31/2019)
Be advised this part is an ACCESSORY KIT (BASIC PN IN 18000 SERIES) and has a FORD PN Prefix (B5A), not BIRD. Being B5A it will be 6V.

The info was deleted from the 49/59 MPC. dmsfr has the original SERVICE PN's within a thread at the other forum. I would think you would need the instr. sheet from a BIRD KIT to get position correct.




Doesn't matter now a days, they got electronic flashers that you run a ground wire for use with low load LEDs where the ground wire is what provides the draw to make the flasher work.

That would be a last resort how ever, I would try a replacement style flasher from the autopart stores as they are all variable load flashers so they flash the same speed no matter how many bulbs they have.  If that wont flash it then you need one of those electronic flashers with the ground wire out the top that is commonly used with LED bulbs.
By slumlord444 - 5 Years Ago
I learned something new about T Birds today. Been heavily involved with T Birds since 1965 and never heard of this or seen one. Interesting.