I have a 1968 bus converted, we have not yet figured out what is was to start with. I have posted on the board before. I am rewiring the lights on the rear of the bus (replaces what was burn't in the fire talked about already).
I know there is no way of knowing what has been done to the bus in the past but what you expect to find the brake lights separate from the turn signals (Like the older trucks) or combined with them (like the newer pickups and cars and some of the newer bigger vehicles)?
I am use to the older big trucks (before 1980 ish) and not that good with buses.
It has been a job but I have been working on this mess not having much progress only short amounts of time to work on it lately. But i am about to have the tail lights all installed and was wondering how they should be. I have most of the burn't stuff removed and am working on rebuilding things as they should have been and trying to make it all as good as possible. The wife is getting a little impatient, with all the parts laying around and still in the boxes from e-bay and other places.
I hope to have some picture of the progress to post before too long.
Bob
Bob,
Check the wiring at the turn signal switch on the steering column. If the brake light wiring goes through the turn signal switch, your bus had combined stop-turn lights. If the brake light wiring to or from the brake light switch does not go through the turn signal switch you have separate lights. Even if they were combined, you can still use separate lights by not running the brake light wiring through the turn signal switch. Jack
The best place to start is by finding a service manual. Most contain wireing diagrams. With a little time and effort even a non electrician can read the pictures.
Bob's main problem is that he has not been able to identify model to order manual. I will see it this weekend and get with JLV if I can't identify.
Big John I have been looking farward to your advice.
When My other computer crashed I was afraid I had lost the info that you sent when we exchanged e-mail. I was hoping that you would speak up or I could find you this week end.
I have the last part of this week off so let me know when you want to get together.
Quote from: Bob Gil on June 09, 2008, 01:05:29 AM
. . . . . The wife is getting a little impatient, with all the parts laying around and still in the boxes from e-bay and other places.
Your best move is to put the parts where "She Who Must Be Obeyed" doesn't see them. ;)
That's how I was able to get away with 6 ;D
Now that I think about it, I may have been better off if she had been looking at them :o
Kyle she wants it running so we can use it as in yesterday.
It is setting in the yard beside the house. Just out side the kitchen bay window where she can see it all the time.
She ask me if I was going to do any thing with it or did she need to go out and work on it for me?
Hand her a tool pouch and say "Go for it". ;D
Then stand back out of the way cause something might be just flying through the air directed at you. ;D
Get your wife involved so she can understand what you are going through. I know, kind of a far fetched thought huh.
All in fun OK.
My wife says she will wait to put her finishing touches on the interior. I hope she can wait that long!
Good Luck,
Paul
When you give her the tool pouch and tell her to go for it make sure you have salt and pepper with it and a little ketchup would not be a bad idea.
I am not too sure she would know where to start.
she is a little happer now that I have the tail linghts on it. I have been trying to get it where I can get it inspected where I can move it around a little and maybe take a short trip or two in it this summer.
I hope to make it to the deal north of dallas this fall if any way possible.
I have the tail lights wired up and installed. The red ones are the tail lights and the brake lights along with the dim side of the yellow ones, the bright sides of the yellow ones are the turn siginals. I hope they will be ok.
I hope to get it where i can move it around and then clean it up and make it look better then paint it. if I can match the paint or get close any way.
here is what I have installed so far.
I got a wide angle lense for my camera and i can get better picture of it now. Maybe I can post some inside ones before too long.
I think you are doing a great job Bob!
Even if you don't have it driveable for TBR 2008, come on up anyway. I'm sure someone has room for you and your wife. We'll be there, may not have the coach painted yet, but we'll take it anyway.
Just tell your wife that we are all pulling for you!
Thanks for posting the pics. Someone is bound to recognize what brand you have. ;)
Paul
Quote from: Bob Gil on June 09, 2008, 04:11:34 PM
I have the tail lights wired up and installed. The red ones are the tail lights and the brake lights along with the dim side of the yellow ones, the bright sides of the yellow ones are the turn siginals. I hope they will be ok.
Bob, in most places it's illegal for the amber lights to come on with the brakes. It's also not legal to have amber running lights on the back -- red only.
Wire the brakes to the red ones only, and use the bright ambers for turn.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com
yep no amber lit on the back except for turn.. thats FED DOT
Doesn't the fact that the coach has amber rear turns indicate a separate "truck-style" turn signal circuit?
If Bob's bus had OEM integrated brake/turn sigs his tail lights would all be red.
Bob, don't use the "dim" filament in the amber turn signals. Only the bright filaments are used in the turn signal circuits on the rear of the bus...you could use the low watt filaments in the front turn signals for park lights. May be wired like that already?
You can use both filaments (red light assemblies) for your brake and tail lights.
Attach all the red tail light leads to the low watt filaments, and tie all the brake light leads to the high watt filaments. Look good and make for bright brake lights.
BTW, be very careful enlisting your wife to help. I did that. And Terri will work...and she did. But I always seemed to be reduced to her 'helper' and only her projects got attention. Plan for your "help."
I'm still appreciative for her help...but don't count on getting your 'thing' completed while assisting your wife. ;)
FWIW, JR
Quote from: Bob Gil on June 09, 2008, 04:11:34 PM
I have the tail lights wired up and installed. The red ones are the tail lights and the brake lights along with the dim side of the yellow ones, the bright sides of the yellow ones are the turn siginals. I hope they will be ok.
Bob, I am a bit surprised that your yellow ones have a "dim side". As others have pointed out, you might want to hook the brake lights to the "bright side" of the red lights only. The amber lights are for turn/hazard flashers.
As for the wife, I think Lynn is more into the conversion side of the project than I am. But she says the mechanical stuff is my department. (All the fun vs. all the work, methinks...). Can't complain, though. It's great to have a project partner!
Don
Be sure and line the inside of the reflector housing with shiny aluminum tape like A/C people use. It will increase the brilliance of the light at least 100%.
Richard
Bob,
I know your bus is an unknown orphan (I think the consensus might have been that it's a Superior), but I suggest that you find some wiring diagrams from any school bus of that vintage. Ideally, a rear pusher diesel would have most of the information you need.
Len
Quote from: lyndon on June 09, 2008, 11:52:11 PM
Bob, I am a bit surprised that your yellow ones have a "dim side". ...
Dual-filament amber lights are sold for use on the front as combination position ("running") and turn lamps. The "dim side" is connected to the running/marker circuit, and the bright side to the turn signals.
When used on the rear, only the bright part is used and connected to the turn signals.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com
Quote from: DrivingMissLazy on June 10, 2008, 04:41:15 AM
Be sure and line the inside of the reflector housing with shiny aluminum tape like A/C people use. It will increase the brilliance of the light at least 100%.
Richard
I don't think I can do that they are LED's and give out a good bit of light now.
Not cheap but well worth the money if you ask me.
When we installed "dual filament" amber LED lights on the rear of our bus as turn signals. We connected both hot leads to the turn signal. This make the turn signals brighter, since it is flashing both the turn and marker LEDs. Jack
Quote from: JackConrad on June 11, 2008, 04:27:53 AM
When we installed "dual filament" amber LED lights on the rear of our bus as turn signals. We connected both hot leads to the turn signal. This make the turn signals brighter, since it is flashing both the turn and marker LEDs. Jack
Jack, the LED lights that Bob is using don't work that way. It's not necessary to connect both wires -- the light will come on at full brightness just by using the "turn" wire. The "position" wire can be ignored.
You're correct, though, for dual-filament incandescent lights -- wiring both the "turn" and "position" wires to the turn circuit will give you just a touch more brightness.
-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com