The Ford Barn

mercman from oz · 12-17-2021, 05:13 AM

I have a Question for 1941 Ford Experts. Are these Tail Lights able to be fitted to the wrong side? For instance, if you took the Right Tail Light Mount, turned it upside down and fitted it to the Left rear Fender, would it look correct? In the three photos above, are all Tail Lights fitted correctly? Alternatively, there may be only a single unit that can be used on both side. Would love to know the correct answer. Regards Mercman <><

deuce5wndw · 12-17-2021, 07:49 AM

Not an expert on 41 tailamps by any standards but the parts book shows a Rh number and a LH number. 11A-13404-B RH and 11A-13405-B LH

Bursonaw · 12-17-2021, 08:15 AM

To answer your question, there are left and right tail lights. In your pictures the tail light with the blue dot lens is mounted on the wrong side. It should be on the opposite fender. If you remove the lens and look inside the light socket is not centered, it should be mounted to the bottom side of the housing.

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Veeder · 12-17-2021, 07:37 PM

Great quest and great answer had me thinking about the question before I read the answer

fortyonerag · 12-17-2021, 10:58 PM

On mine, the bezel appears to be symmetrical, but the bucket itself is offset. The globe is not centered. It makes more sense to me if the globe is offset towards to bottom.

Makes me wonder if my buckets are upside down 'older restoration'.

mercman from oz · 12-19-2021, 12:56 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Another 1941 Ford Tail Light with Blue Dots. Are these mounted correctly?

drolston · 12-19-2021, 04:15 PM

While we are on the subject of 1941 tail lights - If you are 12 volts, the LED replacements look original and are much brighter, - which is kind of a big deal when you are in amongst modern traffic with ten times the lens area.

meric42 · 12-19-2021, 04:45 PM

I had noticed the lamp not on the center of the lens and wondered about moving it up to the center to get the Blue Dot lens to function correctly as I have found that the Blue Dots look best when the bulb is centered on the dot? Interested in peoples comments as I haven't fitted my NOS BD lenses yet.

Bursonaw · 12-19-2021, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meric42

I had noticed the lamp not on the center of the lens and wondered about moving it up to the center to get the Blue Dot lens to function correctly as I have found that the Blue Dots look best when the bulb is centered on the dot? Interested in peoples comments as I haven't fitted my NOS BD lenses yet.

You can always get lenses with the blue dots in the correct place. I ran these for many years until I switched to LED tail lights.

https://bobdrake.com/products/41-car...b57621ae&_ss=r

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Bursonaw · 12-19-2021, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Another 1941 Ford Tail Light with Blue Dots. Are these mounted correctly?

It looks like it is, however these tail lights were also used on 1948 through 1956 Ford Panel Trucks, so they might have been produced by more than one manufacturer with a slightly different mold pattern.

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petehoovie · 12-19-2021, 05:24 PM

[QUOTE=Bursonaw;2086845]You can always get lenses with the blue dots in the correct place. I ran these for many years until I switched to LED tail lights.

https://bobdrake.com/products/41-car...b57621ae&_ss=r

petehoovie · 12-19-2021, 05:28 PM

fortyonerag · 12-20-2021, 06:13 AM

Hmm, the plot thickens. I have not seen those Drake ones before. They look like exactly what I need.

mercman from oz · 12-20-2021, 04:50 PM

Carton from Bob Drake Reproductions. Great "close-up" shot as they should be mounted.

mfirth · 12-20-2021, 05:03 PM

Don't know about the 40s, but today there is a govt. photometric requirement as far as candella & light dispersement. Definetly a difference between right & left, top & bottom.

mercman from oz · 01-08-2022, 01:17 AM

1941 Ford Convertible on display in the Talladega NASCAR Museum.
Are they correctly mounted?

12-17-2021, 05:13 AM	#1
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,376	1941 Ford Tail Lights I have a Question for 1941 Ford Experts. Are these Tail Lights able to be fitted to the wrong side? For instance, if you took the Right Tail Light Mount, turned it upside down and fitted it to the Left rear Fender, would it look correct? In the three photos above, are all Tail Lights fitted correctly? Alternatively, there may be only a single unit that can be used on both side. Would love to know the correct answer. Regards Mercman <><

12-17-2021, 07:49 AM	#2
deuce5wndw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Liberty, KY Posts: 901	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights Not an expert on 41 tailamps by any standards but the parts book shows a Rh number and a LH number. 11A-13404-B RH and 11A-13405-B LH

12-17-2021, 08:15 AM	#3
Bursonaw Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 345	1941 Ford Tail Lights To answer your question, there are left and right tail lights. In your pictures the tail light with the blue dot lens is mounted on the wrong side. It should be on the opposite fender. If you remove the lens and look inside the light socket is not centered, it should be mounted to the bottom side of the housing. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Last edited by Bursonaw; 12-17-2021 at 09:00 AM.

12-17-2021, 07:37 PM	#4
Veeder Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: CT Posts: 394	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights Great quest and great answer had me thinking about the question before I read the answer

12-17-2021, 10:58 PM	#5
fortyonerag Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 541	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights On mine, the bezel appears to be symmetrical, but the bucket itself is offset. The globe is not centered. It makes more sense to me if the globe is offset towards to bottom. Makes me wonder if my buckets are upside down 'older restoration'.

12-19-2021, 12:56 AM	#6
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,376	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Another 1941 Ford Tail Light with Blue Dots. Are these mounted correctly?

12-19-2021, 04:15 PM	#7
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights While we are on the subject of 1941 tail lights - If you are 12 volts, the LED replacements look original and are much brighter, - which is kind of a big deal when you are in amongst modern traffic with ten times the lens area.

12-19-2021, 04:45 PM	#8
meric42 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Blenheim, New Zealand Posts: 879	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights I had noticed the lamp not on the center of the lens and wondered about moving it up to the center to get the Blue Dot lens to function correctly as I have found that the Blue Dots look best when the bulb is centered on the dot? Interested in peoples comments as I haven't fitted my NOS BD lenses yet. __________________ I need an 01A 1453 Brkt Spare wheel hold down for my sedan delivery - PLEASE HELP Gotta love my '42 Sedan Delivery's - Now that I own the only two in New Zealand http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=580

12-19-2021, 05:24 PM	#11
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,156	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights [QUOTE=Bursonaw;2086845]You can always get lenses with the blue dots in the correct place. I ran these for many years until I switched to LED tail lights. https://bobdrake.com/products/41-car...b57621ae&_ss=r __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

12-19-2021, 05:28 PM	#12
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,156	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

12-20-2021, 06:13 AM	#13
fortyonerag Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 541	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights Hmm, the plot thickens. I have not seen those Drake ones before. They look like exactly what I need.

12-20-2021, 04:50 PM	#14
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,376	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights Carton from Bob Drake Reproductions. Great "close-up" shot as they should be mounted.

12-20-2021, 05:03 PM	#15
mfirth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ohio Posts: 986	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights Don't know about the 40s, but today there is a govt. photometric requirement as far as candella & light dispersement. Definetly a difference between right & left, top & bottom.

01-08-2022, 01:17 AM	#16
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,376	Re: 1941 Ford Tail Lights 1941 Ford Convertible on display in the Talladega NASCAR Museum. Are they correctly mounted?