Electrical: installing 4-way or hazard flashers

[IMJ]

[Gunslinger]

Nostalgic Motors carries the add-on flasher Avanti Motors used prior to going with a different steering column about 1971. I can't remember the brand name...I have one stored around here somewhere as a spare if it should ever be needed. Give Nostalgic a call.

[stude1964]

I have a Flare-Stat in my '64 wagon. It is a dealer option as it plugs right into the wiring at the base of the column. I also have extra aftermarket Flare-Stats with the wiring diagrams. PM me if interested. Thanks
Rob in PA.

[IMJ]

Nostalgic Motors carries the add-on flasher Avanti Motors used prior to going with a different steering column about 1971. I can't remember the brand name...I have one stored around here somewhere as a spare if it should ever be needed. Give Nostalgic a call.

Thanks for the information. I just contacted Nostalgic Motors in Michigan. They do have NOS 4-way flasher add on kits that were used on the Avanti II after the government made it mandatory for 4-way flashers to be installed on cars. They have a limited supply left and are selling them for around $125.00 for anyone interested.

regards,
Jay

[pbrown]

I've thought of getting some of the LED flasher kits from Advanced Auto and just hiding a parallel system that doesn't involve the Studebaker lights.

If all you want is safety and not originality, that sort of route may be the cheapest/easiest.

[Hawklover]

About 40 years ago I removed the 4-way flasher from my 1967 Avanti, and installed it into a '64 Avanti............very simple plug-n-play via wiring at the steering column.

[garyc]

I added a flasher to my Avanti parking lights with a simple on-off-on toggle switch and a 12v flasher. A little wire and splice connectors and about $10. Study your schematic and go for it. If I can do it just about anyone can. When I was a boy my dad told me "you don't know what you can do until you try it". The reverse is also true. Good luck.

[jclary]

My truck, which is 6 volt, did not come with turn signals. It was one of the last vehicles built before turn signals were standard items instead of optional. Well...as you can imagine, probably most drivers on the road today, have no clue of what hand signals are. They are certainly not expecting or looking to see hand signals. After years of resisting, I finally put an aftermarket column mounted set in my truck. It has a "four-way" flasher circuit built in. However, I'm not sure, but the four-way only flashes the little indicator light in the switch. I don't think the 6 volt bi-metal electromechanical internals can handle the resistance and response time required to flash all four bulbs on the truck at once.

[IMJ]

I just completed the 4-way flasher install on my 64 Cruiser. I followed the instructions that I found online and posted earlier. I found that I needed to use a 3 prong flasher(550). The reason being that the 3 prong flasher has a terminal (P) that is used for a pilot light or a tell tale light. I also decided to make pig-tails or jumpers to go between the plug for the turn signal switch instead of splicing into the wires. That way it could be removed later and returned to factory condition if I wanted. Since the Avanti unlike the Cruiser has a separate indicator for left and right a 2 prong (552) flasher might be able to be used and no separate indicator for the 4-ways needed.
regards,
Jay

[StudeRich]

/Cut/I don't think the 6 volt bi-metal electromechanical internals can handle the resistance and response time required to flash all four bulbs on the truck at once.

Wouldn't the H.D. Flasher Unit for 6 or more bulbs take care of that John? They make them to handle a Trailer with more turn Signal Lights.
Also they are variable Load type, so they do not know if a Bulb is out, they flash at the normal rate regardless of how many are working instead of the usual flicker or no flash (constant) indicator for a dead bulb in the circuit at the working bulbs.

I prefer the Signalstat brand Flarestat Units of 4 Way Flasher Kits, like Studebaker used, that have their own separate Flasher Unit.

[jclary]

Rich, I'm not sure about the HD flasher. I made use of the array of flashers I already had in my "stash." I'm really not all that concerned about the four-way function. As long as the turn signals flash...I'm satisfied. When I got the unit, the tell-tell bulb was 12V and the flasher that came with it was also 12V. I replaced the 12V bulb and flasher with nos 6 volt. I wired it through the brake switch following the instructions for incorporating the dual element tail/brake light bulbs. Perhaps, if I had added separate rear turnsignal lights...(and wired it accordingly), the function would work better.