Flashing indicators

Details

Written by Stephen Tickell

In the case of the ZA, it is highly desirable to fit an alternative to the semaphore arms, which are ill-suited to modern conditions. By contrast, the ZB already has a flasher system but adopts the now obsolete dual use of the brake lights as flashers at the rear. This brings with it the need for a complicated relay box mounted on the left-hand side of the bulkhead in the engine bay. When braking and indicating at the same time, it allows one light to be steady while the other flashes! This is certain to confuse most other drivers on the road.

With both cars you will need to fit a new pair of indicator lamps at the rear. There are various solutions to this.

If you are carrying out the work as part of a full body rebuild, the prettiest conversion involves adding a new pair of light pods above those carrying the existing rear lights. Ideally you should obtain a suitable pair of Lucas light units, slightly smaller than the rear lights but with the same conical shape. The Lucas L539 unit is suitable and can still be obtained new from specialists such as Holden. Size the light pod to suit the light. A simple cylindrical piece can be fabricated and the bottom edge profiled to fit the curve of the wing. Remember to keep clear of the chrome strip on the Varitone. A hole needs to be drilled in the wing to take the wiring into the boot. Before the pod is welded or brazed on and filled as necessary to make a smooth joint, the mounting face needs to be cut out and drilled to take the light unit. To achieve threaded holes for mounting the unit in the original way, braze nuts behind the holes. Use the existing pod as a model for this work and the new one will look as if it has always been on the car. Click HERE to see a Magnette on Youtube with a neat pair of fitted indicator pods.

If you do not want to go as far as fitting a new pod, a simple flush mounting unit such as a Lucas L488 can be fitted direct on to the wing. The only disadvantage is that it does not point directly to the rear but with a more upward aspect caused by the curve of the wing. However, it comes with a rubber backing which sits flexibly on the body.

You might be lucky enough at an autojumble to find a pair of contemporary rubber pods which were sold precisely for this purpose in the sixties when cars were being retro-fitted with flashers. These enable the lamps to be mounted with the proper aspect facing backwards.

If you do not want to modify the bodywork, the solution is to make brackets that fit on to the bumper mountings. There is not much space for the lamps above the bumper because they risk fouling the boot opening so the Lucas L539s are harder to accommodate. A simpler solution is to use a suitable motorcycle indicator pod with integral stalk. If you are careful to use a simple style, it will not look too much out of place. The stalk has the benefit of concealing and protecting the wiring which should be sleeved and grommeted where it passes through the bodywork.

The least attractive option is a simple rear mounting unit such as is used on trailers. These generally mount flat on a simple sheet-metal bracket. However, the wiring emerges behind and is difficult to hide neatly.

At the front, ZBs need no changes but ZAs will need to have ZB light units fitted together with associated wiring.

An extra wire will need to be run to the rear of the car. One of the exiting wires is needed to serve the brake lights, which can be wired together as they do not need to flash independently. The other original wire serves one indicator and the new wire serves the other. This can be concealed behind the rooflining trim strips and run into the boot through the rear shelf. The original switch can be retained, but depending which model you have, you will need either to wire a flasher unit from scratch or modify the ZB wiring to eliminate the relay box without eliminating the brake-lights! Consult your wiring diagram to design the circuit and avoid cutting into the harness if possible so that the work is reversible. Use original type bullet connectors to connect to the lamps.

The switch wiring emerges from the very bottom of the steering column and is linked into the harness by bullet connectors below the engine bay. The horn wiring is part of the same system so you need to be careful not to disrupt it. Being mounted so low, the connectors are vulnerable to corrosion so you may find that old bullet terminals come adrift when you try to pull them out. This will mean cleaning up the wire ends and resoldering. New connectors are readily available from specialists such as Holden.

ADDENDUM JUNE 2011

A recent posting by Trevor Jones on the Magnette bulletin board brought to everyone's attention an alternative approach using newly available LED units that combine brake lights and indicators in the same circular array, so these can be used at the rear if you are happy to acceot the non-original appearance. They are available from CAR Builders Solutions,  details HERE. With a bit of modification to an old light-unit base they can be made to fit under the original chrome embellisher. If you mix them with the original bulbs at the front you apparently need to wire in a resistor for the LED indicators.