Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

[G B.]

Is there a currently-available replacement for the Tung-Sol "642" flasher? By that I mean a 12 volt flasher with two bayonet-style female terminals.

The photo below shows my '56 parking brake alarm switch without the plug-in flasher. It would mount between the two male bayonet terminals.

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[Richard M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

There is no exact fit replacement I'm aware of. There are used or NOS out there on EBay, etc, but very pricey. E.G. HERE

A few photos of mine which failed, but was able to repair it.

[Dan H.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Had a bad flasher fail many years ago, wired it with solid wire, put a 257 bulb in brake warning plug socket, problem solved.

[G B.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Thank you both for your good responses. I'm going to run a jumper wire for now, but I've ordered one of the sorta-maybe NOS 642 flashers on eBay. That set me back about $130 including tax and shipping. If the alleged "new" flasher doesn't work, I'll just keep using the jumper.

The '56 alarm light bulb is a huge #90 size, unfortunately, and I don't know of a flashing bulb substitute. I could always hook up a more modern flasher with spade terminals, but that's a slippery slope. I'd probably morph into a real Hepcat with a Resto-Thingo... you know, 36" wheels, an LS electric motor, and a tasteful Day-Glo paint job.

[Richard M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Jerry, Hopefully it'll work. Electrical items, even though NOS, can be bad if the seller doesn't take the time or have the knowledge to test it.

If by chance it fails, let me know.

Rich
PS I laughed at your ending in the 2nd paragraph. Funny.

[G B.]

What works and what doesn't.

I received the $130 NOS #642 Tung Sol flasher from eBay yesterday. It fits just fine... but it's not functional in a '55 - '57 alarm light set-up. It's for a '58 - '59 Corvette alarm with the smaller #53, 2 C.P. bulb. The '55 - '57 #90, 6 C.P. bulb requires a #650 Tung Sol flasher. A '60 - '62 Corvette uses a flashing #257 bulb and no external flasher. I think.

I'm kinda tempted to bail on 2-bayonet flashers. After all, I can just wire in a modern #552 2-spade flasher. It works okay with a #90 bulb.

Rats. That's what I get for not reading the specs correctly. And for trusting the ST-12 bulb list. It says a '58 - '59 Corvette uses a #90 alarm bulb. Bullcorn.

[Richard M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Jerry,

I wondered about that. I tried searching the TDB then as I thought it might be different but I couldn't find the info. Then I saw your post that you bought it and I got sidetracked and never followed up. I'm sorry now that I didn't.

So now I searched for a #650 and found none.

Any chance you can return that #642? Other option is to sell it here in the Classified Section.

Rich

[G B.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Rich, I think returning the flasher because I screwed up would be poor form. The seller described it correctly as being a 642 for a '58 - '60 Corvette.

Also, it does work properly... just with a small ~3 watt #53 bulb. I assumed that it would work in my '56 because the ST-12 Shop Manual bulb chart says the '56-design 8 watt #90 bulb was also used in the '58 and '59 alarms. Wrong! The alarm bulb was actually a #53 in '58 and '59.

I'll either try to sell it somewhere or mount it on my wall. The latter might remind me to do more research before buying in the future.

[Richard M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Jerry I'm sure someone will need that 642.

For functionality your idea of wiring up a differently configured flasher should work fine.

Edit.... Or maybe change the bulb socket over to the smaller one for a #53 bulb? Just thinkin'....

Rich

[Gary C.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Jerry,

Easiest fix is to find another speedo trim with the flasher hole button still intact and not worry about the e-brake flasher.

Just sayin',

Gary
....

[Richard M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Gary, Didn't think of that...Hmmm.

OR, he could convert the 90 bulb to a 53 since the 650 is so hard to find and he now has the 642 flasher.

Rich

[G B.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Naaah. A 53 bulb uses a tiny socket and has a single tiddie contact. A 90 bulb uses a huge socket (like a tail light bulb) and has two contact tiddies.

As far as removing the alarm and plugging the hole or inserting a modern 2-spade flasher to make the alarm light work... wouldn't either course make my '56 a Modo-Thingo? I'd rather give my car a human name and let it write a first-person article for the Restorer... "Howdy! My name is Alice and I'm a '56 Corvette! My owner is an idiot who can't spec out a damn flasher!".

[Richard M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Jerry,

Alice? That was really funny. I laughed so hard...

So Jack M and I came up with a idea. I'm heading out on the road but he'll post it soon.

If I was close to my shop I'd make it and a few spares for you. It'd be fun.

Stay Tuned.... Rich

[Jack M.]

Re: Modern plug-in replacement for '55 - '60 parking brake flasher?

Another possibility... related to Rich's conversion idea.
Just hollow out a bulb with a larger base/socket... break off the top part to just leave the socket.
Now solder a wire from inside the larger socket, to the bottom of the smaller socket (making the connection).
Then fill the space in the larger socket with epoxy... it will also seal the connection, and hold the smaller bulb in place.
Hope that made sense... you are just placing the smaller bulb, into a larger/hollowed out socket.
Itz not that hard to do/accomplish... and if it doesn't work, you only ruin a couple bulbs.

[G B.]

I'm movin' on...

As much as I appreciate your input, bulb substitution is a dead end street. Going from a big 2-tiddie connection to a small single-teat is just too difficult.

I may wire in the two-spade modern flasher, or I may just leave the jumper wire in place. Or... maybe I'll take a creeper nap this afternoon and decide another day.

I'm going to set this mess aside for now. Surely there's something more important I can fix today. And yes, I'm going to try to re-sell the 642. It would be a waste to use it for wall art. Rick Gower: do you need it? It would be free if so.

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