GMC Signal Switch - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Andice · 01-02-2011, 06:47 PM

OK. I am almost certain that my factory issued turn signal switch is bad. See this:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=438282

I want to replace the switch but there are some concerns. My truck is a '64 GMC Fenderside. Do I need a '63 Chevy switch? Most, if not all, of the '63 Chevy replacement switches appear to not include the horn contact, upper bearing, etc. Is it as simple as snapping my parts into the replacement switch? Anybody done this?

I will try to clean the contacts on the current switch first, but I am trying to get some ideas in case the switch is shot. Thanks!

creep · 01-02-2011, 09:43 PM

I replaced my entire switch with one for a Chevy. My 63 wouldn't cancel out when turning so I bought a replacement canceling cam but it turned out my GMC's switch was different than a Chevy's so I replaced the whole switch with no problems. I think certain years had a seperate bearing you had to buy also.

creep · 01-02-2011, 09:49 PM

There are some pics of the switches here...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=354432&page=4

Andice · 01-02-2011, 10:36 PM

Creep: So in the end you replaced both the canceling ring and the switch? The canceling ring is on the back side of the steering wheel, right? So what are the differences between the '64 GMC switch and the '64 Chevy switch? Just different canceling prongs and ring?

slorio · 01-03-2011, 10:28 AM

Andice:
The answer to this question is "yes".
I want to replace the switch but there are some concerns. My truck is a '64 GMC Fenderside. Do I need a '63 Chevy switch?

The bearing from your old switch should slip into the new one. Often the bearings need to be replaced as well. Mine was shot.

The only other advice that I would give is to take it apart first and see if you can repair your switch. I had purchased a new switch a couple of years ago and the quality was not even close to the original GM switch. A couple of weeks ago I took apart the old GM switch and found that two of the wires had broken from toggling back and forth. A simple solder repair of the wires and I am back to running the original switch without any of the lighting headaches that I kept having with the "new" switch.

If you need a bearing, EBay has a few on sale here that are original:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Don't let anyone try to sell you one of these. They don't work. This was what Classic Industries shipped me and I ended up throwing it in the garbage. The brass on the back kept grounding out the horn and it has the wrong plug (male vs. female). It is actually for 55-57 Chevies:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-...Q5fAccessories

I hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Steve
New Orleans

**Clyde65** · 01-03-2011, 03:00 PM

The Chevy switch has the upper bearing with it.

http://www.classicparts.com/1964-66-...ctinfo/53-508/

slorio · 01-03-2011, 05:55 PM

Clyde:
The switch that you referenced is for 64-66 Chevy. It won't work on the poster's GMC. The GMC uses the switch from the 1963 Chevy.
regards,
Steve
New Orleans

Andice · 01-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Slorio and Clyde:

Thanks for the input. I just came in from swapping the purple and yellow signal wires where they plug into the harness at column. Just as I expected the left rear blinker and the right front blinker came on when I moved the ts lever to the up position. When I moved the lever down only the left front blinker came on. This indicates something goofy with the yellow wire inside the ts switch. I will pull the switch apart in a few days and see if I can clean/repair it. If I am unsuccessful after cleaning/repairing then I will seek out a '63 Chevy switch and use my old bearing and horn contact ring.

**Clyde65** · 01-03-2011, 06:28 PM

Well I posted that because the OP said his is a 1964 GMC. But if a 63 is needed here ya go...

http://www.classicparts.com/1963-Tur...ctinfo/53-507/

Again, I havent found one from a "GMC" specifically.

In the Vendor's description for the above item it does say will work for 64-66 GMC's also.

This one says "original guide" and is 2X the other one for the same year/model. I would call them and ask.

http://www.classicparts.com/1963-Tur...tinfo/53-507A/

mikie 1954 · 01-03-2011, 06:30 PM

slorio is corect. I had to rebuild my column when I bought my 64 GMC truck so I ordered one for a 64 chevy thinking it would be the same and had to exchange it for a 63 one insted.

**Clyde65** · 01-03-2011, 06:33 PM

sent you the corrected part numbers!

01-02-2011, 06:47 PM	#1
Andice Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 241	GMC Signal Switch OK. I am almost certain that my factory issued turn signal switch is bad. See this: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=438282 I want to replace the switch but there are some concerns. My truck is a '64 GMC Fenderside. Do I need a '63 Chevy switch? Most, if not all, of the '63 Chevy replacement switches appear to not include the horn contact, upper bearing, etc. Is it as simple as snapping my parts into the replacement switch? Anybody done this? I will try to clean the contacts on the current switch first, but I am trying to get some ideas in case the switch is shot. Thanks!

01-02-2011, 09:43 PM	#2
creep Registered Loser Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Elyria, OH Posts: 1,523	Re: GMC Signal Switch I replaced my entire switch with one for a Chevy. My 63 wouldn't cancel out when turning so I bought a replacement canceling cam but it turned out my GMC's switch was different than a Chevy's so I replaced the whole switch with no problems. I think certain years had a seperate bearing you had to buy also. __________________ ((..)) ((0)) '63 GMC lwb, 383, th350, lays frame, genuine patina. The Build Thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374267 '88 Astro cargo bagged, shaved, phantom grille. SOLD '50 Chevy 2 door sedan awaiting attention. 2014 Silverado Ext cab, 5.3, daily driver.

01-02-2011, 09:49 PM	#3
creep Registered Loser Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Elyria, OH Posts: 1,523	Re: GMC Signal Switch There are some pics of the switches here... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=354432&page=4 __________________ ((..)) ((0)) '63 GMC lwb, 383, th350, lays frame, genuine patina. The Build Thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374267 '88 Astro cargo bagged, shaved, phantom grille. SOLD '50 Chevy 2 door sedan awaiting attention. 2014 Silverado Ext cab, 5.3, daily driver.

01-02-2011, 10:36 PM	#4
Andice Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 241	Re: GMC Signal Switch Creep: So in the end you replaced both the canceling ring and the switch? The canceling ring is on the back side of the steering wheel, right? So what are the differences between the '64 GMC switch and the '64 Chevy switch? Just different canceling prongs and ring?

01-03-2011, 10:28 AM	#5
slorio Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 373	Re: GMC Signal Switch Andice: The answer to this question is "yes". I want to replace the switch but there are some concerns. My truck is a '64 GMC Fenderside. Do I need a '63 Chevy switch? The bearing from your old switch should slip into the new one. Often the bearings need to be replaced as well. Mine was shot. The only other advice that I would give is to take it apart first and see if you can repair your switch. I had purchased a new switch a couple of years ago and the quality was not even close to the original GM switch. A couple of weeks ago I took apart the old GM switch and found that two of the wires had broken from toggling back and forth. A simple solder repair of the wires and I am back to running the original switch without any of the lighting headaches that I kept having with the "new" switch. If you need a bearing, EBay has a few on sale here that are original: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT Don't let anyone try to sell you one of these. They don't work. This was what Classic Industries shipped me and I ended up throwing it in the garbage. The brass on the back kept grounding out the horn and it has the wrong plug (male vs. female). It is actually for 55-57 Chevies: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-...Q5fAccessories I hope this is helpful. Regards, Steve New Orleans

01-03-2011, 03:00 PM	#6
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,540	Re: GMC Signal Switch The Chevy switch has the upper bearing with it. http://www.classicparts.com/1964-66-...ctinfo/53-508/ __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!* Last edited by Clyde65; 01-03-2011 at 03:01 PM.

01-03-2011, 05:55 PM	#7
slorio Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 373	Re: GMC Signal Switch Clyde: The switch that you referenced is for 64-66 Chevy. It won't work on the poster's GMC. The GMC uses the switch from the 1963 Chevy. regards, Steve New Orleans

01-03-2011, 06:27 PM	#8
Andice Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 241	Re: GMC Signal Switch Slorio and Clyde: Thanks for the input. I just came in from swapping the purple and yellow signal wires where they plug into the harness at column. Just as I expected the left rear blinker and the right front blinker came on when I moved the ts lever to the up position. When I moved the lever down only the left front blinker came on. This indicates something goofy with the yellow wire inside the ts switch. I will pull the switch apart in a few days and see if I can clean/repair it. If I am unsuccessful after cleaning/repairing then I will seek out a '63 Chevy switch and use my old bearing and horn contact ring.

01-03-2011, 06:28 PM	#9
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,540	Re: GMC Signal Switch Well I posted that because the OP said his is a 1964 GMC. But if a 63 is needed here ya go... http://www.classicparts.com/1963-Tur...ctinfo/53-507/ Again, I havent found one from a "GMC" specifically. In the Vendor's description for the above item it does say will work for 64-66 GMC's also. This one says "original guide" and is 2X the other one for the same year/model. I would call them and ask. http://www.classicparts.com/1963-Tur...tinfo/53-507A/ __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!* Last edited by Clyde65; 01-03-2011 at 06:31 PM.

01-03-2011, 06:30 PM	#10
mikie 1954 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: caliente ca. Posts: 297	Re: GMC Signal Switch slorio is corect. I had to rebuild my column when I bought my 64 GMC truck so I ordered one for a 64 chevy thinking it would be the same and had to exchange it for a 63 one insted.

01-03-2011, 06:33 PM	#11
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,540	Re: GMC Signal Switch sent you the corrected part numbers! __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!*



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