Help withTurn Signal Flasher

[Don Z.]

Again, I need some help. When I had my car flight judged the judges said I had a aftermarket flasher. This is the flasher that clips along the side panel above the antenna switch. My car is a 1966 ( March ). I have been looking for a flasher, but I really don't know the number I need. The AIM says 383639 and then 383638 OPT.What is this OPT ??
I found on E-bay item #2459834677 a GM TungSol 224 Blue Signal Flasher and they say it meets the GM # 383639. Is this the flasher I have been longing to find ??I have pretty much exhausted all the findings in the Driveline, no one seems to have one and they also have said they are not sure what number I need. Again, any help is greatly appreciated.

[Jack H.]

Re: Help withTurn Signal Flasher

The 'OPT' listing means there was more than one supplier of the part and engineering felt it was important to assign discrete PN's to track the performance of the separate suppliers individually rather than 'mixing' their components in a single inventory 'bin' under a common part number. You'll also see this 'OPT' convention used for fan clutches and a handful of other parts....

Your copy of the '66 Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide tells you judges are looking for two versions of flasher:

(1) Signal Stat 175 packaged in a silver metal can (it's rectangular) for any '66 Corvette.

(2) Tung Sol 224 packaged in a blue metal can for 'early' cars and in a blue plastic can for 'late' cars.

None of the flashers should bear a DOT reference.... Having walked scrap yards for years, I can tell you the late version of the Tung Sol (non-DOT, blue plastic can) is relatively HARD to come by. I think I've unearthed 4-5 of these over the years while the early version (blue metal can) and the 'OPT' flasher (Signal Stat 175 in silver can) are easier to stumble across.

[Peter L.]

Re: Help withTurn Signal Flasher

Don - I would expect your '66 to have a 2-lamp (1-front and 1-back) fixed load turn signal flasher either a Tung-Sol #224 or a Signal-Stat #144. I believe the call out in the Judging Manual for the Signal-Stat #175 is in err because it is variable load flasher for up to 6 lamps and would not be typically used because lamp failure would not be noted by the operator (with a fixed load flasher the operator is alerted to lamp failure by the turn signals not flashing, i.e. not operating properly). It is my understanding that early '66 Corvettes used a metal Tung-Sol #224 and later '66 Corvettes used the plastic Tung-Sol #224. In both cases the flasher cap color was blue. The Signal-Stat #144 used thru out the production year was light blue in color and had a metal cap with SIGNAL-STAT and 144 embossed on the top of the cap. Pete

[Don Z.]

Re: Help withTurn Signal Flasher

Thanks Guys...Some additional information...E-Bay says that this is non-DOT and the flasher is blue plastic with printing on top of Tung Sol 224 2 lamp 12 volts. The box shown has Tung-Sol 224/AP256S 12V lamps. Sounds like this is what I may be looking for ?? I do not know what these go for. Any Ideas ? E-bay now is at about $23...comments please......again thanks for all the help.