Frankie the Fink

Errr....title should have said "emergency BRAKE warning flasher".

Have had at least 3 people in the last couple of months ask me about these...the whole rig is up for auction...these don't come along very often at all and are not reproduced:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170648448715 &viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3A IT

Oh -- and this is not my auction nor do I know the seller.

1snake

That kit is correct for 58-60 only. 61-62 don't use the flasher assembly that attaches to the kick panel. They use a flasher bulb instead.

Jim

Frankie the Fink

True...the main thing in any event is to get the switch...the later wiring pigtail and flashing bulb are readily available from Paragon...that is what I run in the '61...

1snake

I come across those switches quite often. The really hard part to find (if you need one) is a working bakelite flasher. When they fail, most people just bypass them and get a flasher bulb.

Jim

Frankie the Fink

Apologies if I initially posted this in the wrong section...
And I don't see these switches often at all..even "vettegal" said they are tough to find when I pinged her about getting one two years back...(which is why I bought a spare switch).
I've been offered $200 for my working original spare (and I'm not selling)..

chris ritchie

Jim; Where do you find those switches? Are they used on any other cars?

1snake

I don't think they were used on anything other than Corvettes but it's possible. There were at least two at the swap meet last Feb. Asking price was around $50 each. I know this will make Frankie cringe but there were several correct 2X4 set-ups there as well. Most were less than $2000 including the 270 HP models. It seems that parts are only expensive when you need them, otherwise they are everywhere for cheap.

Jim

Steve59

There are 2 I believe that will work on a 59 (they are both 12v). #642 and #650. I again think that the 650 is correct for a 59. The difference being one flashes a little faster. Apparently they were made specifically for the separate load on the different c-1 years. I have both, paid $100 for the 642 and $35 for the 650.

1snake

Steve, 58 -60 use the same flasher. 56-57 use a different one (still 12V). I don't have the numbers in front of me right now. The 56-57 bulb is much larger and draws more current than the 58-60 bulb. If a 56-57 flasher is used on a 58-60, the smaller bulb doesn't draw enough current to make the flasher work. I have 2 NOS 56-57 flashers that I picked up while looking for the correct one for my 60.

Jim

Steve59

Jim:

I'd be interested in knowing what #'s go with what years. I was told that the 650 goes in a 59. But I have the 642 in there now and it flashes (it's a stock bulb), have not tried the 650.

Frankie the Fink

Apparently, it would pay me to fly out to the West coast to buy parts....I go to a lot of swap meets locally and don't find anything close to the prices Jim sees for dual quads and warning switches. Maybe there is a time warp out there and 1978 prices apply...

1snake

The #650 is for 55-57 cars that use a #90 bulb. #642 is correct for 58-60 cars using a #57 bulb. The #650 with a #57 bulb won't flash.

Jim

1snake

You must not have been "into" Corvettes in 1978. 2X4 set-ups were worth about $200 and complete F.I. units ran less than $500 IF you could even sell them.. I sold a bunch of them. I don't think prices are much cheaper on the west coast. You keep posting prices from Bloomington or similar venues. If that's where you buy your parts, expect to pay at least twice what you can buy them for elsewhere with a little bit of looking. I've been buying and selling Corvette parts for 40 years. Sure wish I had some of those F.I. units that went in the trash because nobody would give me $100 for them.

Jim

Steve59

Jim:
Thanks, that clears it up.
Steve

Frankie the Fink

Never bought a single part other than from the main Corvette vendors (reluctantly), eBay, swap meets or my pals. I don't even watch Mecum or B-J anymore and don't know anything at all about Bloomington.

I'm 60 ... been around used cars since I was 14 (my Dad was a dealer) so Corvettes aren't my first rodeo. Anyway the auctioned brake light switch setup went for close to $280....and that's a West coast price (Oregon).

1snake

Probably sold to someone on the East coast. Still that's not too terrible for a COMPLETE set-up ( switch, flasher, harness and bulb socket) considering someone wanted to give you $200 for just the switch. You should have taken the money and ran. Like I said earlier, the switches are about $50, flashers can go for $200 so that leaves $30 for the harness.
Sounds okay to me.

You commented on 1978 prices out here. Your car would sell for around $2K back then. BB mid-years were less than $3K all day long, so no, we don't have 1978 prices on the west coast. Sure wish we did though.

Jim