Headlights and parking lights

[CableguyJJS3]

Ok, please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but I am baffled here. I'm working on repairing all the broken and burnt wiring in my 57 Ranchero and after tracing through broken switches and broken junction blocks I have a puzzle. I have a shop manual and a wiring book, but when I wire the headlight and parking lamp circuit according to the book, I lose the parking lights when I turn on the headlights. Now I have the turn signal switch laying on the bench as I'm missing a couple of springs still, but according to the books, the parking light circuit is one wire and goes directly and only to the P terminal on the headlight switch. Is this the way these are supposed to function?? Parking lights work when the headlight switch is in the parking light step of the switch then off when you pull the switch out to headlights?? Also if anyone has a spare headlight switch, I am in need of one. And I'd be really appreciative if anyone has their dash apart and has some good pics of the headlight and ignition switch and the wires connected, mine was all kinds of torn up when I got into it, and I'm just trying to put it back to original. Thanks. Jim

[gasman826]

Working as designed.  Modern cars have the parking lights (marker lights) work with the headlights.  Parking lights were for parking. 

[RICH MUISE]

Jim...I should have a headlight switch. I'll throw it in the box with the harness. A pm was sent btw, if you hadn't seen it.
Rich

[Ford Blue blood]

As Gary said, all is good!

[CableguyJJS3]

Well I certainly wouldn't have guessed that, but allrighty then. That explains why when testing on the headlight switch, power jumps from the P terminal across to the R? terminal when you pull the switch all the way out. Now a follow up question, now that I know that the front parking lights were not designed to work with the headlights on. Could I attach a jumper wire to the tail light circuit to light up the front marker lights to work with the headlights or is that to much draw on the system?? Thanks for the help with this guys, I appreciate it.  Jim

And thank you very much for the reply Rich, I sent a PM back.

[Ford Blue blood]

Yes...but disconnect from the "P" post and splice/connect to the rear light circuit.

[gasman826]

That's what I did.

[CableguyJJS3]

Works for me, thanks for the help guys.

[wv 57s forever]

why run them?

[gasman826]

Cuss I can...and if a headlight fails, on coming traffic can see you're not a motorcycle.