ClassicCar

foundkat

Hello all, I'm trying to ID these two wires in the photos below, one is coming out of the main column tube in the steering gear area which I believe is the horn wire(where my finger is pointing)? The other wire that is just above the column tube in the first photo (hard to see)... I have no idea, but a clearer photo in the second picture. I'm planning to splice in new wires into these old ones. I'm just trying to figure out what goes where. Thanks guys.

Ken U-Tx

First photo shows the wire from horn switch to the horn relay. This wire is just the ground being provided to the horn relay when the horn ring is pressed. The second photo shows the wire that provides power to the little shift indicator quadrant lighting bulb.

Ken U-Tx

That ground strap connecting starter bolt to the steering box bolt is incorrect. The ground strap should run from under the nut on the left front motor mount to the stud on the battery tray support, and another shorter strap from that same stud on battery support to the positive terminal of the original 6 volt positive ground battery, or to the negative terminal of a 12 volt battery if car is converted to 12 volt, negative ground.

foundkat

Thank you guys, very insightful as always! I'm converting to 12 volts and would never have known those straps were incorrect. I'll change them.

Hudzilla

Foundkat, Please do yourself a favor and replace the whole wiring harness instead of splicing. If you switch to 12 volts fine and dandy but you are still using ancient old steel stranded wire with the insulation falling off. If you rewire your harness at least you will prevent the possibility of an electric fire. Too many people switch to 12 volts thinking thats the best way to overcome 6 volt slow starting ,dim bulbs, etc etc. Thats fine if you remember to switch the wiring as well. Heck ,if you do a new harness even 6 volts improves tremendously. A huge amount of resistance builds up in old corroded wires that 12 volts will do nothing for except build up more heat. Please do yourself a favor. My 2 cents.

foundkat

Hudzilla, Thanks for your input. I have a brand new 12 volt 12 circuit wiring harness... I have no help or friends that no anything about wiring so I'm doing this solo with the help of this forum and the few diagrams folks have graciously sent me. I sometimes feel like I've bit off more than I can handle, but I'm determined to get this done correctly. I don't know how to get to the wires on the inside of the column tube and the other area, that's why I just wanted to splice the new to the old (this is the only two wires on the whole car that would be spliced), I could just start unbolting everything, but I'm at the point where I just want to get this thing done! I have spent six months or so on it and have been very overwhelmed at times. Also do I need to replace the condenser in the distributer as well as the starter solenoid when upgrading to 12volts?

SuperDave

Yes you need to replace the solenoid, but the condenser doesn't really know what voltage is present. Hang in there.. you'll get it..

foundkat

Thanks SuperDave.

Tallent R

As far as replacing the wire in the column. Take it loose at one end and solder a new wire to the old . Put a small amount of tape on the joint to make it smooth. And take other end loose and pull new wire in.

foundkat

^Great idea... Thanks!

Ken U-Tx

Better than tape would be the black heat shrink tubing, much less likely to rub and come unwrapped in side the steering shaft. When putting the wire splice , slide the heat shrink tubing on, but twist the stranded ends together good and tight, then silver solder them, let cool, then push the heat shrink tubing up (cut the heat shrink tubing about 1 inch longer than the spliced joint), center the tubing over the splice and then heat shrink it on tight.

ClassicCar

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

We'd love to hear from you! info@classiccar.com