Re: 1940 Super 8 160 Model 1803 Project
Posted by Jim On 2010/8/23 0:49:37
This was a very unusual weekend in that I had two full days to work on the car at my disposal. The plan of attack has been to clean up the car, make the electrical system fully functional, and then a comprehensive chassis service.
This weekend was a perfect opportunity to make the electrical system function. I began with a quick assessment of what worked and didn't work earlier in the week. Also assessed the condition of the existing wiring. To a large extent, the wiring was very intact and very serviceable.
My good friend Bob joined me Saturday for an electrical assault on two fronts. Bob took on the taillights while I began trouble shooting the fuel gauge and dash lights. Tail lights amounted to bad grounds, connections, and typical fidgeting normally expected from an inop. vehicle of 40 some odd years. The license plate light was a simple matter of removing the distorted remaining base of a long ago busted bulb.
Mean while, I changed a few dash light bulbs, checked the status of the fuel gage, and assessed the period installed turn signal system. The fuel gauge when sender side flashed to ground worked just fine.
We got serious about the fuel gauge and decided before pronouncing the sender at fault to do a little ground the wire at the tank trick. Hmm... nothing. Went upstream to the bullet connector under the frame in the front seat vicinity. Probed with a paperclip and grounded. Gauge responded as expected. Strange. Disconnected at both ends and did continuity check. Open!. Did what I hate to do more than anything; abandon the wire and run a new length from plug to plug. All fixed! Gauge reacts when new wire flashed to chassis ground at tank connection. All fixed! Not. No impulse at gauge when key turned on with wire connected to sender. Bob grounded the tank itself and presto! Impulse at the gauge. Great! Dropped straps, cleaned and applied dielectric grease. Hmm... must need gas, I ran it out running it in the garage over the past several weeks. Added gas and nothing more than the gauge coming up to empty dot. Now what! Hmm... Bump the bottom of the tank and the gauge reacts. Sunk float I guess. Dropping the tank will be for another day. Just glad the other problems are corrected so I can concentrate on the sender. Nothing more fun than to trouble shoot multiple issues with a single system.
Sunday, on to the headlights and park lights. Had to first diagram the TS wires, Park light wires, and high/low beam connections. Fairly easy. The park lights were nicely converted to dual filament for the park lights to be retained with the add on TS system. The add on TS system was likely done when the car was new. All wire cloth covered and a very old switch. I normally would not retain an add on system, but this has been a part of the car for 70 some years so it stays. The sub-harness to the park / headlamp system had been cut, abandon, and partially replaced at some point. Not sure why, the wires were in above average condition. Basically spent the day creating good grounds and making a new front harness.
Success! Concluded Sunday evening with a fully functional electrical system including stop, turn, park, dash, courtesy, and headlamp system with only 30 man hours to accomplish. A very rewarding pursuit and a major step in a first cruise.
Next installment, chassis maintenance!
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This weekend was a perfect opportunity to make the electrical system function. I began with a quick assessment of what worked and didn't work earlier in the week. Also assessed the condition of the existing wiring. To a large extent, the wiring was very intact and very serviceable.
My good friend Bob joined me Saturday for an electrical assault on two fronts. Bob took on the taillights while I began trouble shooting the fuel gauge and dash lights. Tail lights amounted to bad grounds, connections, and typical fidgeting normally expected from an inop. vehicle of 40 some odd years. The license plate light was a simple matter of removing the distorted remaining base of a long ago busted bulb.
Mean while, I changed a few dash light bulbs, checked the status of the fuel gage, and assessed the period installed turn signal system. The fuel gauge when sender side flashed to ground worked just fine.
We got serious about the fuel gauge and decided before pronouncing the sender at fault to do a little ground the wire at the tank trick. Hmm... nothing. Went upstream to the bullet connector under the frame in the front seat vicinity. Probed with a paperclip and grounded. Gauge responded as expected. Strange. Disconnected at both ends and did continuity check. Open!. Did what I hate to do more than anything; abandon the wire and run a new length from plug to plug. All fixed! Gauge reacts when new wire flashed to chassis ground at tank connection. All fixed! Not. No impulse at gauge when key turned on with wire connected to sender. Bob grounded the tank itself and presto! Impulse at the gauge. Great! Dropped straps, cleaned and applied dielectric grease. Hmm... must need gas, I ran it out running it in the garage over the past several weeks. Added gas and nothing more than the gauge coming up to empty dot. Now what! Hmm... Bump the bottom of the tank and the gauge reacts. Sunk float I guess. Dropping the tank will be for another day. Just glad the other problems are corrected so I can concentrate on the sender. Nothing more fun than to trouble shoot multiple issues with a single system.
Sunday, on to the headlights and park lights. Had to first diagram the TS wires, Park light wires, and high/low beam connections. Fairly easy. The park lights were nicely converted to dual filament for the park lights to be retained with the add on TS system. The add on TS system was likely done when the car was new. All wire cloth covered and a very old switch. I normally would not retain an add on system, but this has been a part of the car for 70 some years so it stays. The sub-harness to the park / headlamp system had been cut, abandon, and partially replaced at some point. Not sure why, the wires were in above average condition. Basically spent the day creating good grounds and making a new front harness.
Success! Concluded Sunday evening with a fully functional electrical system including stop, turn, park, dash, courtesy, and headlamp system with only 30 man hours to accomplish. A very rewarding pursuit and a major step in a first cruise.
Next installment, chassis maintenance!
Attach file:
(51.08 KB)
(47.29 KB)
(29.28 KB)
(30.19 KB)
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