1929 A headlights Restoring a 199 Tudor and got stuck with the headlight wiring. There are three wires coming out each side of car but only two wires coming out headlights. I have searched for guidance but can't seem to find anything. My shop manual doesn't address this as well. I just can't figure it out. Did ok on the car but when it comes to wiring, haven't gotten there as yet. Thanks for any info.:
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Re: 1929 A headlights The third wire is for parking lights inside the headlight reflector, at the top. A separate bulb hole in each reflector for a simple 3 cp bulb.
I hope this makes sense. :D |
Re: 1929 A headlights 3 Attachment(s)
Inside your headlight buckets there ought to be a pair of sockets as shown in the first picture.
The labeled rubber insulator holds the wires in the correct position. Then the conduit holds it all together. Very possibly you have earlier two-wire headlight buckets Pictures of the inside of your headlight would really help..... |
Re: 1929 A headlights 28-29 have "H-type" buckets, fluted lens. Conduit and socket are smaller, two wires. Single bulb reflector w/ concentric socket sleeve. 3-position light switch, off-dim-bright.
30-31 "Twolite" buckets, bullhorn lens. Larger conduit and socket, three wires. 1-bulb reflector w/deluxe cowl lights, 2-bulb w/o. 4-pos light switch, park-off-dim-bright. Later reflectors with 1/16" offset sleeve may be used on earlier lamps. The switch plates between the two versions are different; you may need to transfer your old plate to the new harness for it to fit properly. In any event, you should disconnect the two park lamp wires from the from the lighting switch. Check vendors' catalogs to see parts differences between the years. |
Re: 1929 A headlights Just consulted my FSB - the Twolite was introduced very early 1929, so that's probably what you have, and shouldn't have problems with parts compatibility.
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Re: 1929 A headlights Never messed with the 29-31 1 light version, is it like the twolite and just doesn't use the parking light terminal?
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Re: 1929 A headlights I think I know what your problem is. You have what some of the CD vendors call 28 head lights. They have smaller 2 pin sockets for your conduit connection. Originally your light switch probably had contacts that har 4 legs instead of 3 like the later models. So might check and confirm that. The older 4 prong switch does not work with most harness made today. I’ve read Sacramento Vintage is the only place to get a 28 harness. Nobody makes a reproduction 28 switch. BTW I went through all of this with my January 29. At the time I didn’t realize there was a difference in switches. The 28 headlights had a single 2 element bulb. One of the elements was 3 cp for park lights. So you switch had, park, off, and headlight. There was no high beam as we know it on later models. If you keep your buckets, all you need to make them work with your harness, figure out which of those 2 out of 3, work with high beam and low. This is keeping a single bulb reflector. You only need to clip the terminal ends on the black with red tracer, and black with green tracer. Buy the 2 pin conduit socket, the terminal ends for the wire that have a screw in one end. These are the only terminal that work with the 2 wire setup. Also you will need the smaller conduit that are referred to as 28 only. Ask me how I know, I went through this exercise when I bout new conduits from Snyder’s and beings my car is early 29 I needed bigger 3 pin. I talked to Tom and he insisted I have 28 buckets. If you want the 2 bulb reflector setup, you need to eliminate those pieces that hold the wiring and go straight through with different connectors. I hope this makes sense.
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Re: 1929 A headlights Thanks much, you have taken some of the mystery away.
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Re: 1929 A headlights Quote:
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Re: 1929 A headlights 3 Attachment(s)
Thanks much, I am posting inside of light as well as wiring. Three wires coming from car and two from headlight.
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Re: 1929 A headlights 3 Attachment(s)
Thanks much, I am posting inside of light as well as wiring. Three wires coming from car and two from headlight.
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Re: 1929 A headlights Does your car have cowl lamps?
The Judging Standards show a wiring diagram for 1928 through march 1929 with two wire headlights and no cowl lamps. As mentioned in post #7 you may have a mis-matched wiring harness. Is it new? I had a similar experience with the headlights being a mixture of single bulb (2 wire) buckets, but two-bulb reflectors, and 3 wire harness. My headlights were hard wired, eliminating the socket type connection where the conduit meets the bucket. |
Re: 1929 A headlights Quote:
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Re: 1929 A headlights I believe those are the later 29 Twolite lamps - looks like the triangular pattern wire guide "plug" will fit. With no cowl lamps you should replace the inner harness with the two bulb type, the reflectors also. This will make it "correct" if that's what you're going for.
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Re: 1929 A headlights Quote:
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Re: 1929 A headlights Just so you know, the vendors, not all of them, can supply a 2 wire harness for single bulb with or without cowl lights. The cowl light wire exits separately from the 2 wires going to the headlights. You need to look at your light switch and your harness at the end where it meets up with the switch. Post pictures.
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Re: 1929 A headlights Just wait till you have a light switch designed for no parkers but the car has them. Then, let the head scratching begin!
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