1931 Pickup questions

[Joe K]

I don't usually use the headlight socket setup where the flex attaches to the bottom of the light. The wiring harnesses don't have the properly shaped "knobs" on the end and while you can buy turned knobs and solder/replace them, you still have the issue of the plastic piece they fit into - the fit is none too grand, or constant.

Instead I gut out the ferrule socket setup and pull the lighting harness "up" into the headlight shell. I remove the socket setup except for the outer shell - leave the part for the quarter turn end of the flex cover to attach to. Then doing the solder work in the shell, attach the lightbulb socket wires DIRECTLY to the wiring harness with solder and shrink tubing over it.

This gets away from any "contact" issues between the flex ferrule area and the actual light circuit.

You can't quarter turn and "undo" the flex ferrule from the light body socket with this - but how often do you need to do this?

This also gives room in the ferrule socket for installation of the all essential GROUND WIRE from the shell of the headlight socket back to somewhere on the car frame.

Joe K

[mercman from oz]

Jim's new toy - 1931 Ford Model A Pick-Up. Very nice

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Jim's new toy - 1931 Ford Model A Pick-Up. Very nice

It beats my other A for sure.....

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by Joe K

I don't usually use the headlight socket setup where the flex attaches to the bottom of the light. The wiring harnesses don't have the properly shaped "knobs" on the end and while you can buy turned knobs and solder/replace them, you still have the issue of the plastic piece they fit into - the fit is none too grand, or constant.

Instead I gut out the ferrule socket setup and pull the lighting harness "up" into the headlight shell. I remove the socket setup except for the outer shell - leave the part for the quarter turn end of the flex cover to attach to. Then doing the solder work in the shell, attach the lightbulb socket wires DIRECTLY to the wiring harness with solder and shrink tubing over it.

This gets away from any "contact" issues between the flex ferrule area and the actual light circuit.

You can't quarter turn and "undo" the flex ferrule from the light body socket with this - but how often do you need to do this?

This also gives room in the ferrule socket for installation of the all essential GROUND WIRE from the shell of the headlight socket back to somewhere on the car frame.

Joe K

In my 32 I did this but went even further and switched to smaller sealed beam headlights like on a 1940. like you said the issue is getting the conduit to look right.

So far I am mainly having the no indents issue. I will look for an original switch this weekend.