Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-22-2020, 05:02 PM   #21
Darrell S
Senior Member
 
Darrell S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Everett WA
Posts: 346
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

All good tips depending which route to go. Removing the seat and the return springs on clutch and brake helps too.
Darrell S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2020, 02:57 PM   #22
stevejenkins2010
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 3
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Thank you gentlemen for the great suggestions! I completely rewired my 1940 standard 2 door sedan new wiring harness. Almost everything worked completely after rewiring : temperature gauge, oil pressure, battery indicator, headlights taillights, and it started up the first time!

I did unbolt the front seat and pushed it towards the back to make it easy to access underneath the dash. It did take some contortions do you remove the instrument cluster, as I am in my 60s and I’m not as skinny as I used to be.

The only problem I’m having right now is the gas gauge. The gas gauge reads more than full, another words the needle is to the right of the full Mark. While I think my gas tank is pretty well full, the needle on the gauge doesn’t seem to be going down on. I suspect the gas gauge Might need calibration, or perhaps the sending unit is somehow wrong? Does This require pulling out the gas tank and checking something?

Thanks again for your help everybody!

Have a great day!
stevejenkins2010 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 04-06-2020, 08:05 PM   #23
JayChicago
Senior Member
 
JayChicago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Chicago
Posts: 711
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Your fuel gauge symptom sounds like it has an aftermarket sending unit. They are all notoriously inaccurate, use different technology than the original. Gauge may read over-full until tank gets half empty then read 1/4 full when empty, or some other inaccurate reading. Takes some improvising with an aftermarket sender to get it to provide a correct current for the original gauge, and then may not be accurate thru the entire scale.

Sender is easily accessible. The trunk floor has a removable access panel. Then sender can be easily removed from within the trunk.

A working original King-Seely sender would be nice to have. They are not being reproduced. Originals do show up on ebay. A known-to-be-good one won't be cheap.

Last edited by JayChicago; 04-06-2020 at 09:43 PM.
JayChicago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2021, 08:40 PM   #24
Rcedrone
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Please post link
Rcedrone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2021, 10:00 PM   #25
19Fordy
Senior Member
 
19Fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,879
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

fortyonerag. Any chance you could repost those photos so they smaller to easy viewing?
When I post photos use Paint and RESIZE originals to 35%. Thanks.
19Fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 01:47 AM   #26
mercman from oz
Senior Member
 
mercman from oz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 10,297
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)








Here are some smaller photos that were originally posted by fortyonerag, as requested by 19Fordy. I hope that this is what you wanted to see, but as you can see, they are much smaller than the Originals. At least they fit the page when they are small like this.
mercman from oz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 06:41 AM   #27
fortyonerag
Senior Member
 
fortyonerag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 539
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Thanks Mercman. I think I know what I did wrong...
fortyonerag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 10:13 AM   #28
marko39
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: harpursville ny
Posts: 1,038
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Just did this on my 39. I had seat out which is very important as I have been back under dash numerous times to trouble shoot problems and change resistor. It was hard to tell the difference between two wires on the new harness and I had them switched. Once running back under to replace two gauges I also am waiting until everything is sorted before installing radio as it will make it harder to do anything under dash with it installed.
marko39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 10:21 AM   #29
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,144
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kens 36 View Post
Yes, the old electrical tape is still available. Search for "friction tape" on Amazon or other sources.

Ken
3M still makes friction tape. It is available at any Home Depot in the electrical section.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 11:32 AM   #30
19Fordy
Senior Member
 
19Fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,879
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

THANK YOU for posting resized photos. Big help.

JAY: How did you make out with fixing your gas tank sending unit?
19Fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 12:14 PM   #31
38bill
Senior Member
 
38bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,163
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

I find that one of those headlamps that you wear really helps under the dash as it aims the light right where you are looking.
38bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 04:24 PM   #32
JayChicago
Senior Member
 
JayChicago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Chicago
Posts: 711
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

[QUOTEJAY: How did you make out with fixing your gas tank sending unit?[/QUOTE]

After lots of trial-and-error, including driving til empty with a gas can in the trunk, the gauge is now good enough. Here's a note put in the car's file for future caretakers:
"When needle gets over gauge's E line, it will have maybe 1 gallon in the tank, good for about 10-15 miles. But needle will not go lower."

I started by making a cardboard template representing the cross section of the tank. With sender laying on the template, adjusted the float arm so that the arm bottomed on the sender just before the float hit the floor of the tank. But then this particular sender needed an additional 7 ohm resistor in series with the sender to get gauge needle to go down to the E mark.

Last edited by JayChicago; 01-14-2021 at 04:41 PM.
JayChicago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 05:03 PM   #33
19Fordy
Senior Member
 
19Fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,879
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Thanks Jay for the reply, Glad you solved the problem. Good condition old fuel tank sending units sure are hard to find.
19Fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2021, 05:22 PM   #34
Ggmac
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Lake worth Florida
Posts: 1,073
Default Re: Wiring Dash and instrument cluster 1940

Quote:
Originally Posted by stevejenkins2010 View Post
]Hello, I’m a new member here. I’m looking for any advice on how to install a dash wiring harness for my 1940 standard Sedan. I have a new Dash wiring harness, but looking for advice on installation. Should I remove dash, or front seat ? Is there any step by step guide in a mechanics manual?

I rewired the headlights already, took a good bit of time, and would appreciate any advice before tackling this new project....thanks!!
I just last week did a 41 tudor . Every wire . I used Tyree Harris excellent harness . I left the seat in , moved it back and had sufficient room and actually it helped being there. Remove the cover on the firewall and start to unplug . I could not tell original color , i soon realized that it didnt matter the new harness is color coded correctly. Dash instrument cluster is simple enough , ign switch ,wires for circuit breaker (41) and resistor are easy , next was the clovebox clock and wire to the cigar lighter and dome lights , done .
Lay the harness out in the sun or somewhere warm and straighten , line it up under dash so wires are in appropriate position . I used one of the harbor freigh freebie led lights that have a hook and a magnet on the back . Light was not a problem with new batteries . Make sure you have a wiring diagraam and i used a few different ones as the 41 was a one year only and had some discrepancies between schematic
Good luck .

Last edited by Ggmac; 01-15-2021 at 06:08 AM.
Ggmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:24 AM.