'47 Mercury -- Fuse Box?

[jagnweiner]

My main question is: Does my car have (or should it have) a fuse box somewhere? I'm trying to sort out the wiring behind my dash, because basically nothing was hooked up (radio, clock, heater, dash lights). I bought a new wiring harness for the heater blower, and the wiring instructions say the blower rheostat should be fed from the fuse box. However, I don't see that I have a fuse box. I looked at the wiring diagram on Mac VP's site, but I'm not that great at reading wiring diagrams. However, I didn't really see a fuse box on that either. I do see a couple of suppliers marketing a fuse box, though.

As a side note, is there a particularly good shop manual or two that I should own, so I don't have to ask all my naive questions here?

[oldskool]

the rheostat is the heater switch ,no fuse box on 47 mercs

[jagnweiner]

Originally Posted by oldskool

the rheostat is the heater switch ,no fuse box on 47 mercs

Thanks, oldskool.

[jagnweiner]

Still open for suggestions on question #2, about shop manuals. If no response I'll start a new thread.

[rotorwrench]

FoMoCo used heat sensitive circuit breakers that trip with a short and reset when the short is eliminated. They usually were just for the lighting system in that era. There was a fuse for the clock but that was about it. The ignition and instrument panel were unprotected. It wasn't till the 8BA era that fuses were added with the circuit breakers for certain circuits but heaters, clocks, & radio accessories had there own in line fuses.

FoMoCo made a shop[ manual for The 49 through 51 Lincoln & Mercury but I don't think they did on the earlier ones. The Mercury cars from 1946 through 1948 were very much like Ford cars with respect to mechanical drive train maintenance and the electrical system was near the same so they just lumped them all together. It is a basic shop manual but it was short on photos & diagrams that would explain things better. The Canadian 1942 thru 1948 shop manual is the best one to get. I think it has a green cover with flowing title characters over the front. These were based on the wartime Canadian tech manual and has much better illustrations & photos. That is about as good as it gets.

Here is a link. https://www.amazon.com/1942-1945-For.../dp/B0007INA66

[Bruce Lancaster]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The breakers would be on firewall near hole where harness goes through for early '47, bracketed to top of the box enclosing instruments under the dash for late '47.
Best shop manual is the 1946 Canadian shop manual, now sold in reprint as something like '39-48 shop manual with the addition of spec pages from Motor's manuals.

From C&G catalog:
Shop Manuals
DG-069


Please check the list below to
confirm that this item fits your vehicle.
Fits vehicles... (and/or) additional info...
42-48 Passenger 230 pgs
42-48 Mercury 230 pgs
Add to Wish ListPart# DG-069
Price $20.00 ea (USD)

1
Add to Cart
In Stock

Also get the USA service book, good info and some very useful illustrations:

Shop Manuals
V-24


Please check the list below to
confirm that this item fits your vehicle.
Fits vehicles... (and/or) additional info...
46-48 Passenger 256 pgs
46-48 Mercury 256 pgs
46-47 Pickup 256 pgs
Add to Wish ListPart# V-24
Price $30.00 ea (USD)

1
Add to Cart
In Stock

Both are reprints of 1946 Ford books with some additions.

[jagnweiner]

Thanks, guys! That's very helpful.

[rdmace1956]

i just bought the previous version of that Green Shop Manual and it was very helpful for my 41 Mercury. I found an owners manual/ reference manual thru MACs that was specific to Mercury line but it is pretty basic, not much detail.