1936 pickup rewire with new dash and lighting harnesses

[rottenron36]

I need your help again, probably going to get kicked off for asking to many questions! Rewiring my 36 pickup with new lighting and dash harnesses. The engine and trans are out. 59ab with voltage reg. I'm not sure how to test things without the engine running, and everything hooked up. I can jump the yellow dash wire and heater fan and wipers work. The only power to the lighting is to the horn, from the solenoid. I would like to check everything possible, but not sure how to go about it, to make sure I didn't screw anything up. Any tips or information greatly appreciated. Thanks again, again, and again! Ron

[JSeery]

Do you have the wiring diagrams you need? I would start with a 36 diagram and then one for the later 59a generator wiring. Engine running shouldn't be that big a deal, very few wires connect to the engine.

[VeryTangled]

Are you using bought harnesses or made-up?

I rewired my '35 using harnesses from Third Gen, Michael D. There were no surprises.

Can you do continuity measurements? It might help to have a jumper wire that can run the length of the car to test some connections in the rear.

If you haven't been to vanpeltsales.com for the wiring diagrams and schematics you may go there now.

I also found it really helpful to have a 6V lantern battery to use for temporary power.

[V8COOPMAN]

.

Here is a drawing, complements of Mac VanPelt for 1936 vehicles. Click the link! DD


http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...wiring1936.jpg

[rottenron36]

New 3rdgenauto, nice dash and lighting. don't understand were the power is coming from as i can disconnect the yellow red wire from the lighting switch and put 6 volt and all the dash works. NO power when connected to the yellow red from the light switch. Not sure where the power is suppose to come from. All wires hooked up per the drawings. It seems the only power from the solenoid goes to the horn. HELP!!!!! Thanks Ron PS need to know what to test.

[JSeery]

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Trace/check the Y wire starting at the starter solenoid. This wire is hot all the time. Should be one wire from the solenoid to the fuse block. Then check the other side of the fuse block. And so on & so on.

[Lawson Cox]

Just follow the wiring diagrams and you'll be okay. No need to try and check each wire as you go along. Insanity.

[rottenron36]

Thanks for all your help. There is only one wire going to the solenoid, it goes only to the horn. I will start there. AGAIN THANKS! Ron

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

Just follow the wiring diagrams and you'll be okay. No need to try and check each wire as you go along. Insanity.

Sure disagree with this! That is really the only way to trace electrical issues IMO. I was trained by the Army in trouble shooting missile electronics and have used the same methods my whole life. Actually, they train you to start in the middle of a circuit and then keep dividing it in half until you find power, then work your why back. But that is a bit difficult to explain to someone that does work with electric circuits. I find it easier to explain by starting at the power source (in this case the starter solenoid) and follow the wire to any connection and check there. The early Ford circuits are so simple you are talking a few minutes at most to find where the power in and is not!

[JSeery]

Flathead_Electrical_wiring1936.jpg

Originally Posted by rottenron36

Thanks for all your help. There is only one wire going to the solenoid, it goes only to the horn. I will start there. AGAIN THANKS! Ron

If there is not a wire doing to the fuse panel, there is no power going anywhere (other than the horn). If you look at the wiring diagram, there are two wires that connect to the power side of the solenoid, there are (should be) two wires. One goes to the horn and one goes through the back of the ammeter to the fuse block.

From the fuse block the light circuits connect to the fused side and the ignition, cigar lighter and cut-out connect to the non-fused side (the same terminal the wire from the solenoid connects to. See if this diagram I drew up is any easier to follow. In your case, the wire going to the cut-out would go to the voltage regulator.

The second diagram I drew up for an engine stand, but it is the same basic wiring for how your voltage regulator connects up. In your case the Yellow wire would go to the fuse panel and not the starter solenoid and the red ignition wire would also go the the same terminal on the fuse panel and then to the ignition switch.

I will go ahead and add the lighting control switch as well.

[rottenron36]

Thank you JSerry, Even I should be able to trace these. Ron