32 3w questions

[mobil101]

Restoring a 3w Coupe. Would like to know the routing of the wire to the
dome light and dome light to ground. Vin# 200xxx Body #12659 Makes
it a late car. Has the late rear window trim, beep horn, late windshield
header cover but not the late dash with additional glove box mounts.
Could this dash be correct given the body Number ?

[DavidG]

The dome lamp connection to the lighting wiring harness is via the right side A pillar and the grounding is via a separate wire to a steel tab at the back of the roof opening.

Those running changes to the deluxe coupe body likely did not all occur at the same time so I would not be concerned if your dash was the earlier (but by far the most prevalent) version). All of those changes were of a non-functional nature such that Ford would first use up the existing inventory of the previous part versions.

[BoxCar Tom]

Wow, My 32 3W Coupe is Serial number 200xxx Body # 12660, one digit higher than your body number! My car is a trunk version built in mid November in the Edgewater NJ assembly plant. I have reason to believe that it was built there because I found "EDGEWATER" stamped into the top of the chassis K member cross beam on the passenger side. Wondering if your chassis shows the same identification?

Don't forget to include the dome light switch in the circuit.

BTW, my coupe also shows some late production inconsistencies, it has single finger pull hood hooks and a five screw rear window molding. There may have been others but it was turned into a hot rod in the 40s

Also, you may want to read the 32 3W body tag thread on this site.

[mobil101]

Thanks, I did notice a metal tab just behind the last roof bow. My body tag had several layers of paint on it, but was able to clean up and read the numbers. That's interesting
having two 3w body's one number apart. And yes, I have the original working light
switch and cover. David, I have just about wore out your 32 book, having read it so
many times. Learn something new each time.

[DavidG]

I'm glad the book is proving useful. I use it all the time myself.


When you install the dome lamp switch, if such details matter to you as they seem to from your comments, note that unlike in the rest of the '32 body types with dome lamps, the switch is not perfectly vertical, but rather is aligned parallel to the slant of the upper rear of the door opening. It is remarkable that someone took the trouble to specify such a detail.

[mobil101]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Very interesting David. I will install parallel to the upper door opening. One other
note, as luck would have it, the car came with a very nice set of late engine
splash pans. Thanks again