The Ford Barn

shooter54 · 03-14-2011, 10:25 PM

This is probably going to seem like a dumb question to some of you guys, but I'm no wiring expert, and I want to make sure I don't burn this car down...

My newly purchased 31 coupe doesn't have any of the lights hooked up. There is no wiring going to the headlights or brake lights. The guy said he "never drove it at night"

I want to run the most basic wiring setup I possibly can. Basically, I just need the headlights to work, tail light to work, and brake light to light up when I hit the brakes. I want to install a small discretely placed toggle to turn the headlights/tail light on (steering wheel headlight switch isn't in the car)

Can you guys give me an idea of what kind of components I'll need, and a basic idea of how to wire it properly? The car is still 6v, and runs/charges normally.

I have somewhat of an idea of how to do it, but I want to make sure I'm not forgetting or missing anything.

Crudely drawn pictures are always a plus..

MikeK · 03-14-2011, 10:47 PM

Forget the toggle switch patch. Fix it correctly! A complete new wiring harness from a vendor is about $45. Way easier than jury-rigging your own. Add a bit more if you are missing the switch shell and spider mechanism at the bottom of the steering column. Big spender? Get one with turn signals already wired in. Try Snyders, Brattons, Mac's, Mikes, your local A parts guy..

Ed Saniewski · 03-15-2011, 05:45 AM

Mike is right, get the complete wire harness, all the colors are correct and cut to length. Plug and play, and all the wiring diagrams you will come across will match your car. I live in a very congested area of NJ so when I restored my cars, I used the harness with directionals built in and LED tail lights.

sturgis 39 · 03-15-2011, 05:57 AM

There is nothing easier than wiring a model "a" with a new store bought harness. The wire colors match all of the original color codes. I still have 85% to 90% mobility in my left arm so I do not use the turn signal wiring and I only have one tail light.

Mike V. Florida · 03-15-2011, 07:34 AM

Have to agree just install what is supposed to be there.

kenparker · 03-15-2011, 07:41 AM

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The above posts are absolutely correct. Use the off the shelf wiring harness from one of the major suppliers. Even if you have to buy the light switch / horn rod for the steering wheel. You will be much happier inb the long run. I wired my speedster the hard way last year and just finished wiring a friends Model A/hotrod with homeade made up wiring. Trust me it aint easy.

Kurt in NJ · 03-15-2011, 08:22 AM

When I was asked to run new wires instead of fixing the wiring properly I would take out my Lionel train set poles, tape them to the windshield, run them over the roof and start stringing wire ---when the boss asked what I was doing --you told me to run new wires --then I would get to fix the wiring properly.

CarlG · 03-15-2011, 10:10 AM

I installed a new wiring harness a couple of times -- without having the wiring diagrams shown above. That was back when I was 15 years old -- a really long time ago! That was back when JC Whitney had tons of Model A parts.

03-14-2011, 10:25 PM	#1
shooter54 Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 69	Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) This is probably going to seem like a dumb question to some of you guys, but I'm no wiring expert, and I want to make sure I don't burn this car down... My newly purchased 31 coupe doesn't have any of the lights hooked up. There is no wiring going to the headlights or brake lights. The guy said he "never drove it at night" I want to run the most basic wiring setup I possibly can. Basically, I just need the headlights to work, tail light to work, and brake light to light up when I hit the brakes. I want to install a small discretely placed toggle to turn the headlights/tail light on (steering wheel headlight switch isn't in the car) Can you guys give me an idea of what kind of components I'll need, and a basic idea of how to wire it properly? The car is still 6v, and runs/charges normally. I have somewhat of an idea of how to do it, but I want to make sure I'm not forgetting or missing anything. Crudely drawn pictures are always a plus.. __________________ ESTRANGED CC

03-14-2011, 10:47 PM	#2
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) Forget the toggle switch patch. Fix it correctly! A complete new wiring harness from a vendor is about $45. Way easier than jury-rigging your own. Add a bit more if you are missing the switch shell and spider mechanism at the bottom of the steering column. Big spender? Get one with turn signals already wired in. Try Snyders, Brattons, Mac's, Mikes, your local A parts guy..

03-15-2011, 05:45 AM	#3
Ed Saniewski Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Denville NJ Posts: 964	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) Mike is right, get the complete wire harness, all the colors are correct and cut to length. Plug and play, and all the wiring diagrams you will come across will match your car. I live in a very congested area of NJ so when I restored my cars, I used the harness with directionals built in and LED tail lights. __________________ Model A Ford Club of New Jersey http://www.mafcnj.org Model A Pick Up Owners and Enthusiasts http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/group.php?groupid=5

03-15-2011, 05:57 AM	#4
sturgis 39 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lead. South Dakota Posts: 963	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) There is nothing easier than wiring a model "a" with a new store bought harness. The wire colors match all of the original color codes. I still have 85% to 90% mobility in my left arm so I do not use the turn signal wiring and I only have one tail light. __________________ IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED WITH BLASTING WIRE, JB WELD OR DUCT TAPE ---IT CAN NOT BE FIXED Do not get me started on the stupidity of ethanol. I think one of the monitors is from Iowa and he will delete the thread.

03-15-2011, 07:34 AM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) Have to agree just install what is supposed to be there. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

03-15-2011, 07:41 AM	#6
kenparker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Van, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The above posts are absolutely correct. Use the off the shelf wiring harness from one of the major suppliers. Even if you have to buy the light switch / horn rod for the steering wheel. You will be much happier inb the long run. I wired my speedster the hard way last year and just finished wiring a friends Model A/hotrod with homeade made up wiring. Trust me it aint easy.

03-15-2011, 08:22 AM	#7
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) When I was asked to run new wires instead of fixing the wiring properly I would take out my Lionel train set poles, tape them to the windshield, run them over the roof and start stringing wire ---when the boss asked what I was doing --you told me to run new wires --then I would get to fix the wiring properly.

03-15-2011, 10:10 AM	#8
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,116	Re: Basic headlight, tail light/brake light question (wiring) I installed a new wiring harness a couple of times -- without having the wiring diagrams shown above. That was back when I was 15 years old -- a really long time ago! That was back when JC Whitney had tons of Model A parts.