Thread: Electricals - phew

Tweet

IC2, Just reporting in with some progress. The weather was pretty good today and it was 66 F in the garage so I did get some wiring done. The wire to the electric choke only required adding a push on clip and then I worked on adding ground wires to the tailights which are mounted on the fiberglass fenders. Threading in the tailight wires was a worry because the rear tires are big and I don't want to get into a situation where the tires rub the wires. Fortunately Henry Ford figured that out in 1929 by providing a back plate for the tailights (I got repro plates from Brattons in Md.) with a large bulging ridge in it for the wires so, if at all, the tires will rub on the smooth steel backing plate. I had to take the rear wheels off to drill a small hole through the side of the quarter panels for the wires but it was reassuring to find that the width of the 8" Maverick rear places the tires out away from the inner part of the body so that if the tire hits at all it will hit the protective steel backing plate instead of the wires. I might not have known about this except for my use of the original Ford manual for the Model A which shows the protective plate which was certainly needed for the 21" wheels on the original 1929 A. For once trying to follow the "restorod" trail was actually helpful. However I now realize why many roadsters have the tailights in the base of the body and not on the fender where large tires can rub the wires! Hey this was a "three wire day"! (I have been using "crimp only" connections so far; hope I don't regret that.)

Don Shillady
Retired SCeintistteen rodder