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My ’48 Chrysler New Yorker has a strange starting problem. The starter will not engage/crank when the headlight switch is pulled to on position -- I don’t mean slow cranking with lights on — it doesn’t crank at all… with the lights on, pressing the starter button does not dim the lights. With starter button depressed and lights on, the starter won’t engage — switch the lights off while depressing the starter button, and it fires right up…the headlight switch in the “on” position acts like a kill switch. When the lights are off, it easily fires right up every time. Battery is fully charged, battery cables are sized 2/0 (made from welding cables) and the generator has been replaced with a 6 volt alternator with internal voltage regulator — external regulator removed. Other than the headlight/starting issue, it starts easily and runs great. Any clues?

I expect your question is from idle curiosity as I can’t see a reason to ever try any car with an extra drain on the battery. I don’t even like the modern cars that the headlights are the first thing turned on when starting. Maybe someone in the distant past did a work around to stop a family member from doing this after tiring of having to go out on winter morning’s to jump start the car?

Build a small die and punch them out.