rewireing 49 dodge pickup

[Ken SMith]

Im rewiring a 49 dodge truck.  All wires under the hood are finished and correct  (Checked with schematics)   Trouble is, the wires going to the ignition and the gas gauge and ammeter were so bad that I cant tell which is which.  Im particularly concerned with the ammeter.   There are two sides for wires and Im not sure what goes where.  Any help would be appreciated.  

Ken Smith

 

PS  Motor is out being rebuilt so I have plenty of room to work

[ggdad1951]

have you checked out the diagram here?

 

http://dodgepilothouseclub.com/know/wiring_harness/wiring.htm

[JBNeal]

FYI I had put together a wiring diagram that includes some additional information that may improve headlight performance.  One way to check the wiring posts on the AMP gauge is to hook the lead from the starter to one post, and the lead to the headlight switch to the other post, with lamps hooked up to the headlight switch.  When the lights are turned on, the AMP gauge should read discharge.  Or hook the lead from the starter to one post and a test lamp to the other post.  Grounding that lamp should also read discharge.

 

Once the AMP gauge is figgered out, then ya can move onto the ignition switch, attaching that jumper wire from the discharge post on the AMP gauge to one of the posts with the key in the 'off' position.  A test lamp can be attached to either of the other two posts and grounded.  The lamp should only come on with the key in the 'on' position.

 

With the fuel gauge, attach that jumper wire from one of the key-on terminals.  Ground the other terminal, and the gauge should read "F".

[HanksB3B]

This always helps.

 

 

Hope it does,

 

Hank

[52b3b]

I can not say anything about the problem, but i have rewired my system too. I take the original wire plan and set a fusebox under the hood.

Then i splitted off the "spagetti-wiring" and take every consumer (light, brakelight, settingcontrol, wiper a.s.o.) over the fuseblock.

Now i have a dodge/germanaprovement/wiringsystem. At the first ride some fuses are  broken because they were to low.

Today at the first ride with the new fuel pump the loadingcontrol said failer. I controlled it but i can not see a problem.

Next time with the problem i take a voltmeter for looking what happen. In times of calm i make a plan and show it.

 

Greetings Klaus

[RodFru2u]

Yes Klaus,

 

  A good meter is the ONLY way to track down those little electrical bugs, I would rather use an analog needle  meter than a digital read out meter. I have both but prefer the analog when dealing with most trouble shooting situations. Good luck with your project, We have been Lucas Electrics  since 1959 when my Dad bought a 1951 MG TD, Still have the little MG today.     

               

                                    Have Fun, Rod

[MBF]

If you notice-everything runs through the ammeter which Dodge did up through the 80's and maybe even later.  On another Mopar forum, for reliability and safety functions they suggest using a shunt across the ammeter (bypasses functionality of meter) and installing a volt meter especially if you're going to be adding heavy amp draw accessories.  I did this on my 1 ton, and my 78 half ton but haven't done it to the 2.5 ton truck yet as I don't think I'll be adding anything to that. Another way to safely do this is to pick the hot feed off of the neg on the starter or battery and fuse the heavy circuits individually.   There has to be some truth to this recommendation-a friend with a beautiful totally original Little Red Express had a serious dash fire caused by the ammeter burning up while he was driving it.  That's another reason I suggest the use of a battery disconnect-ya never know.   Mike

[steze480]

This always helps.

 

 

Hope it does,

 

Hank

Hank, I am wiring my fuel gauge and would like to knw which terminal is the hot side...

The stud with the nut or the bullet connector?

Steve

[B1B Keven]

Steve,

If your fuel gauge has a bullet connector, somone has changed it out.

What year truck do you have?

 

Keven

[HanksB3B]

^^^Whatever Keven Says^^^ I think he's earned the title of "Pilothouse Gauge Expert" 

 

Hank 

[B1B Keven]

Insert blushing emoticon here_______.