Posted: 10/11/2010 1:16:17 AM EDT
I have been locked in epic battle with the wiring on my 73 Power Wagon.The PO couldn't make an electrical connection to save his life yet his work is everywhere.Connector the wrong size? No problem,just cut off strands till it fits.No connector? No problem just lay the wires side by side and tape them.I thought I had it dicked.Military 0 gauge cables and battery clamps.All underhood wiring was not just redone but modified to an entirely new layout courtesy of MAD electrical.The new layout bypasses the problematic ammeter and provides full voltage across the system.All the wiring was properly sized and I went the extra mile and used marine grade tinned wire.I crimped,soldered,and heat shrinked every connection.I bypassed the factory bulkhead connector for the main power to the cab and used a marine grade plated copper alloy pass through junction block.All this and yet,here I am at home on the computer when I should be at work. How can this be,you ask.Well the previous owners wiring had a failsafe booby trap of sorts.He had jumped the 10 gauge main power wire to the ignition with what looks to be 14 gauge in his typical lay side by side and electrical tape style.AS I figure it the piss poor connections underhood kept the power going through that point down to a level it could handle.When those connections were repaired...well,I get to walk my happy ass home .I didn't see it before because it was buried in the main harness under the dash.I jumped the wire,got her home and have spent the last 5 hours removing the dash and properly repairing that as well as 3 other "splices" and replacing a ground strap made of speaker wire .I REALLY hope this is it now.Phase 2 of my electrical bulletproofing upgrades is fitting it with an HEI ignition and getting rid of the ballast resistor.
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Quoted:
I have been locked in epic battle with the wiring on my 73 Power Wagon.The PO couldn't make an electrical connection to save his life yet his work is everywhere.Connector the wrong size? No problem,just cut off strands till it fits.No connector? No problem just lay the wires side by side and tape them.I thought I had it dicked.Military 0 gauge cables and battery clamps.All underhood wiring was not just redone but modified to an entirely new layout courtesy of MAD electrical.The new layout bypasses the problematic ammeter and provides full voltage across the system.All the wiring was properly sized and I went the extra mile and used marine grade tinned wire.I crimped,soldered,and heat shrinked every connection.I bypassed the factory bulkhead connector for the main power to the cab and used a marine grade plated copper alloy pass through junction block.All this and yet,here I am at home on the computer when I should be at work. How can this be,you ask.Well the previous owners wiring had a failsafe booby trap of sorts.He had jumped the 10 gauge main power wire to the ignition with what looks to be 14 gauge in his typical lay side by side and electrical tape style.AS I figure it the piss poor connections underhood kept the power going through that point down to a level it could handle.When those connections were repaired...well,I get to walk my happy ass home.I didn't see it before because it was buried in the main harness under the dash.I jumped the wire,got her home and have spent the last 5 hours removing the dash and properly repairing that as well as 3 other "splices" and replacing a ground strap made of speaker wire.I REALLY hope this is it now.Phase 2 of my electrical bulletproofing upgrades is fitting it with an HEI ignition and getting rid of the ballast resistor.Good God man, that sounds like a giant pain in the ass. I hope it's worth it in the long run. |
It's a vintage Power Wagon.Of course it's worth it .At least it will be after I do the body work,patch the bed,paint it,upgrade the front axle to disc brakes and install a new exhaust  .All while also working on heavily modifying my Grand Wagoneer and restoring my Chrysler convertible.I'm also on the prowl for a Dodge Crewcab.I'm a serious glutton for punishment.
Yeah,My neighbors love me. |
Yeah,the 70's Dodge's had afew issues with wiring.Poor grounding and bulkhead connector as well as a the infamous ammeter design.However this has also allowed me to pick up several trucks over the years dirt cheap.Bought one when I lived in CA for 300 bucks in awesome shape but not running.5 minutes with a multimeter and I got the spare ballast resistor out of the Dodge I came in and it fired right up.My buddy drove it home.I thought the guy I bought it from was going to cry .
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Quoted:
Yeah,the 70's Dodge's had afew issues with wiring.Poor grounding and bulkhead connector as well as a the infamous ammeter design.However this has also allowed me to pick up several trucks over the years dirt cheap.Bought one when I lived in CA for 300 bucks in awesome shape but not running.5 minutes with a multimeter and I got the spare ballast resistor out of the Dodge I came in and it fired right up.My buddy drove it home.I thought the guy I bought it from was going to cry .Did that with a Saab 900 once .... wouldn't fire , showed up inspected it , found the wrong spark plugs , bought the car, swapped plugs and drove it home. Guy wanted to fight me when it fired and I wouldn't undo the deal he made..... $250 , sold it 2 weeks later for $2700 (non Bosch or NGK plugs will run for a week or 2 in the old 900's then result in a no start condition, before i worked at a Saab dealer I would have called bullshit , but I have seen WAYYYYYY too many come in on a hook with nothing wrong but champion/autolite plugs in them) |