1937 Ford panel truck wiring

3

348Agasser

Junior Member
I'm new to the early Fords... cutting my teeth on a 37 Ford panel truck that's been thrown together...and Im trying to figure out the wiring harness and location on leads...I looking for a schematic.. this panel was thrown together to sell and for someone else to deal with its problems...
It's got a merc 8...runs nice
Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks
 

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Would be the 37 commercial/ pickup wiring. Should also be very similar to car. Look on VanPelt site.
 
Should be the same as a pickup except for interior lighting in the cargo area. Is it still 6 volts? Have any add ons been installed in the truck such as radio, CD player etc?
 
Try this one for starters. It's 1937 "CAR", but should be close-enough to get ya going. Compliments of MacVanPelt site. DD

Flathead_Electrical_wiring1937.jpg
 
The routing diagram might also be helpful.
 

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Hi Everyone. 348Agasser, Welcome to the FordBarn Forums! I hope you find our community welcoming and helpful.

But first the unhelpful... If the photo is of your vehicle, it appears to me to be a 1936 model year, identifiable by the badge on the forward edge of the hood sides. 1935 cabs are very similar (if not identical) but have the badge in the middle of the hood sides.

The 1937 model has a different grill treatment and split windshield. Photos below.

So after looking at your photo a few times, and reconsidering, you might have a '37 with a '36 grill. You definitely have a split windshield. And you mentioned the vehicle is a little bit put together.

Please also consider that I am not as knowledgeable as I'm sounding. For example the '37 Panel may actually have come with this front end.

Now for helpful. I have a buddy about fifty miles away that has one of these, a '36 Panel, except his has an extra-long chassis and body on it. I just called him and asked if his has original wiring and he said nope, his is 12v., has been rewired, and has a different (OHV!) engine. He okayed me to put you in touch with him. If you PM, private message, me, I'll respond with his name and telephone number. He said he has some literature for his vehicle.

Edit to add: If necessary the 1936 info is on the website linked above. Those guys, VanPelt Sales, are huge supporters of our hobby! Mac VanPelt is pretty well known as a transmission expert, among many other areas of knowledge. They run a straight-up operation.
 

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I'll have to agree with Very Tangled. Per James Wagner's "Ford Trucks" book, it appears that you have a 1937 body with a 1936 front clip. Should you wish to make the correction, you may be pleasantly surprised as to how many guys prefer your front clip to the '37 clip. I personally would keep it as it is if only for it being unique!
 
Um, Yes. this has a serious cool factor. Sweet.

Okay now pissing on your Cheerios. The front is wrong because it has been hit there?
 
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This has no color codes for harness...I'm getting discouraged...lol
I want to put harness back the way it was originally...I have a partial harness and I can't figure out where it goes yet..I was purchased and thrown in the bed of the truck..uhg
 
There are not that many components to the wire harness. If you can't read the color coding it is going to be difficult to figure out. You are going to have to use a volt meter to check continuity and figure out which wire ends connect. Label them as you go. Can you post a photo of the harness?
 
348Agasser said:
Tried it worked for headlights ...I need a location where wires route too... absolutely no wiring in truck
Click to expand...

That's what the wiring diagrams are for. Are you able to understand them? Any specific questions on a circuit? Might pick a circuit to work on and get them working one at a time.
 
348Agasser said:
Tried it worked for headlights ...I need a location where wires route too... absolutely no wiring in truck
Click to expand...

For 1937 the headlight on/off switch is part of the horn button assembly. The headlight/horn wires route through the steering column and out the end to the headlight switch body. There, at the headlight switch body, the headlight harness, dash harness and body harness all come together. The headlight switch body is located at the end of the steering column and is held onto the bottom end of the steering column with a wire clamp. Might be a good idea to find some one with a mid to late 30s Ford and visit for a look-see. Good luck.
 
348Agasser said:
This has no color codes for harness...I'm getting discouraged...lol
I want to put harness back the way it was originally...I have a partial harness and I can't figure out where it goes yet..I was purchased and thrown in the bed of the truck..uhg
Click to expand...


You might want to go back to square one and purchase high quality harness that are color coded. There are a couple firms that can help. Mr. Tyree of Bumpass, VA, hand assembles quality early Ford wiring harness; Narrangansette Reproductions have made harness for me in the past--I am very happy with their products. And both provide good drawings. If you have good drawings and color coded wire, the job is fairly easy. Good luck.
 
I have part of a new harness with all colors on them..just don't know what location it goes and what it hooks to..if can't figure out what i have and what i need... restoration companies can't tell me if the books they sell have schematics in them..smh. the pictures in the parts catalogue shows me a coiled up bunch of wire...
 
348Agasser said:
I have part of a new harness with all colors on them..just don't know what location it goes and what it hooks to..if can't figure out what i have and what i need... restoration companies can't tell me if the books they sell have schematics in them..smh. the pictures in the parts catalogue shows me a coiled up bunch of wire...
Click to expand...

The two drawings that you need have been posted in this thread. They are color coded. Copy these. These two drawings are the drawings you will find in the ford books. The harness makers mentioned above provide detailed drawings for assembly.










Flathead_Electrical_wiring1937.jpg
 
I know this is n older thread but people still look for information on wiring. Hopefully my attachment works. the image is essentially a combination of the two Van Pelt images.











37 Ford wiring.jpg
 
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