RHD wiring question: help Aussies and Kiwis!

E

Edmather

Member
Hi,
I am finally getting to do some work on the woodie (1941 C11adf): hitting the wiring.
I have an under dash loom but am puzzled by firewall holes. The paint shop filled lots of the firewall holes as there were so many, what I need to know is where the loom passes through the firewall on a RHD car. I have a hole on the left, but the wiring snakes it's way under the dashboard to get there. Should there actually be a hole on the right?
Another way of thinking about it, is everything a mirror image of LHD, or apart from the dashboard, is everything actually all the same?
Any pictures of firewall appreciated.
And, RHD guys, I don't suppose any of you have a spare dashboard trim? Broke mine. Doh!
Thanks. Long way of asking a short question!
Ed
 
The loom passes through the "kidney bean" shaped hole on the left, the same as on the US model but I think the loom is slightly longer in the under dash area to reach the gauges on the right side. I used all US looms on my car but had Vintage Wiring Harness in Australia manufacture me the dash to engine bay loom as per RHD specs as a US one was too short. The harness to the taillights runs down the left side of the rails and hooks up with the loom that comes out of the kidney bean hole. The only different thing to the US LHD wiring setup is that aforementioned elongated dash loom. You could probably have a US manufactured one extended or see if the respected Tyree Harris who the Yankie boys rave about on this site, will do you a custom job....Where are you? (you don't say where Watership Down is on your profile, I take it you're not a rabbit) :)

That dashboard trim is hard to get. You could get it in Chrome diecast metal ( without the clock) or plastic in 2 parts ( with clock hole on the glove box side). I suggest you try to repair it (I presume it is the plastic) with an epoxy type glue and paint it as near colour you can get.

Hope this helps. PM or e-mail me if you want any further help as to routing the wires, I've done 2 of these 46/48 Fords which basically had the same wiring setup as the 41.
Also all our 46/48 Fords carried the 41 US strip styled instrument panel.

GB

PS : I'll double check on what side of the chassis the loom to the tail lights run down in the morning. It's pissing down outside at the moment and the garage is detached from my house.
 
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Hi,
Thanks for the detail. Very useful. That all makes sense. I actually have an NOS loom with all the extra switches for the military woodies and so on so it is long. It just looked like a lot of wire under the dash! And I still have the kidney hole too.
I am in the UK in Hampshire, and really do live close the the downs where Watership Down was set. Even our village pub is called The Watership Down. The only oddity is that if you head out of the door you see more hares in the fields than rabbits!
My dash trim is the pop metal version. Time for solder I guess!
Ed
 
When the early 39 firewall panels were shipped down here to New Zealand from Canada they had the oval factory wiring hole on the RH side thinking that was where the wiring loom exited.
The factory here then cut a hole on the correct ( RH ) side with a gas torch.
I have seen a few like that.
 
Thanks for the background; interesting stuff.
It looks like my loom is long enough to go across the car and all that, so should work fine.
Has anyone got a picture of their firewall with location of voltage regulators and so on?
Ed
 
Edmather said:
Thanks for the background; interesting stuff.
It looks like my loom is long enough to go across the car and all that, so should work fine.
Has anyone got a picture of their firewall with location of voltage regulators and so on?
Ed
Click to expand...

Ed I've taken some pictures of the voltage reg and the wiring. If you want to send me your e mail address by sending me a private message. I will send them to you as attachments.

GB
 
Hi Graeme - time flys!

I hope you are still well, and accept my 10 year delay in replying to your kind offer of pictures! (Since my original post some kids came along. I am am only now getting back to the woodie!)

I have been thinking about wiring again, and searched the same question - and this original thread came up! I had no idea!

Anyway, I still havn't answered the original question about how the writing is situated on the firewall, so if you are still happy to share some images I would really appreciate it.
thank you.
Ed
 
Hi Ed

Long time no hear. Yes kids and family life does slow things down.

Here are some photos

1) Location of Regulator on firewall. The exact placement can vary between 41 -48 but they are all in the same vicinity perhaps slightly down on a 41 but the factory holes should show you where to mount it. Note mine is a 48 and the 2 holes to the right of the regulator are actually for the relay for the horns which are the clam shell type that should be mounted behind the grill. Yours wont have these. I have used earlier 41-46 wiring and have installed the earlier trumpet type horns that mount down on the left inner fender which yours probably has.

2) closeup of V reg.

3) & 3a) loom below those connectors that goes to horns and inside front L chassis rail to lights.

4) to the generator runs along top left of intake manifold.

5) across firewall to starter solenoid.

Note that those exposed connecters on 41 to 46 and early 47 have a cover that screws over them that could be described as being shaped like a "chicken drumstick". I have not installed this as the 48 wiring does not have holes drilled in the firewall for this but yours should.

Hope this helps. pm me if you have any further questions

Regards
GB
 

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Ed

Here is the full picture of an engine bay of a 41 Ford I had saved among my car pictures. You can see the wiring and the cover over the connectors I mentioned.

GB
 

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Morning Graeme,
Thank you so much! Really useful - these have helped solve a number of questions I had.
I'm sure there will be more though, will PM the follow ups!
Thanks again.
Ed
 
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