39 pickup electrical - what are these

malpais

malpais

Well-known member
Thinking about wiring - finally!

What are these first two things in my box of electrical junk? Do either belong in a 39 pickup?

The semi intact trucks I have are 3 brush with cut outs, and have the simpler set up in the 3rd photo.

Wondered if anyone knows why the dash wiring for 2 brush system - Voltage regulator and amp meter is so expensive?

Thanks
 

Attachments

  • 39 electrical box.jpg
    39 electrical box.jpg
    80.8 KB · Views: 74
  • 39 later electrical thing.jpg
    39 later electrical thing.jpg
    91.9 KB · Views: 74
  • 39 38 big truck.jpg
    39 38 big truck.jpg
    82.3 KB · Views: 96
The first two are breakers to protect the electrical system. They were forerunner of fuses. The second set is complete with the resistor for the coil. They were most likely the type used in your 39. The third picture looks like a coil resistor and a newer type of breaker to me.
 
D. Jones said:
The first two are breakers to protect the electrical system. They were forerunner of fuses. The second set is complete with the resistor for the coil. They were most likely the type used in your 39. The third picture looks like a coil resistor and a newer type of breaker to me.
Click to expand...

That's the ignition switch. G.M.
 
Ok, you confused me. That was the intent, no?

I don't have a tv here in the mountains. WTF are you talking about. I knew I should ask one question at a time.....

Darn 39 Ford!!!!!

Gordon
 
Mike B & D Jones both gave you the answer, what are you confused about? On the left in the second and third photo is the ignition resistor and on the right is the circuit breaker (CB). The resistor reduces the voltage (current) to the ignition coil and the CB protects the lighting systems from overloads. It mounts under the dash.

A yellow wire from the battery connects to the CB post. Also connected to this post are:
yellow/green wire to the cigar lighter
yellow/black wire to the ignition switch
yellow/black wire to the generator regulator
Four wires total.

The other side of the CB connects to:
yellow/red wire to the light switch
black/blue to the pillar light switch
Two wires.

As stated above, a yellow/black wire goes to the ignition switch. The other side of the ignition switch goes back to the ignition resister (next to the CB). The other end of the ignition resister, red wire, goes to the coil.
 
I think the breakers you have are, left to right, '41-46, '40, and 1939. Don't know about trucks, but I think in '39 only some cars, maybe deluxe, got a breaker and the standards retained the old fuse setup. Resistor is the same all the way through, and lived there into early '47. I've seen several styles of the earliest one and the one you have may be a later replacement breaker.
The breaker had some safety benefit, in that a short in lights might well get you flashing lights to get you off the road rather than instant darkness. At least into the '70's, not familiar with anything much after then, American cars in general had breakers for the lights, hidden in the light switch, rather than the fuses used on everything less likely to present danger.
 
I attached a 40 Ford passenger wiring layout diagram, it will be similar, and a 40 Ford passenger wiring diagram. The 40 shows the CB, 39 standard (as already stated) would have a fuse in that location. Not sure if you are wanting a year correct restoration (fuse) setup or just a functional wiring setup. If the later I would suggest using the CB in place of the fuse because of the reasons stated by Bruce.

Note: the 40 has an additional green wire for the brake light connected to the CB that the 39 does not have. In 39 is was part of the light control switch.
 

Attachments

  • 40%20Ford%20wiring%20pic.jpg
    40%20Ford%20wiring%20pic.jpg
    85.5 KB · Views: 15
  • 40%20Ford%20Std%20wiring.jpg
    40%20Ford%20Std%20wiring.jpg
    104.4 KB · Views: 17
Malpais said;"I don't have a tv here in the mountains. WTF are you talking about?"
I'm thinkin They are referring to the TV show TOOL TIME with Tim Allen & Al Borland his sidekick on their Tv show Tool Time.
I could be wrong & according the CEO around here generally am.:D
 
Hey guys, no offense meant by my confusion. Confusion is a normal state of affairs for me.

JS, I had no idea who Al was, but I do remember now that some one explains.

I really APPRECIATE all the replies, as you folks always provide!

The only wiring diagram I've found so far is a '39 deluxe. I see a resistor (resistance unit?), but no circuit breaker. I've been looking at wiring harnesses, and my confusion was partially 2 brush vs 3 brush, reg vs cut out, voltmeter vs amp meter vs what I have here!

One of the photos I posted looks sorta like a "lighting wire circuit breaker" in Mac's catalog, but don't know where I would have gotten a later thing like that.

Most coil resisters I've found look more like attached photo.

Thanks much for the info, and I'll study all your explanations, and please accept my apology!

Gordon
 

Attachments

  • 39 COIL RESISTER.jpg
    39 COIL RESISTER.jpg
    84.4 KB · Views: 20
I see the fuse on the 39 deluxe wiring diagram. It has all the wires/colors as JSeery described above. Guess one of these circuit breakers goes in place of the fuse.

Thanks much!

Gordon
 
malpais said:
I see the fuse on the 39 deluxe wiring diagram. It has all the wires/colors as JSeery described above. Guess one of these circuit breakers goes in place of the fuse.

Thanks much!

Gordon
Click to expand...

Malpais that's why I post the wiring diagrams for the 40! Did you see them? The wiring is basically the same except the 39s (at least the standard) and earlier used a fuse. In 40 and later they used a CB. The diagrams I posted should show you what you need for the wiring, if not ask more questions. The resisters on the coil are later in time, but the same function. Need to let us know if you are interested in wiring it somewhat like the original or just wiring it get it working. There are a lot of alternant ways to wire it if you just want it to work.
 
Malpias. I'd say all that wiring, if your concerned about original, would be to forget about it with what you have. The only resistor I had on my 38pu was the coil resistor (knocks the coil down the 3-4 volts) under the dash, connected on the same board a fuse for all external entities (everything but the coil). Truck wire harnesses for 38-39 are really not well documented as Bruce said. 37 harnesses is very close but misses the light/ horn relay (as I understand for the one I have and maybe an add on being it was converted to sealed beams in the late 50s) so a aftermarket system is not really available.


Now do you have to wire it completely from the factory, maybe so. I'll try too get as close as I can. Now could you go with a later setup with with a regulator instead of a cutout. Yep a period hotrod upgrade. Let's Then say a Fuse box and modern wires, yes you sure can... If that works for you.

Other then the coil resistor the rest has been added on. If ya want to make that work that's fine and kind of neat preserving a homemade system. If it works great! If it's just spliced in nonsense then it's just more to worry about. But I kind of like stuff like that too.
 
Last edited:
malpais said:
Hey guys, no offense meant by my confusion. Confusion is a normal state of affairs for me.

JS, I had no idea who Al was, but I do remember now that some one explains.

I really APPRECIATE all the replies, as you folks always provide!

The only wiring diagram I've found so far is a '39 deluxe. I see a resistor (resistance unit?), but no circuit breaker. I've been looking at wiring harnesses, and my confusion was partially 2 brush vs 3 brush, reg vs cut out, voltmeter vs amp meter vs what I have here!

One of the photos I posted looks sorta like a "lighting wire circuit breaker" in Mac's catalog, but don't know where I would have gotten a later thing like that.

Most coil resisters I've found look more like attached photo.

Thanks much for the info, and I'll study all your explanations, and please accept my apology!



Gordon
Click to expand...

No apology needed.

Cutouts is correct for 39. No regulator. Amp not a volt meter (loop through wire that goes one way or it reads backwards :))

No breaker setup. Except the front left unit that I cannot verify as being original and may not be. Will post pictures of the unit for discussion when I can.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top