Circuit breakers & terminal blocks

Kahuna

Kahuna

Well-known member
1) I'm rewiring my 56 Fairlane, as the original stuff was really hacked up.
There are supposed to be some circuit breakers, but they are non existent.
I have some new ones but have NO idea where they were originally
mounted.

2) There are also a couple of terminal blocks for the wire harnesses to
plug into. Does anyone know where they were mounted up under the
dash?

Thanks for any help on this
Jim
 
Thanks Dobie
I'll try to find those locations today.
Maybe something will jump out and
become apparent.
Jim
 
I don't recall there being any circuit breakers in the '56 Ford wiring. It has all inline fuses. There are two "push-in" terminal blocks under the dash (for use with the original type "bullet connectors"). One is for the turn signal wiring and it is inline with the wiring near the steering column just under the dash. There is a metal wiring clip in the middle of the brake pedal bracket that holds the wiring to this terminal block. Pull the wire-harness out of that clip and it gives you more room to pull the wiring out and remove the wiring from the terminal block.
The second terminal block is for the rear wiring harness that serves the taillights, backup lights and fuel guage sending unit. It is also not bolted down to anything, just hangs inline with the wire harness. It is near the center of the dashboard close to the firewall insulation pad. Here, you can pull the wire harness down out of a rubber coated metal J-hook bolted onto that bulkhead under the top of the cowl under the dash. That allows you to pull the wire harness down to service the wiring.
DO NOT get these two terminal blocks mixed up as they may have a different quantity of double-taps.
 
Okay, there were only TWO versions of the Ford wiring harness. One for 6-cyl cars and one for 8-cyl cars. And they were all the same (identical). The terminal blocks used in the '50's Fords are really "junction-blocks" and the ones under the dash don't mount anywhere, they just hang inline. There is a third junction block near the front of the drivers side fender apron under the hood for headlight/parking light wiring. There are no breakers. All overcurrent protection are inline fuses except for the one on the back of the headlight switch for interior light circuit.
Ford had "accessory" wire harnesses for things like electric clock, radio, power seat, power windows, etc that simply plugged into the "Base wiring harness". If a car didn't have those options, the accessory harness (or individual wire) was omitted.
 
Kahuna said:
There are supposed to be some circuit breakers, but they are non existent.
I have some new ones but have NO idea where they were originally
mounted.
....
Click to expand...
Depending on the equipment and accessories in the car I'm pretty sure there are at least one or two of these circuit breakers (photo) in addition to any inline fuses on individual accessories. They're most often in the main yellow power wires from the battery '+' terminal of the starter solenoid, under the dashboard. There may be others for power windows, seats or top.
.
I've only got one ('55, not Fairlane) example to go by and it's not all that original anymore but, there are two mounted to a lip under the dash near the left side of the steering column, and another one near the heater box.
.
 

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Everyone
Thanks for all the help
This car had virtually all the wiring/harnesses in a huge mess:
Nothing worked at all. The only terminal/connecting block that was still intact
was/is mounted on the driver's side inner fender panel. The other two were gone.
I have the factory manual & a very nice wiring diagram showing all connections, etc.
What I can't seem to find is where these items: terminal blocks & breakers are to be physically located. These would be for Power Windows & Seat.
The other (main Breaker, I suspect) is located within the Main light switch.
Fuses were only used for the Clock & something else (Radio, maybe)
I'm replacing all the wiring with an original harness, trying to bring the car back, so to speak.
I really appreciate everyone's assistance. Every bit of information is helpful.
Thanks so much
Jim
 
Most of the resto parts suppliers who sell the factory duplicate wiring harnesses also sell the two junction blocks that go under the dash. Again, these do not mount anywhere, they just hang inline. the new wire harness you get will plug right into the junction blocks without making any modifications to the wiring terminals.
My '55 has inline fuses for the electric clock, radio and heater blower motor. Can't help with locations of devices for power seat and windows as I've never owned any of those.
 
IIRC one or two(?) of the junction blocks in the wiring harness at the front of the car have a jumper between some terminals. For things there are two of like headlights and parking lights, with only 1 power wire for them coming from their switches. They should be shown in the wiring diagram for your car.
 
My '59 also had fuse holders everywhere under the dash. No circuit breakers and only one relay for the horn. All of that went adios when I rewired the car using a Kwik Wire harness.

Unless you are restoring the car to an original state, I would replace a harness that old just to make the car more reliable.
 
dmsfrr said:
one or two(?) of the junction blocks in the wiring harness at the front of the car have a jumper between some terminals.
Click to expand...

dmsfrr is right and this is very important to tag the junction blocks at to their use (turn signal or headlight) wiring, A N D get a 1956 Ford car shop manual that shows connections to junction block on page 269.
dmsfrr referred to "jumpers" but they are actually internal to the junction block and you can see them by turning the junction block and looking at the metal connectors inside the holes of the block. (these are what I referred to in an earlier post as "double-taps").
 
Yes, Dave
I have all the diagrams, books, etc., and the correct blocks. Just looking for the locations that you have now provided. Thanks
Can I ask where the fuse for the heater blower is located on your car?
Thanks
Jim

Bobss396:
I have a complete new original harnessmthat I wil install shortly.
Thanks
Jim
 
The heater fuse on the '59 was attached to the heater control. I would look close to there. Nice to use an OEM harness too, with the schematic it should get you what you want. I'm no help on the power window or power seat cars. There may be a separate wiring diagram for that? I've seen separate sections in manuals for just the accessories, like the retractable tops.
 
I rewired a car from old Euro fuses to modern ATO type fuses, circuit breakers and relays using automotive electric products from https://www.waytekwire.com/

Circuit breakers are available in ATO form, left image below, and the ATO modules are available in 4,6,8,10 positions, middle image, and for those who aren't into this century, the ATO fuse is on the right, glass AGC barrel fuses now having met their demise.

I will be using Weytek when I get to that point in my resurection.

Forgot to add that ATO fuses are available with a light in the top so when the fuse element blows, the light comes on, indicating which of the many fuses just blew. Such a fantastic troubleshooting aid!
 

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Kahuna said:
..... Can I ask where the fuse for the heater blower is located on your car?
Thanks
Jim
Click to expand...
On my ('55, not Fairlane) not-so-original example there is a circuit breaker about 5 or 6 inches forward of the blower switch, with a replacement inline fuse holder feeding the blower switch.

photo taken looking straight up from the passenger side foot-well, near the trans hump
.
 

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