Changes to my 1929-U electrical system

[TodFitch]

Hi Chet,

Adding turn signals and such for safety draws no complaints from me. I believe that the AACA allows turn signal retrofits if done in a style appropriate for the era. I would not be surprised if the POC allows them too.

Given that you know that the wiring got hot enough to smoke, I'd say it is due for replacement. If you want to keep it original looking places like Harnesses Unlimited and YnZ's can make you up one with correct gauge wires using modern insulation covered with original style and marked cloth braiding. In addition they are able make up an original looking custom harness with turn signal wiring, etc. If you hope to get an original vacuum fuel pump the you might not want to specify a circuit for that. Just run a separate temporary wire.

If you get a 6v harness you can use it with a 12v setup if you so desire. Just don't try the reverse and the wires will be too thin.

[chetbrz]

Hi Tod,

My intention wasn?t to modernize the car but just to render it functional.? The car came with a 12 & 6 vdc battery and it appears that the 12 vdc battery runs the existing fuel pump and a 12 volt horn.? After I cleaned up the Generator and installed it back into the car I then started and revved the engine.? ?The amp gauge pinned to the left and the wiring started to burn.? Engine stayed running just fine.? The ignition switch wouldn?t turn off the engine so I cut the ignition ckt under the dash and the car just kept running.? I found out latter that the ignition ckt fused to the generator wire.? By this time the wiring was smoking under the dash and around the generator.? By the time I got the ignition ckt shut down the wiring was fried and smoking and the Generator burning hot.? My guess is probably needs some rewinding.?

My thinking is as follows.

I believe the alternator I found should be able to be mounted in the same place as the generator.? The bracket is a cradle with a strap on the top.? I may have to fabricate a different strap but should be able to put the Alternator in the exact same place as the Generator.? Painted black and with the fan attached either by using the generator pulley or a fabricated new alternator pulley the appearance would be a minimal distraction.? The wiring would stay exactly the same without any change.

I added the 12 converter to run the electric fuel pump so if I can get a fuel pump that will work on 6 vdc then I don?t need it.

The signal lights although not original could be attached without drilling a single hole and could easily be removed.? If I were to install these I would probably install these in the rear only.? Since I would like to drive this car around the neighborhood and having brake lights and signal lights would provide a little bit of warning to the normal Virginia driver who is going 20 mph over the speed limit.

I appreciate your desire to maintain the originality of the car and this is also my wish, but I feel that this little practical change could be easily reversed even the rear lights which would mount to the bumper could be removed for shows via a quick disconnect plug.? Actually that isn?t a bad idea for the flasher assembly which would strap to the steering wheel.?

As far as the car?s condition?, right now it appears that it was rewired in spots with under gauge wires and I am not sure if it is actually wired correctly..?? ?The wiring to the original lights is in ill repair and bypassed by some makeshift switch system which by the way isn?t working either.? I plan to correct this problem with new wiring of similar color, and correctly connected according to the original wiring schematic.? In reality the only real change would be the swap from a one wire generator to a one wire alternator.? I think that this change adds an enormous amount of trouble free functionality with minimal esthetic change.

As far as the fuel pump goes?, I hope to be able to find an original vacuum system in good repair to mount back into the car but in the meantime I will use the electric pump.

Just trolling for opinions.?

PS? Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Chet?

[TodFitch]

I guess my first question is why are you changing things?

As near as I can tell from your diagram you are changing to 12v, adding turn signals and an electric fuel pump. Turn signals and electric fuel pumps are available for 6v systems. If you are planning on adding accessories that can only be run on 12v, I don't see it in the diagram.

If an unstated reason is because of dim lights or poor starting, then I think those are bogus reasons. You can have good starting and reasonably decent lights with 6v if you have fixed the problems with the wiring.

Another reason to make changes is because the third brush regulation is a pain in the butt if you are touring. However a cheaper and easier way to deal with that is to install an electronic voltage regulator under the cover band of the original generator. I believe that this would work on your generator as all 1928-33 Plymouths used the same Delco-Remy part for the "Band, Commutator Cover" (Delco-Remy part 816340) and I was able to install one in my 1933.

This gives me a stock looking generator that charges correctly at all speeds above idle. You can see my write up on this at:

http://www.ply33.com/Repair/voltreg

You might also be interested in the page about lighting:

http://www.ply33.com/Repair/lights

[David Pollock]

It looks like it will work well for you but as I recall, the fan blades are supported by the generator pulley, as on my Chrysler 52.  Is this still possible ?
There is no doubt the alternator is more adaptable to speed variations and that it would have been used much sooner if silicon diodes had been available to rectify the ac current for use in a dc system. As to yeas or nays, it is your car and it is undoubtably an improvement but the generator in my 28 keeps the battery charged perfectly well. If for some reason it needed rewinding then I would be tempted to follow your lead.

[chetbrz]

The purpose of the changes detailed in the link below is to add practical functionality to the electrical system with little impact to the original electrical design.? ?The alternator I am using is designed as a replacement for the Model T Ford generator.? It is designed for low rpm operation and will maintain the battery even at ideal speed.

See link for detail and schematic reference.

http://www.chetscoins.com/1929/Work_Files/Updated_Electrical-Diag.htm

Any Ya's or Nays

Chet...