by Hey VanAgain, I was thinking while your practicing your coloring on the computer why don't you see what you can do with a 1st gen wiring diagram. A good color one sure would be a lot of help!!!!!!!!!!
3 posters
Hey VanAgain (computer work)!!!!
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
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Look at that birds nest! 
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
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Location : Kevil, Kentucky
Age : 70
Registration date : 2008-05-11
Yea Nate, I bought myself a real mess. That's part of the reason I'm not going to license it right now. It runs and drives ok but I'd hate to have to find a problem out on the road in a mess like that.
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donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,,,,,,,,,one wire at at a time,,,,,,,I would start at each added on wire and inline fuse holder at the fuse box, remove it and identify what it does. Then you will get down to seeing what is an add on accessory or if it is a repair for something. And if it has an ammeter on it, that is something that needs to go,,,,,,
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
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Age : 70
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Don why would an ammeter need to be done away with?
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donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Because it tells you amps, not volts. It don't care if the Alternator is charging 8 volts or 20 volts, it just tells you current is flowing. And it is put into the alternator output line, so you will have voltage loss by the time that the current leaves the alternator, goes back to the meter, then back to the doghouse and down to the battery, And those Ammeters don't like high charging rates,,,,the wires on them get hot and arc and thats always a problem that shows up,,,,,, All you need is a Voltmeter to tell you that you have 14 volts going down the road and you know things are good,
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
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Location : Kevil, Kentucky
Age : 70
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Thanks Don. The 66 has one but not after I get done with that birds nest.
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donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12220
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I bet the Dodge guys know something about the wires on an ammeter,,,,,,These vans were never set up for adding on accessories,,,,and after all these years, the wires, terminals and connectors are worn out. And the biggest problem on a 1st Gen,,,,,,,,NO FUSIBLE LINK,,,,,,,so WHEN, not IF a hot wire shorts out,,,,,,there goes your whole wiring loom and maybe your van,,,,,so you gots to know the rules about owning an Early Van with old wiring,,,,,,
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Yep...bypass the ammeter and add a voltmeter. Add a fusible link as well.
In the Dodges I add a fusible link in the wire from the ammeter to the starter relay. Not familiar with how the Chevys are wired.
In the Dodges I add a fusible link in the wire from the ammeter to the starter relay. Not familiar with how the Chevys are wired.
itruns- Number of posts : 1605
Location : Chicago, IL
Registration date : 2008-07-03
Maybe a fusible link off the Alternator as well?
From what I've heard, Fusible links really stink when they go, so you might want keeping them under the dog house.
OK here it comes... wait for it... I like ampmeters. I also think a bypass switch could save a lot of aggravation if the meter fails. I'll end that viewpoint now.
Mike, the other thing you may consider is going with a new wiring harness/fuse block. The one I'm looking at is color coded for GMs and costs around $250.00. You'll have to extend some of the the wires. I'm gonna see if they can get me a custom ordered set or just some extra wire.
http://www.hotrodwires.com/18Circuit.html
Wire that goes under the dog house is supposed to be special type that holds up to high temps.
Love the jumper wires to ground, etc. How many inline fuses are under there?
From what I've heard, Fusible links really stink when they go, so you might want keeping them under the dog house.
OK here it comes... wait for it... I like ampmeters. I also think a bypass switch could save a lot of aggravation if the meter fails. I'll end that viewpoint now.
Mike, the other thing you may consider is going with a new wiring harness/fuse block. The one I'm looking at is color coded for GMs and costs around $250.00. You'll have to extend some of the the wires. I'm gonna see if they can get me a custom ordered set or just some extra wire.
http://www.hotrodwires.com/18Circuit.html
Wire that goes under the dog house is supposed to be special type that holds up to high temps.
Love the jumper wires to ground, etc. How many inline fuses are under there?
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
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Location : Kevil, Kentucky
Age : 70
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I don't know yet. I brought it home and put it in the garage. Hopefully over the next week I'm going to start taking things apart and straighting things out. When I drove it at the sellers house everything worked except the radio and he'd been driving it around town.
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So, is that steering column a first gen? It looks really different than mine. like it has an extender or two??
wideload- Moderator 1st Class
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Location : Kevil, Kentucky
Age : 70
Registration date : 2008-05-11
The top part is a tilt column from a buick or at least it's got a buick steering wheel. The bottom is still the stock column. I don't know how they did it but you can see the pop rivits around the column where they put part of it together. That's another thing that I'm going to change, I don't trust it.
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