The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Help With Wiring 46 GMC Lights first

So here I am the owner of a 1946 GMC 3/4 Ton. The papers say its a 41 but the plate on the cowl says ec-152 so its a 46. I created my user name before I found out. Anyway...

My truck is awesome. This is my first post here. I need help with the wiring. The guy I bought it from had started a 12 volt conversion. It runs and drives. The lights and all the accessories are not connected. I have started running the tail lights wires. The front parking lights have had the old single bulb sockets removed and two wire ones installed. For now I dont plan on having turn signals, but I think I have the stuff you need to install them. The invoice that came with the records says he bought the stuff. I just not sure what they included with the kit to be used as a signal switch in the cab??? There is a toggle switcth that says on and off in two possitions each. Is that it? So I figured I would just go with parking lights. How do I connect the two black wires from the the parking light socket? There are no numbers or markings to indicate anything other than they were made in Taiwan.

The kit came from Jim Carter. The instructions say connect wire 5 to the right parking lamp wire??? But the light fixture wires have no markings?? So If I coulld get this part done I would be very happy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/daniel1060/46GMC006.jpg

My 46

Hy 1941GMCDAN, welcome, you will have to put bulbs in your parking lights, ground the housing and power each lead individually to see which is the bright fillament, hook your parking light feed to the non bright lead, the other lead can just be left taped up until such time as you want to use it for turn signals, hope that helps.

COOL! Thanks!!

How do I ground the housing? Whats the best way?

Hy 1941GMCDAN, you can hook a jumper wire to the housing or the bulb holder in a clean (no paint) spot, and hook the other end to the ground battery terminal, or a good clean ground, and make your tests, hope that helps.

In addition to what 3B said, If you choose the "good clean ground" route, make it to the frame or motor. Grounding to the fender or body is marginal at best.

Thanks again. I think I'm going to try and install the turn signals also. I have all the stuff. I just wish Jim Carter sold a actual wiring diagram with their kits.

I just called my local electrical guy. 97 dollars per hour to put it together. He said he should be able to do it in under 10 hours. I think I'm going to do as much as I can. I have skills, just not as many in this category. Thanks for the help.

Okay one more question. What size wire will be sufficiant?

Sure wish I knew your name. I like to talk to people.
Anyway give this a look-see.
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/turn_signal.htm
Harold

Its Dan, Danny or Daniel. You can pick.

Thanks Harold!

Hy 1941GMCDAN, I use 14ga. for all my wiring except the charging system output circuit, I know it's overkill on a lot of circuits, but this way I only have to stock one size of wire, hope that helps.

Dan, your truck IS awesome!

With a little patience and 'figurin' I'll bet you can do all of it yourself. Plus, there's always lots of help on the 'Bolt here, you just have to be a little patient.

I know you might think this is dorky, but a great help to you when starting out like this, would be to go to the library and get a high school shop classroom book. The older the better. Actually, you might find a used book store to be better. An older book like "Fix your Chevy" from the 50's would be just great. It will spell out just what the lights want to work right.

Those Art Deco GMC trucks are super sweet looking.

Here's what I'm talking about. Something like this...

Okay, the links won't work, but you get the idea right? Just go to someplace like abe books online, and search for "fix your chevrolet"

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Fix Your Chevrolet, 1962 to 1940
Bill Toboldt
Bookseller: Prairie Wind (Eldora, IA, U.S.A.)
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Price: US$ 1.00
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Bibliographic Details

Publisher: Goodheart-Wilcox Co., Inc. 1962
Publication Date: 1962
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Fair
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

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Hard Cover. Fair/No Jacket. Bookseller Inventory # A31989

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Thanks for that!! I have the how to restore your Chevy book.

This site is fantastic. One question at a time and I think I should be all right, as long as I don't wear people out.


And thanks for the compliment on the truck Mr Lang!! I love this truck!! The old art deco trucks are just wonderful. That I was lucky to find one in this condition that drives was just what I needed.

As a reference 14AWG copper wire is used in your home for a 15 amp circuit. It can carry much more but gets warmer. Tail lights won't be any where near that,probably less than an 1 amp? If you have 6 volts or even 12 volts the smaller wire has higher resistance and you might not get the full voltage out to tail or head lights going smaller. I think the more important issue is ground. I am going to run a sepearte ground wire to a point close to the battery ground connection.