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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,232
L
'Bolter
'Bolter
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I'm rewiring the headlight to terminal blocks on my '54 3100 to "near" original specs. Three questions:

1) Where did the headlight ground (red circle) on both sides originally connect? There is a small hole on the inner fenders near the terminal blocks that might be for the sheet metal screw shown in the Assbly Man.

2) Did the terminal blocks on the inner fenders have three connection, or four?

My truck had a three-connection block on the drivers side and none on the passenger side. Both inner fenders were drilled for a three-con block (2-3/8" C-to-C). The Assembly Manual shows a four-connection block that requires mounting holes 3" C-to-C. Possibly for auxiliary two-note horns on the drivers side?

3) Either way, did the passenger side have a three-connection block?

Thanks,


- Lonnie
My '54 3104
Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post.
lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt.

OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all
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G
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Pass side 3, Driver's side 4 and yes the ground goes to the holes in the inner fenders. Junction blocks and grounding points

Last edited by Greg_H; 03/11/2012 9:37 PM. Reason: Added link
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

Second yes on Greg's reply.

And, the 4-lead junction block on driver's side was for the dual-note horns (on the radiator).

Joined: Oct 2010
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L
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Thanks guys ... fast response!

So, Tim are you saying that my '54 with standard single-note horn should have a 3-terminal block on both the drivers and passenger sides?

Greg - Thanks for the pics. They show the details that I needed. Does your truck have dual horns? If not, what is connected to the fourth terminal on the drivers side? Was another mounting hole drilled for the 4-terminal block ... 3" C-to-C?


- Lonnie
My '54 3104
Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post.
lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt.

OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

No, Lonnie, they all came with four terminals on the driver's side in 1954. To allow a terminal for the one horn and for the easy addition of the second horn (dual-horns). The screw/terminal was called the Horn Terminal on the Left Junction Block.

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G
'Bolter
'Bolter
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My truck had two horns behind the grille as well as two under the hood at one time. I have to wonder if the two underhood were not something that my dad added. There will be more research before it all goes back together for a final assembly.

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'Bolter
'Bolter
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I know that I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill.

> Would you mind measuring the mounting holes and/or the mounting clips center-to-center on your 4-terminal block?

The Dual Horn installation instructions definitely sound like the 4-terminal block on the drivers side was standard. Were the mounting holes for the 4-terminal block 3" C-to-C? Or, was the 4-terminal block designed for 2-3/8" C-to-C holes? I couldn't tell in your pics, Greg. The diagram in the Assmbly Man shows the mounting clips on each end of the terminal block, which seems like they would require mounting holes 3" apart. The mounting holes on both sides of my '54 are 2-3/8".

The horn wire routing is new to me. I discovered the original mounting holes and nuts for it in the radiator support last week. My 12v universal horn was mounted on the top of the inner fender. I made a mount for it today so that I can mount it in the correct place. Since I have two new 3-terminal blocks, I'll run the wire directly to the horn so that I can get my engine bay back together. I can change to a 4-terminal block later and hook it up as shown in the Assmbly Man. Running new wires from the headlight sockets to the terminal blocks and ground screws on both sides this week. I'll use bullet connectors near the terminal block for the turn signal wire, or a connector like the one in Greg's drivers side pic. My wire colors will match the wiring harness that a previous owner installed, not the colors in the Assmbly Man. The pics helped a lot.

Thanks for your help and knowledge.


- Lonnie
My '54 3104
Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post.
lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt.

OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,299
G
'Bolter
'Bolter
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First day of daylight savings time and yet by the time I get home and settled down, it is starting to get dark. Anyway, Took flashlight and tape measure out and it appears that the 4 holer is in the neighborhood of 3 1/4 to 3 1/2" mount hole to mount hole. The 3 holer is closer to 2 1/2" as you mentioned.

All that being said, one of the parts that I would like to see reproduced, is the clips that go onto the ends of the terminal blocks and make them "snap in" for the inner fender.

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 171
5
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Lonnie- I know you said "near" - so my 2 cents. I used 4 holer on both sides to help the wiring for the turn signals, I know its not stock but it sure helped in the installation.


....David
Joined: Oct 2010
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L
'Bolter
'Bolter
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> Greg - Thanks for the measurements. That confims my guess. Wonder why my drivers fender was not drilled for the 4-terminal block??? Just another mystery! Rather than drill another mounting hole when I get a 4-terminal block, I may try to exchange the first terminal with the mounting support on one end. That way, I think that can use the 2-3/8" holes.

Reproduction blocks with the correct mounting clips would be nice. At $7 to $12 each, looks like they could be have been designed to match the original blocks.

> David - I agree that 4-terminal blocks would make wiring turn signals easier. I'll use a bullet connector for my after market turn signal wire and hook the parking light wire to the terminal block.

Thanks again to all who showed me how to connect my headlights and other wires to the terminal blocks.


- Lonnie
My '54 3104
Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post.
lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt.

OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,232
L
'Bolter
'Bolter
L Offline
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,232
I finished wiring my headlights. The results are in this post in my thread about wiring the parking lights.

Thanks for your help,


- Lonnie
My '54 3104
Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post.
lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt.

OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all

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