The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay What is this part?

I'm re-wiring a 1949 chevy 1/2 ton pickup. The old wiring is so old (and painted over by the p.o.) that I can't see the colors of wires going to this part circled in orange (you can see a picture at:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=8919034&uid=4216428&members=1

Based on the wiring schematic in the shop manual, I'm guessing that is part is the headlight dimmer switch, anyone know for sure before I wire to find out?

Thanks

well it appears to be in the right spot - if it sticks thru the floor by yer left foot, that must be it!

most of the time you can't see the wire color right by the part anyway on wiring so old, but you can frequently strip the outer covering on a bundle and find the color further back where it was protected

Bill

Does it have a "finger" on it? If so it's your brakelight switch,
Scott

DW,

I don't want to be a Christmas Grinch, but If you don't know what this part is just by looking at it, I sure hope you have a good helper when you start ripping wires out. Even seasoned veterans get confused when faced with a wire loom the size of a German sausage and instructions written in Cantonese! Good luck, this wasn't meant to be a "humbug".

Stuart

If it looks like this it's a dimmer switch.
http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/browse.lasso?&search=dimmer%20switch&dept=truck&skip=2
A better pic would help. I zoomed the pic and still can't see the shape for sure. I may just be a bad angle but it looks too close to the steering column to be a dimmer.

Seems like the stop light switch is farther down & the dimmer switch is way over to the left side. How many wires connect to it?

DW,

I got quite nervous..the Sharks wouldn't commit to the fact they were 100% sure it was the dimmer switch. If that was the case, in light of my previous post I would have to commit Hari Kari.

To avoid that unpleasant task, I hustled down to the shop where my naked cab rests on a dolly. I am now 99% sure the item you have circled in your picture is the dimmer switch.

If I am wrong, I will send you a case of Jack Daniels post paid, post haste! Feliz Navidad.


Stuart

Easy Stuart,Rest easy,You got it,No need to be givin away the store.
Now save somo that Gentleman Jack for me When I come visitin.
By the way
Merry Christmas

Just wanted to say hi!! Stevesr is my dad! lol

Welcome daughter of stevesr, and Merry Christmas.


"He who almost gave the store away"

Hey Stuart
At least I put her in a Chevy,Thankin the Lord She listens!
Dads dont let 1st born daughters drive Ftur#s

Thanks everyone, it is definitely the dimmer switch.

I thought the P.O. might have added a terminal relay of some type because I thought the dimmer would be lower on the firewall, but it is the dimmer. The stop switch is actually more towards the center of the firewall and the "fingers" on it are the bullet connectors (I had re-wired that switch previously when I wired a turn signal indicator to the rear lights).

I've seen lots of posts asking about putting in new wiring harnesses, I'll have to put in a post with pictures once I complete this. It's actually going pretty smoothly, the only difficult part is I can't "cheat" and use the "color coding" on the old wiring harness since its faded/painted over and the shop manual wiring schematic doesn't show the color coding anyway!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Happy Ho Ho back at ya. If you go here you won't have to worry about the color coding, correct wires & connectors.: http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/

Done! All the old wiring out, new wire harness installed and everything working. There's one page in the factory assembly manual that was invaluable in showing the wiring of the headlight switch, instrument clusters and ignition switch.

You should have seen the condition of the original wiring, there was more bare wire than you can imagine, and yet everything worked except the right high beam headlight!

Thanks everyone for responding.

DW,


Your faster than a....? Well, your real fast. Will we get to see a picture of the finished product...just so we know you aren't pulling our leg. Congratulations.

Stuart

Here you go Stuart (proof that I'm a better wirer than photographer)

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=8948642&uid=4216428&members=1

DW,

Definitely no leg pulling going on here! Great job...what's next? Its great to see a project started and finished in a single thread.


Stuart