Wood firewall pictures needed for 1920 reference please

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Wood firewall pictures needed for 1920 reference please
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Kuhn on Saturday, July 06, 2013 - 05:57 pm:

Hi all,anyone out there can post a picture of an original wood firewall with a 6 terminal block for reference how wiring and block are routed and mounted up?Just finished putting my coilbox together with the Fun Projects coilbox kit and mounted it to my firewall on my later 1920 Roadster I have been working on.Have all the repro harnesses hanging but have not final mounted anything yet.Want to get all the right parts put where they originally were.This would wrap up the firewall and dash for me.Will post some pictures once its all mounted up.Thanks kindly in advance!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin Vowell, Sylmar, CA on Saturday, July 06, 2013 - 08:41 pm:

You're not likely to run across any "original" photos showing any of this. I think your best bet is to route them so they're out of the way, make nice squarish angles where you can and where you can't just go the the clearance.



But here's a diagram is pretty good for wiring, pay attention to the way the wires go into the block...on most old Model T's the wiring looks like a rats nest, but it never hurts to try and be neat about it. Your main trunks (lights) follow along the frame rails and slip under the hood shelfs, the only thing you'll need to suspend are the wires from the coil box to cylinder number 1...there is a clip that is mounted to the head bolt to keep it off the exhaust manifold.

On the loom coming from the back of the switch to the block, it's too short to worry about mounting it to the firewall, as for the wires as they come through the hole, just hook them to their proper terminals.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Saturday, July 06, 2013 - 10:33 pm:

This doesn’t flow really well but I can post it now or wait until tomorrow. I thought you would rather have it as a draft tonight than a little less wordy tomorrow.

Below are photos from the “Vintage Ford” magazine and are used by permission to support our club and hobby. The car is a 1920 touring that came factory equipped with the starter and generator. At the time it belonged to Fred Lau of Portland Oregon. It is one of the feature cars in Bruce McCalley’s “Model T Ford” book. Bruce commented on the car as follows: “This example is a bit over-restored but all parts are correct so far as is known. The restoration began from a complete and original car.” The engine serial number places the car in Feb 1920 realizing that it could have been slightly later than that date if assembled at one of the branches.

Note it has the 5 connection terminal block. That would be similar to Lang’s part number 5044A see: http://www.modeltford.com/item/5044A.aspx with the comment it has: “Terminal block, for cars with wood firewall, show quality, duplicate of original, a must for show cars. Mounts on firewall. Has 5 contact points. For use with wire harnesses that have the generator to ammeter wire in a separate harness. The extra wire passes through the firewall on the passenger’s side of the coil box.”

Note that the feature car also has a 5 connection terminal block as mentioned in the previous posting by Mark at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/372291.html?1373040542

You commented at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/372273.html?1372980319 “My first T,built April 4 1920,trying to have most the right parts on it,keeping mostly stock.Not going for 100 point job,but should turn out as a nice detailed driver.Did all the best upgrades as needed to have a completely reliable car and safe.Like Bob says,part restored,part preserved!!I love it!” [By the way – great looking work on your chassis!]

I would recommend with an Apr 1920 car, you consider returning or swapping the 6 contact terminal and related wiring harness for the 5 contact terminal and having the generator wire running parallel to the wiring loom as shown in the photos below:

Bruce commented on the photos on page 35 of the Nov-Dec 1975 “Vintage Ford”:

“The firewall has been painted but not finely finished as
in most restorations. Note the aluminum label on the
wiring harness. This was removed from the original and
installed on the replacement. The wire that parallels the
harness duplicates the original not only in the placement
of the wire itself but also in the placement of the staples.
This wire runs from the generator to the amp meter; was
incorporated in the harness in later production.
The horn is mounted on the firewall and is of the magneto-
powered type. The battery-powered horn did not
appear until late 1922.







Note if you want to go with the 5 connector terminal, the May – Jun 1999 “Model T Times” page 24-25 has an excellent factory drawing T-8755B showing the wiring layout (with the separate generator wire) that was last updated (so still current) on 9-24-20 and that was retired on 9-23-21. So sometime during 9-24 1920 and 9-23 1921 the drawing was no longer used. If you do not have access to that issue, if you e-mail me I will snail mail you my copy of the magazine. It was from the Henry Ford Museum so I do not want to post it without permission.

If you want to go with the six connector – mounting it in the same general area should function fine.

Again you have a great looking start on your roadster.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Kuhn on Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 09:35 am:

Wow,thanks Hap!I think I am convinced to go with the 5 connector block but would love to have those drawings if possible.Also,my heat tube for the carburetor is not like that one on the car,what does that one exactly look like?I need one like that for sure but dont think I ever seen one to know what to look for.
Will send you a pm for email,Thanks!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 07:20 pm:

This is an original factory service bulletin showing the wiring to the 5 wire terminal block.





Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 08:00 pm:

Thanks all you guys above!!!....I've been wanting to "clean up" the rats nest on my '20 Runabout firewall for quite a while, just been too busy, but seeing these helpful pics and diagrams, now I'm pumped to get it done soon! Thank God for this forum and the helpful people posting in it!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Kuhn on Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 09:19 pm:

Is the earlier 1919 switch with the cast lever different in the back end with the screw terminals than the 1920-later one with the stamped lever we see most?The later is the one I have and hope to use.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 09:27 pm:

Just to add some dates to the Ford Service Bulletin info that Royce posted. The printing and photo with Fig 8 & Fig 9 is from the Apr 1 1920 SB and the other illustration is from the Jun 1, 1920 SB.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


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