For those interested in old cars.

[Kickstart]

I had ‘fun’ cuddling with the electrics on a twin cam Europa. Worrying how much of the wiring isn’t fused. Such as the main feed from the battery that goes through the ammeter and ignition before it gets to a fuse.

 

At least it won’t earth out on the bodywork, but a few bits it can earth out on under the dash.

 

Katy

[Southern Steve]

I had ‘fun’ cuddling with the electrics on a twin cam Europa. Worrying how much of the wiring isn’t fused. Such as the main feed from the battery that goes through the ammeter and ignition before it gets to a fuse.

 

At least it won’t earth out on the bodywork, but a few bits it can earth out on under the dash.

 

Katy

 

Most cars of this era were the same tbh.

 

 

For instance the Mk 1 Cortina only had one fuse that protected the indictors!

 

 

At least BMC fused the horns, interior lamps, wipers, gauges, brake lights etc.

[PatB]

I believe all 60s Fords had only the indicators fused. Why the indicators rather than anything else, I have no idea. IIRC the BMC cars I fiddled with (Farina Oxbridges mostly) had two fuses. One for the hot-at-all-times circuits and one for everything run via the ignition switch. I can't remember what my Spitfire had but I suspect it was similar.

 

I gather the Europeans were somw way ahead of the British at the time. If my increasingly dodgy memory is to be believed, Which? magazine noted that their test Fiat 850 had fuses for everything, including separate ones for main and dip beams. Ironic really, given the usual reputation of Italian auto electrics.

[Southern Steve]

I believe all 60s Fords had only the indicators fused. Why the indicators rather than anything else, I have no idea. IIRC the BMC cars I fiddled with (Farina Oxbridges mostly) had two fuses. One for the hot-at-all-times circuits and one for everything run via the ignition switch. I can't remember what my Spitfire had but I suspect it was similar.

 

I gather the Europeans were somw way ahead of the British at the time. If my increasingly dodgy memory is to be believed, Which? magazine noted that their test Fiat 850 had fuses for everything, including separate ones for main and dip beams. Ironic really, given the usual reputation of Italian auto electrics.

 

Yeah with those crappy continental ceramic fuses and fusebox  connectors that soon lost their "springiness" and stuff kept stopping working everytime  you hit a bump!

[Nick C]

I believe all 60s Fords had only the indicators fused. Why the indicators rather than anything else, I have no idea. IIRC the BMC cars I fiddled with (Farina Oxbridges mostly) had two fuses. One for the hot-at-all-times circuits and one for everything run via the ignition switch. I can't remember what my Spitfire had but I suspect it was similar.

I gather the Europeans were somw way ahead of the British at the time. If my increasingly dodgy memory is to be believed, Which? magazine noted that their test Fiat 850 had fuses for everything, including separate ones for main and dip beams. Ironic really, given the usual reputation of Italian auto electrics.

Dolomites have the same two fuse arrangement, so I suspect spits do too...

[PatB]

Yeah with those crappy continental ceramic fuses and fusebox  connectors that soon lost their "springiness" and stuff kept stopping working everytime  you hit a bump!

 

Are those the ones that are a sort of ceramic "stick" with a groove along one side, in which sits a strip of the conductive material, held in place by being bent over the ends of the porcelain? I've had experience of those and haven't generally found them to be too bad, although I do remember having to bend the eend connectors in occasionally, and twiddle the fuses to regain reliable contact. My MZ250 (motorcycle) was a particular offender as the fusebox was strategically sited to catch all the crud thrown off the rear tyre and wouldn't have been particularly well sealed even before the previous owner lost the lid. Given that I know of at least two MZs, owned by friends, which self-ignited as a result of dodgy wiring I'm not sure how effective the fuse protection actually was anyway.

[Hobby]

Dolomites have the same two fuse arrangement, so I suspect spits do too...

 

I suspect most common cars did, the "5 fuse holder" was a standard fitment back then, Lucas made? I recon it was the early 70s when 10 or 12 fuses became more common. 

[Jol Wilkinson]

Early MGBs (up to around 1969/70) had a twin fuse box, later models  a four fuse unit. Radios are shown on the wiring diagram with a separate inline fuse, probably because they were a dealer fitted option. A further inline fuse was added for electric cooling fans when fitted.

 

Modern cars have much more complex electrical, electronic and wiring systems so need more protection. Worse, is that they contain much more inflammable material, so increased electrical safety has to be built in.

[polybear]

 

Modern cars have much more complex electrical, electronic and wiring systems so need more protection. Worse, is that they contain much more inflammable material, so increased electrical safety has to be built in.

 

I spoke to a Fire Chief once and he told me they have to be really careful now when cutting people out of cars - if they cut in the wrong place they can short wiring and set off airbags etc. which may risk further injury to an injured person and/or Fireman.  I believe he said they have databases on a laptop for each model of car.

[doilum]

Early MGBs (up to around 1969/70) had a twin fuse box, later models  a four fuse unit. Radios are shown on the wiring diagram with a separate inline fuse, probably because they were a dealer fitted option. A further inline fuse was added for electric cooling fans when fitted.

 

Modern cars have much more complex electrical, electronic and wiring systems so need more protection. Worse, is that they contain much more inflammable material, so increased electrical safety has to be built in.

One of my BGT upgrades was an additional 4 fuse auxiliary box. This was fed via a heavy duty ignition controlled relay. A new headlight loom and relays now provided a full 12 volts and added 20mph on unlit roads. The ignition controlled headlights were muppet proof,an idea copied from an XR3i. The spare fuse covered the electric radiator fan.

Other electrical modifications included a little metalwork to squeeze a full size 12v battery into the near side space. This idea copied from a rubber bumper model previously owned. The new battery cable ran via a red cut out key located behind the drivers seat. Handy security when parking in dodgy places and easy isolation when welding or messing behind the dash.

Before purists get over excited, this was a Heinz 57 model that had at one time been reshelled or created from bits. It looked the part and was my every day driver for almost seven years.

[alastairq]

 

 

Before purists get over excited, this was a Heinz 57 model that had at one time been reshelled or created from bits. It looked the part and was my every day driver for almost seven years.

 In the end, a car, is a car, is a car? If it suits, then why not upgrade here & there?   

 

I really have little 'time' for so-called 'originality'.....which often meant, unreliability?

 

Many ordinary motors, purchased for transport [rather than, far sighted, future investment]....if things went pop, then replacements were fitted, that did fit, that did the job, that didn't cost much or were easily available, at the time.  It amounts to a significant part of a car's history.  I certainly don't care if the hubcaps are wrong for it's age.....or the dash gauges are all incorrect. If they work, they're probably just as in need of 'saving for the nation' as the car they're fitted to......

[doilum]

In the end, a car, is a car, is a car? If it suits, then why not upgrade here & there?   

 

I really have little 'time' for so-called 'originality'.....which often meant, unreliability?

 

Many ordinary motors, purchased for transport [rather than, far sighted, future investment]....if things went pop, then replacements were fitted, that did fit, that did the job, that didn't cost much or were easily available, at the time.  It amounts to a significant part of a car's history.  I certainly don't care if the hubcaps are wrong for it's age.....or the dash gauges are all incorrect. If they work, they're probably just as in need of 'saving for the nation' as the car they're fitted to......

In fact the most useful mod I made was the rubber bumper choke cable with it's T handle. Much easier to pull, infinite adjustment and lock and no further need for a close peg.

[Guest]

I spoke to a Fire Chief once and he told me they have to be really careful now when cutting people out of cars - if they cut in the wrong place they can short wiring and set off airbags etc. which may risk further injury to an injured person and/or Fireman.  I believe he said they have databases on a laptop for each model of car.

With EVs you have to isolate the battery.

The Leaf has a flap on the 'transmission tunnel'

Teslas I believe have a certain spot you go-at with a cutting disk.

[Tony_S]

Our Chevette had something called a fusible link. When it melted the local Vauxhall dealer said didn’t recall ever selling a replacement before. Perhaps the other failures had caught fire?

[russ p]

Weren't fusible links where engine electrics went into the cabin? I think they were to prevent fires in crashes.

[Rugd1022]

Early MGBs (up to around 1969/70) had a twin fuse box, later models  a four fuse unit. Radios are shown on the wiring diagram with a separate inline fuse, probably because they were a dealer fitted option. A further inline fuse was added for electric cooling fans when fitted.

 

Modern cars have much more complex electrical, electronic and wiring systems so need more protection. Worse, is that they contain much more inflammable material, so increased electrical safety has to be built in.

 

Didn't early MGBs also have two small batteries rather than one large ('normal') sized one..?

 

A couple of nice classic car spots on my travels at work this week - yesterday I was working 6O51 down through Kensington to Battersea, just south of Olympia is a row of well to do townhouses with underground parking, the structure of which is partially open at the back, just as I was coasting past at about 20mph I caught a glimpse of a bright orange VW 'Variant' coupe. This afternoon on the way out of Brum New Street on the stopper I looked down at the road that runs past the frontage of ye olde Curzon Street station and saw a beautiful red S2 Lotus Esprit.

[Southern Steve]

Weren't fusible links where engine electrics went into the cabin? I think they were to prevent fires in crashes.

 

Fusible links were very popular with manufacturers from the 70's thro  to the 90's.

 

 

They were generally fitted into to the battery live wires  attached to the positive terminal, protecting the various different circuits.

 

 

The early Discovery ones lay along the inner wing and used to rot out inside their sleeving because the water lay there after off roading Often resulted in some odd faults until they finally let go!

[PhilJ W]

I once lost all the electrics on a Mk. 2 Fiesta. What had happened was part of the loom had become dislodged from its holding clip and fallen onto the exhaust manifold. The heat from the manifold not only melted the insulation but the copper wires within.

[Tony_S]

Fusible links were very popular with manufacturers from the 70's thro  to the 90's.

 

 

They were generally fitted into to the battery live wires  attached to the positive terminal, protecting the various different circuits.

 

 

The early Discovery ones lay along the inner wing and used to rot out inside their sleeving because the water lay there after off roading Often resulted in some odd faults until they finally let go!

On the Chevette it was connected at one end to the battery. We never found out why the original melted. With the Chevette my wife certainly appreciated being in the AA.

[Jol Wilkinson]

Didn't early MGBs also have two small batteries rather than one large ('normal') sized one..?

 

Up to 74 MGBs had two 6 volt batteries and then changed over to one 12 volt. I replaced the two year old 6 v with one 12 v Varta  which I could just get into one of the battery trays behind the seats, much improved starting, etc. Although the six volt type are still available, I think they are still use "old technology".

[peanuts]

spotted this on Broadway Chaderton last week https://www.flickr.com/gp/153816608@N03/9fi1H8

[doilum]

Up to 74 MGBs had two 6 volt batteries and then changed over to one 12 volt. I replaced the two year old 6 v with one 12 v Varta  which I could just get into one of the battery trays behind the seats, much improved starting, etc. Although the six volt type are still available, I think they are still use "old technology".

Mine came with a mini size 12v battery squeezed in. This was fine with the original asthmatic engine but could not cope with the factory reconditioned unit I salvaged from a rubber bumper model. Since this car came with a good heavy duty unit and a correct pair of 6 volt units were north of £100, it was not a difficult decision.

The rubber bumper car was one of the cursed R / S reg models which used inferior imported steel. It had had an expensive photographic restoration but just three years later the rot was back and was terminal. Pity, as it still looked great from twenty feet away. I gave £450 for it, kept the motor, gearbox and a few other bits and sold the rotten shell for £150. I had almost reached my target of saving a grand for an engine rebuild when this came along. Wife was well pleased! Some of the money saved went into a pair of band new old stock carburetors and an hour with a specialist to set them up correctly.

[MJI]

Fusible links were very popular with manufacturers from the 70's thro  to the 90's.

 

 

They were generally fitted into to the battery live wires  attached to the positive terminal, protecting the various different circuits.

 

 

The early Discovery ones lay along the inner wing and used to rot out inside their sleeving because the water lay there after off roading Often resulted in some odd faults until they finally let go!

 

What age?

 

Is this D1s only?

[Southern Steve]

What age?

 

Is this D1s only?

 

Yep, Disco 1's only. The later ones use Maxi blade fuses in the high current circuits fed off the battery positive live post.

[kernowtim]

New one for me today, 1966 renault caravelle, derived from the rear engine dauphine. Looked very tidy!!