Rewiring the 'Cuda - DONE - Price List

[kingtroll]

Thanks, They lightup green. They are 5" (speedo) and 2 5/8" Other gauges 

Thanks for the info. The original gauges work in my car but they really aren't that bright which I assume is the case for most of us. I'll be watching this post.

 

[PlumCrazy]

What gauge wire is that on the three bottom lights?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

What gauge wire is that on the three bottom lights?

High 20s i assume. Just a plain small bulb, doesn't take much to light em. 1/2" dia housings.

[71bigblock]

The wiring is less messy now?      

 

[PlumCrazy]

High 20s i assume. Just a plain small bulb, doesn't take much to light em. 1/2" dia housings.

I don't profess to be a wiz on wiring but I do believe that the people that designed these systems did.  Chrysler spent millions on electrical R&D and I found this statement interesting.  Hate to see something bad happen because of some cheap incorrect wire.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I don't profess to be a wiz on wiring but I do believe that the people that designed these systems did.  Chrysler spent millions on electrical R&D and I found this statement interesting.  Hate to see something bad happen because of some cheap incorrect wire.

They come pre-wired that way for '12v automotive use'. The amerage draw on those lamps is TINY. They are wired in parallel as designed. They'll be fine, i've ran them on my car with no issues with them.  Btw, that quote has no mention of current in the circuit which is what dictates the gauge wire needed. You wouldnt go run a stock 65amp alternator with the magic minimum 18gauge wire for a 12v automotive circuit...right?

[gomopar440]

Just so you all know, that dash I pictured above is the probably the third (and best one to date) I've modified like that. The first one I made was over ten years ago on my second Challenger. I'd be willing to bet from the look of it that those dash lights are the same ones I got from Radio Shack and used in my previous modded guage setups. I also ran them in my custom aluminum dash I made for my 68 Power Wagon that I completely rewired with a Painless Kit. The "small" 20 ga wires are the dead giveaway. They always worked fine for me and I know I put them through many years of use so I wouldn't sweat it. Like Goody already said, they would need a much greater load on them to generate enough heat to be a danger. The blinker indicators are only on intermittently and the oil idiot light would usually have you shutting the car off real quick so those should never even get a chance to get hot. The only light that would be under constant "ON" from time to time would be the high beam indicator if you drive with it them on. My bulbs with those "little wire" setups never failed on me so...

[RDF]

The only light that would be under constant "ON" from time to time would be the high beam indicator if you drive with it them on.

Well that's what I have hooked up to that 3rd light, but I'm not sweating it....I hardly drive the car during the day, let alone at night.  If I do, I'll be sure to switch to low beams every once in a while. 

[422STROKER]

As long as you use the proper bulb for the light socket it will be fine.

Think about the size wire for the headlights, granted they do have some problems, what are they like 65watts?  Only on maybe a 16ga wire? 14ga tops.  Anyway those indicator lights are what 3-5 watts? 10watts?  Less than 1 amp no matter what.  You could leave em on for years and the only thing that will happen is the bulb will wear out from use.


Tom

[GoodysGotaCuda]

As long as you use the proper bulb for the light socket it will be fine.

Think about the size wire for the headlights, granted they do have some problems, what are they like 65watts?  Only on maybe a 16ga wire? 14ga tops.  Anyway those indicator lights are what 3-5 watts? 10watts?  Less than 1 amp no matter what.  You could leave em on for years and the only thing that will happen is the bulb will wear out from use.


Tom

Watts law. P-(Watts) over I - (Current)/E - (Voltage)

I = P / E

3w light (P) / 12v (E) = .25A (I) from one little dash light if they were 3watts.

   with them being no issue. Again, they do come prewired with those leads

[PlumCrazy]

Watts law. P-(Watts) over I - (Current)/E - (Voltage)

I = P / E

3w light (P) / 12v (E) = .25A (I) from one little dash light if they were 3watts.

   with them being no issue. Again, they do come prewired with those leads

Your math is a bit flawed, and it is Ohm's law.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Your math is a bit flawed, and it is Ohm's law.

Its ohm's law to figure out how many amps a light uses, using wattage rating instead of resistance?

[RDF]

Just another quick update......New battery cables are installed, headlights are back toghether, speaker wire has been laid, dimmer switch installed, neutral safety switch hooked up, wipers hooked up, dome light connected, and dash wires cleaned up.  The only thing left is the stereo and putting the interior back together, and that's it!!!

I didn't get any pics today, but as I clean up during the week (IF I have time), then I'll try to take some then.  All in all, we're about 90% complete and looking good! 

[RDF]

Ok, something weird is going on, need some help here.....

I hooked up my wiper switch to my motor in the engine bay, just to test it....and for power, I ran a wire from the battery directly to the switch.  All works fine....both speeds, and off, working great.  I send the wires through the firewall one at a time, making sure I've got the right wires matched up, and then I hook my power to the "Wiper Power" wire on my harness and the wipers "try" to come on (move about 1/4 of an inch) and then nothing.  I even ran a wire from the battery to the switch power again and nothing.  So I cut the wires AGAIN  , hook it up in the engine bay and bada bing, everything works.....so I send them back through the firewall again, one at a time, this time with a friend matching up each wire and hook the power to the Wiper Power wire and it does the same thing again; moves about 1/4 of an inch and that's all.   

Does it sound like there's not enough power getting to the switch to make the wipers work?  I'm pretty lost on this one.    

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Leave it hooked up if it still is in the car, i'll figure it out on Sunday.    Get ahold of that stereo diagram?