I'm thinking ground issue on the 64
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 6
I'm thinking ground issue on the 64
I replaced the fuel sending unit last week and it worked. It didn't show full even when I had just filled it up. A couple nights ago I drove it at night for the first time. The headlights were VERY dim. I also noticed when I switched to high beams (new floor switch) the dash lights got brighter. This morning I had no fuel or temp gauge at all. I think this is a grounding issue. Where would I start looking?
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,057
Likes: 1,612
From: Seattle
1961-64 are a bit different than 1965-66 as far as headlight grounds. The grounds for the headlights come from a small dedicated harness just for them. The ring terminal ground wire is screwed to the core support in the middle of each headlight 'divet'. You have to remove the headlight to access the ground wire connection but that's a good first place to start. Depending on how you use the truck it can be an area of corrosion since it is right out front of the truck so road spray from rain, etc. can take a toll. Also, if your wiring is original to the truck make sure it's not getting brittle and needing to be replaced. You could chase problems that are happening because of suspect condition of the wires. At least something to keep in mind. The ohms scale of a multi-meter can help show if there are connection issues or if you've got great connections everywhere.
Headlight Bucket Wire - 1961-64 Ford Trucks | Dennis Carpenter
Headlight Bucket Wire - 1961-64 Ford Trucks | Dennis Carpenter
See A Man About A Horse
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,918
Likes: 667
From: Mariposa, Ca.
A common source of electrical problems is the bulkhead connector, where sections of wiring harness join from the engine compartment to the in-cab section of harness at the firewall. Corrosion, and high resistance causes heat and loose connections, which can in-turn lead to burnt up wiring. One way to tell is to have a helper manipulate these connectors when the truck’s on, with your lights, maybe your turn signals on, while you keep an eye on your gauges, seeing if things change. If you examine it, and find a problem like a burnt section of wire, you can jumper around the bulkhead connector, if there aren’t too many burnt wires which is sometimes the case. In either event, I would eventually want to replace sections of bad harness with new, rather than have a rat’s nest of butchered wiring. We’ve all seen the nasty stuff on these old trucks done by previous owners, it isn’t pretty. We could start an interesting thread of photos of Southern-engineered wiring solutions.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 118
From: Chico, Ca.
Somewhere on this site, there’s a tech folder entitled “Brighter brights, whiter whites” and associated posts. I did this conversion to my ‘01 MGM, and it made a big difference. Carry some spare relays, because if one goes out you lose either low or high beams.
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