1966 F250 Camper Special

Before I fry something, I wanted to double check with anyone here that can take a quick peek at theirs and confirm this.

On the passenger side fender, next to the battery, there's a "wiring block" which is (or WAS) bolted to the fender. It has a half dozen wires hooked to a bolt, and it appears that at one time, the block was insulated.

Since this truck has been jury rigged to death as far as wiring goes, the wires aren't standard- there's some black, as well as some red wires hooked to this block. Arrgh.

I assumed at first it was a ground block until I made a bracket that will once again connect it to the fender, and it sparked big time when I hooked the battery back up. And no, I'm not talking about the big solenoid, this is a small bracket.

Now I'm guessing it's a positive block, and was at one time insulated. (The part that was there originally is shot, and those wires have been flopping all over the place, which may be the reason for half the electrical stuff not working.) I'm trying to rig up something that'll do the same thing as the original, but without knowing what on earth was there in the first place, it's a tough call.

If anyone has a similar truck, could you take a quick peek and tell me if this is indeed a hot wire connection block, and not a ground? I have no idea how I'm going to rig up another block that's insulated, but I've got to do something.

Please email me directly at Steve@hilltopdesign.com if you would with the answer to this. Thanks a million, and hope to bump into some of you at Pigeon Forge this weekend.

I'm 6' 4" tall, a buzz cut, moustache and goatee and a gold cane in hand, driving a white 66 F20 Camper Special with a WDVX radio plate on the front end. Stop and say hey if you see me.

 

Steve: Do you know if the camper special was ever wired for a second battery and/or for a camper on the back? If so, you most likely have the remnants of the isolator and wiring block for that. An isolator is necessary when a second battery is added. It allows both batteries to be charged, but prevents the main (starting) battery from discharging while the second one is drained to provide 12V power to the camper's electrical accessories.
Is there a second battery tray, or the remnants thereof? I have seen trucks with them on the driver's side and with two on the passenger side, so it could be anywhere. If there is one, you have probably found the reason for the block.
Finally, it could have been an inverter, which changes DC to AC for using regular AC appliances.

 

John- thanks for the speedy reply.

I wish I knew the history of this truck- the wiring is a mess from the nose to the tail.

As for this block I refer to, it's like a half inch wide by an inch and a half long at best, was once attached to the fender with sheetmetal screws, and has one "bolt" in the middle. It appears that at one point it had a flat phenolic "tab" that has all these wires bolted to it. It's since cracked and crumbled, and I just can't see exactly what purpose it had. I THOUGHT it was just a place for a bunch of ground wires to hook to, grounding them all to the fender, but the sparks when I hooked the battery back up tells me otherwise.

I'm using the remains of a rubber rag joint that tore out to fabricate another insulating block, so this should do the trick.

Thanks for the speedy reply. What I wouldn't give to have a from the factory truck parked next to this one to find out what half of this stuff is. Wishful thinking.

 

Oh- no, there's no remnants of a second battery holder that I can see. There must have been a few campers out back, judging from the swiss cheese top of the bedsides from numerous hold downs and such.

Thanks again!

Steve

 

It is a junction block for hot wires. It must be insulated from ground (the inner fender). I would send a picture, but JIGSAW is getting new (replacement) inner fenders and radiator support and is all apart right now!

Jerry (OldTrux) Biskup
Itasca, IL

http://hometown.aol.com/oldtrux/jigsaw.html

 

Thanks for that validation Jerry. With the remains of the rag joint I trashed installing wrong, a new insulated block is being made.

Itasca, hmm? Just moved from Palatine 4 years ago.. small world.

Thanks for the help gang, I owe ya a ride in this thing if I ever get this stuff fixed.

Steve

 

The isolater block you have is used to run power to the amp gauge of the optional CC or camper special (amp) gauge cluster. There is a very heavy gauge cable pair that runs from this isolater block thru the firewall by the master cylinder area and into your gauge. Be carefull here, LOTS of voltage goes thru these uncovered gauge terminals behind your dash! I replaced a broken one on my '66 with one from an early 80's ford van that has one for it's dual batteries, works great!