What the heck is this?

baughmama

1952 8N Caretaker & Tinkerer 🚜
Location
Mississippi
Big brains,

I Inherited a '52 8N, a hack 12v conversion was put in at some point. Working on refreshing the wiring due to connections being exposed and corroded. Original rectangular resistor is being used as a washer for the alternator bracket. Any idea what this is? It's in line from key to coil where the rectangular resistor should be according to wiring diagram.

I'm hoping it's an aftermarket resistor that I can remove and put a new 12v coil in and upgrade to electronic ignition.

Thanks y'all!

IMG_20240822_142700_01.jpg
 
Big brains,

I Inherited a '52 8N, a hack 12v conversion was put in at some point. Working on refreshing the wiring due to connections being exposed and corroded. Original rectangular resistor is being used as a washer for the alternator bracket. Any idea what this is? It's in line from key to coil where the rectangular resistor should be according to wiring diagram.

I'm hoping it's an aftermarket resistor that I can remove and put a new 12v coil in and upgrade to electronic ignition.

Thanks y'all!

View attachment 83881
It is a type of ballast resister. I have one on my 1950 8N with side mount distributor
 
It is a type of ballast resister. I have one on my 1950 8N with side mount distributor
Thanks! If I've read things correctly, I don't need it if I get a 12v coil, correct? Prefer to lessen the number of corroded connections.
 
It’s a variable resistor most commonly used to control a heater fan motor. I’m sure I have a new one in the shop that I have never used. I would not call it a hack it’s more of another way to control the amperage of the ignition system. We have not always had easy access to different means to address this so this was a simply way to do this back in the day. At one time it was high tech.
 
It’s a variable resistor most commonly used to control a heater fan motor. I’m sure I have a new one in the shop that I have never used. I would not call it a hack it’s more of another way to control the amperage of the ignition system. We have not always had easy access to different means to address this so this was a simply way to do this back in the day. At one time it was high tech.
Ok, how does one vary the resistance?

And the hack part is referring to the poor installation. One wire run consisted of 5 pieces of different size wire spliced together. And some of the splices were just bare wires tied in a knot. I'm going through and cleaning up all the runs with new 14ga and good ol' Harbor Freight heat shrink. Then I plan to run some split loom but I'm kinda concerned the engine heat might melt it.
 

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Ok, how does one vary the resistance?

And the hack part is referring to the poor installation. One wire run consisted of 5 pieces of different size wire spliced together. And some of the splices were just bare wires tied in a knot. I'm going through and cleaning up all the runs with new 14ga and good ol' Harbor Freight heat shrink. Then I plan to run some split loom but I'm kinda concerned the engine heat might melt it.
If it does not have a means to adjust it then it’s a fixed resistor. Why not just purchase a 6V replacement harness they are cheap enough and easily converted for 12V use.



Original rectangular resistor is being used as a washer for the alternator bracket ?

Back up a 52N side mount distributor did not use a resistor so what does Original rectangular resistor mean.


I am not again rolling your own harness but either way you are making it harder than it should be.

 
If it does not have a means to adjust it then it’s a fixed resistor. Why not just purchase a 6V replacement harness they are cheap enough and easily converted for 12V use.



Original rectangular resistor is being used as a washer for the alternator bracket ?

Back up a 52N side mount distributor did not use a resistor so what does Original rectangular resistor mean.


I am not again rolling your own harness but either way you are making it harder than it should be.

Ha, yea, I guess they didn't have a washer and the mounting plate was the right thickness, see pic. I thought about buying a new harness but I already have wire and connectors on hand. Allows me to teach my son too. I've replaced nearly the whole ignition circuit components except the coil and key switch, finally got spark after some new wiring and she started up and ran. I would like to get all the wiring done so I won't have to fool with it for some years 😂.

Hey thanks for y'all's inputs!
 

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Ha, yea, I guess they didn't have a washer and the mounting plate was the right thickness, see pic. I thought about buying a new harness but I already have wire and connectors on hand. Allows me to teach my son too. I've replaced nearly the whole ignition circuit components except the coil and key switch, finally got spark after some new wiring and she started up and ran. I would like to get all the wiring done so I won't have to fool with it for some years 😂.

Hey thanks for y'all's inputs!
It could have been for the ignition coil are used as a resistor for the alt so it does not back feed the ignition. Mounting it to the alt was IHC way to do it # 107558CI



Yall got a lot to figure out look up JMOR wiring diagrams for your application.
 
Thanks! If I've read things correctly, I don't need it if I get a 12v coil, correct? Prefer to lessen the number of corroded connections.
Yes, you can get a direct 12 volt no external resistor required coil and eliminate that resistor. NAPA IC14SB or equivalent coil.
 
Ha, yea, I guess they didn't have a washer and the mounting plate was the right thickness, see pic. I thought about buying a new harness but I already have wire and connectors on hand. Allows me to teach my son too. I've replaced nearly the whole ignition circuit components except the coil and key switch, finally got spark after some new wiring and she started up and ran. I would like to get all the wiring done so I won't have to fool with it for some years 😂.

Hey thanks for y'all's inputs!
It could have been for the ignition coil are used as a resistor for the alt so it does not back feed the ignition. Mounting it to the alt was IHC way to do it # 107558CI



Yall got a lot to figure out look up JMOR wiring diagrams for your application.

Open this up a diode may be behing the tape.

alt mess.png
 
It could have been for the ignition coil are used as a resistor for the alt so it does not back feed the ignition. Mounting it to the alt was IHC way to do it # 107558CI



Yall got a lot to figure out look up JMOR wiring diagrams for your application.

Open this up a diode may be behing the tape.

View attachment 83926
Yep there's a diode. It currently starts and runs after a few new wires. I'm going to replace one wire run at a time and make sure it starts. Here's some more pics of the mess I'm untangling.
 

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Ok, how does one vary the resistance?

And the hack part is referring to the poor installation. One wire run consisted of 5 pieces of different size wire spliced together. And some of the splices were just bare wires tied in a knot. I'm going through and cleaning up all the runs with new 14ga and good ol' Harbor Freight heat shrink. Then I plan to run some split loom but I'm kinda concerned the engine heat might melt it.
See the part it's mounted with? If it's a variable resistor, that likely contains the adjustment mechanism.
 
Yep there's a diode. It currently starts and runs after a few new wires. I'm going to replace one wire run at a time and make sure it starts. Here's some more pics of the mess I'm untangling.
For learning purposes I like the "one wire at a time" method. Leave enough slack in your wires so when you are done you can bundle them together and cover with readily available flexible conduit.
 
Does anyone have any photos of how the wire harness should be ran? I'm sure loose wires all around and over the top of the engine is not OE specs 😂

The previous caretakers apparently weren't as OCD as I am!
 
Google JMOR wiring diagrams.
Thanks! I saw them, really good diagrams, but didn't find one for my particular setup. They don't show side distributor with a resistor and 6v coil, 3-wire alternator with a diode. No matter, I've got a pretty good handle on that, now I'm looking for how folks have routed and wrapped the wires, I prefer neat and orderly.
 
Thanks! I saw them, really good diagrams, but didn't find one for my particular setup. They don't show side distributor with a resistor and 6v coil, 3-wire alternator with a diode. No matter, I've got a pretty good handle on that, now I'm looking for how folks have routed and wrapped the wires, I prefer neat and orderly.
Oh, it is out there......along with about 40 other configurations of anything anyone ever asked for. Some, I don't like, but someone asked for it. Probably on your own as to routing, as in all the materials that I have seen , only the 9N/2N shows routing drawings. And, of course even if you had a factory 8N to look at, you would still have to be creative as you have no VR. I think I have seen the headlight wires clipped along the lower inside edge of hood and that might also be a good path for alternator wires. If you wind up with a nice look, post it for others.
 
Oh, it is out there......along with about 40 other configurations of anything anyone ever asked for. Some, I don't like, but someone asked for it. Probably on your own as to routing, as in all the materials that I have seen , only the 9N/2N shows routing drawings. And, of course even if you had a factory 8N to look at, you would still have to be creative as you have no VR. I think I have seen the headlight wires clipped along the lower inside edge of hood and that might also be a good path for alternator wires. If you wind up with a nice look, post it for others.
Awesome! This is the one! I searched for a while and never found it. Appreciate the help!
 
Awesome! This is the one! I searched for a while and never found it. Appreciate the help!
OEM wiring was clipped to the left hood rail you can still buy the clips. When rolling my own it’s rare for me to clip it to the hood but sometimes I do it. The last one I did I was out of 6V harness I had to roll my own. I told JMOR how I use a OEM 6V harness and he made up a diagram for it.

With the cost of quality parts/labor it’s not a good idea to pay me to make a harness. 12V and a alt it’s a good time to dump that amp meter and replace it with a voltmeter. This will bring out the amp meter lubbers that don’t understand a voltmeter is the gold standard when diagnosing your electrical system.
 
OEM wiring was clipped to the left hood rail you can still buy the clips. When rolling my own it’s rare for me to clip it to the hood but sometimes I do it. The last one I did I was out of 6V harness I had to roll my own. I told JMOR how I use a OEM 6V harness and he made up a diagram for it.

With the cost of quality parts/labor it’s not a good idea to pay me to make a harness. 12V and a alt it’s a good time to dump that amp meter and replace it with a voltmeter. This will bring out the amp meter lubbers that don’t understand a voltmeter is the gold standard when diagnosing your electrical system.
A clip fell out when I removed the hood, wasn't sure where it came from, I'll have to check it out! I'm assuming any ol voltmeter that would fill the hole be sufficient? Gonna order a fuel tank soon, and pick up a 12v coil so I can add the voltmeter to the shopping list. Thanks!
 

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