I’m looking at replacement wiring harness bits, for my 1970 standard convertible. Specifically the alternator section. I"m thinking that a gauge, as opposed to an idiot light, will be different. Or am I thinking about the difference between mustang wiring and Cougar? Is the harness the same, regardless of the display, I.E., light vs gauge?
The wiring for the ammeter and alternator indicator lamps are radically different. The ammeter uses 2 lines: one that attaches essentially to the battery side of the starter solenoid and the other at the alternator output. For 1970, these wires extend beyond the firewall. The indicator lamp uses a resistor wire in parallel with one wire that goes to the alternator output and another wire that is either RUN-only or ACC from the ignition switch.
One cannot simply replace one harness for the other without making an awful lot of changes to the main harness.
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Yup the gauge and warning lamp use completely different main harnesses and there is a different harness for the alternator too. Use of mis matched harnesses can result in melted wires and / or a fire. You don’t want to be the guy who does that.
But Royce…that’s how I stay in business! LOL
No matter what you decide, send the harness(s) to Randy for a inspection. Hes saved many hours of my time!
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This is the part that I was looking at- I have a complete harness for the car front to back,( it NEEDS to go to Randy-) But I was kind of thinking just in case- of all the things I hate doing on cars, electrical work ranks right up there!