Mk1 GT Wiring Loom queries

[suityou01 0]

I have recently agreed to help out my friend with his Mk1 Cortina restoration. As projects go it has been beset by many problems and it is starting to feel like it will never be finished to my friend, who turns 70 this December. So I have put in my lot with his project to get him on the road as soon as can be.

 

My part of the project is the wiring loom, and associated wiring niggles. I spent Saturday poring over the schematics, cataloguing wires and labelling them with my dymo labeller and have (I believe) a good mental modal of the wiring loom on the drivers side (or Right hand side as per the schematic).

 

The loom has been purchased in the past 6 months or so, and was presented to me on Saturday. I noticed a few things and wondered if I could pose my questions and related findings here (after having searched the forum to see if my questions had already been answered, and concluded that haven't).

 

Finding 1

 

The white wire that goes to the ignition coil has no continuity back to the ignition barrel (the 2 white wires share a connector on the ignition barrel side, the second white wire appears to go to the B terminal of the Voltage Stabiliser).

 

Finding 2

 

The Voltage Stabiliser has a seemingly random output on the I terminal. Neither D.C. nor A.C. settings on the meter gave a stable enough reading to ascertain any kind of average. I have spoken to my friend about replacing this with something more solid state, rather than the reed switched version, and he has agreed. 

 

Finding 3

 

There are a number of white plastic lamp holders that appear to be for the tachometer and speedometer, and I understand are called "Smith's gauge bulb holders". One of the lamp holders has a metal clip with many prongs that would make a snug fit inside the apertures in the back of the gauge housing, the others do not have this clip and are just bare plastic.

 

Question 1

 

Given that there is a suspected break in the loom, should I advise him to return the loom, or attempt to affect a repair. I can use my tracer to pinpoint the break and open the loom tape and go in and make a decent enough repair and reseal. His concern is the company in question may well take a long time to provide any remediation, if at all. What do the panel think, especially as there are other related deficiencies with this loom (see Finding 3 above).

 

Question 2

 

Is it possible to source the Smith's lamp holder clips separately? The answer to this question may be the deciding factor in whether to return the loom or not.

 

Question 3

 

Can anyone recommend a solid state version of the voltage stabiliser, and where it could be mounted away from the clocks so as to aid in refitting (the wires to the voltage stabiliser are pretty tight with the loom just hanging)

 

Question 4

 

What are the best practices for securing the loom to the vehicle inside the cab to prevent undue mechanical strain on the wires (such as those to the voltage stabiliser)?

 

I look forward to any responses and will enjoy this thread as it fills out. 

 

I attach a photograph from the weekend for context.

 

 

 

[Lotuscops 80]

You seem to be doing well - I assume it's a post '64 car? 

 

Lamps for those gauges can sometimes be found on Ebay as odd sales, but there are people on there who refurbish these instruments & could help,  like "Smiths gauges" their Ebay seller id so message them.  Speedy Cables in Wales also may have some. 

 

The voltage stabiliser is a 5v unit & I bought a solid state one off ebay.

 

 

[suityou01 0]

Thanks! :-)

 

It is a 1966 Mk1 GT afaik, so yes post 64.

 

Nice one on the 5v. That solves that mystery for me! 

 

I will reach out to Speedy Cables and revert back here with findings.