VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 RHD Cars -- Wiring

This may seem like a minor thing to those who restore the "normal" cars, but I'm working now on a right-hand drive (RHD) '29 and I have a few questions about how the wiring harness was arranged. I'm sure someone (especially our friends in UK, Oz, RSA, etc) must have an original car and be able to answer my questions My car was rewired (very poorly) at some point in its life, so I can't really tell how it was originally.

The issues arise due to the fact that the steering column and controls are on the right side of the car and all the other electrics remain on the left:

-- My car has a rear-mounted spare, but the tail light is mounted on the left frame rail? This makes no sense to me, am I missing something? I plan to put the tail light back into the center of the rear mounted spare unless I can determine that it was mounted to the side for a reason.

-- Do the headlight wires (and the generator and temp gauge wires with which they are bound) run down the left frame rail, just like US cars? (This also relates to the dimmer switch location, below.)

-- Where was the Klaxon 8-C horn located on these cars: Left side or right side?

-- If horn remains on the left side, how was the grounding wire from the steering column to the horn routed?

-- Where was the dimmer switch mounted? (My car has the holes for a dimmer switch in the RIGHT toe board support, but the switch that was in it was mounted in the toe board to the left of the driver's foot. I'm assuming that was a replacement. Note that this presents the biggest problem: If the headlight wires were routed down the left side, then jumpers will be needed across the firewall. I'm guessing that the dimmer switch was mounted on the right toe board support and the headlight wires ran down the right frame rail.

Thanks for any help any of you "Commonwealth Nation" guys can provide on this.

All the Best,

Chip

Chip

I can't confirm mine is as per original layout, but is the same as other Holden bodied '29s I have looked at here.
- headlight wires etc run down left side frame rail, from hole in firewall.
- Horn mounted on left and wire routed back thru main loom
- dimmer switch between starter and clutch pedals, and wiring runs up inside of firewall to main loom

A few photos that hopefully show how mine is set up. I don't know if Holden used local or modified imported wiring looms, but perhaps others might know?

29 Holden Photo - firewall
29 Holden - wiring and horn
29 Holden - pedal layout

Not sure how much this helps as this layout is common but I don't know if original, but good luck.

Barry

Thanks Barry! That's very helpful. The only part I'm still a bit unsure about is the headlight dimmer switch. I'm not sure why the mounting holes are there in the right toe board support if it wasn't originally mounted there. I think I will put it there in any case, because it simplifies removal of the toe board for maintenance work. I will then work with our wiring loom supplier to ensure I have leads long enough to reach it.

One last question just to be sure: On which side of the frame is your stoplight switch mounted?

Thanks very much for taking the time to help out. Cheers, mate!

All the Best, Chip

Looks real nice, where did you get that great looking shifter knob? Mine is standard black.

I wrecked several 29 and 30 right hand drive cars (Holden Bodies) when I restored my 30 Sports Roadster. The dimmer switch was in the floor boards, on any that still had them, even though there was a hole in the metal support panel.

Chip - stop light switch is mounted on left between exhaust and torque tube. Happy to help, as I am sure you are with Stefan. Enjoy your trip to Germany, I am sure lots of folks will be hoping to hear he is back on the road soon.

Beachbum - the shifter knob came with the car when I bought it, so sorry but can't help on that one. Looks professional by the lines around the middle and I assume not home made, but perhaps others might know where/when they were sold?



cheers
Barry

Chip, if you need a complete wiring harness, you can order one from these people down under for your RHD application.The exchange rate is still favourable to the US dollar.
http://www.vinwire.com.au/bcd_list.htm

Good points all! Thanks very much. And anyone with the surname "Boyd" can't be all bad.

All the Best,

Chip Boyd

Barry,

I'll give you $5 and a NOS black shift knob for that one of yours

Thanks Chip

Hi Chip,

next week you will study the wiring of my 1931 RHD, and I guess it will answer lots of your questions.
Mine was rewired in 2004 in a bad way, but lot things are to see clearely.
My dimmer switch is not far from starter pedal for ex.
the horn is at same place as at LHD cars.
May only one tail light was at right fender.
That made it easy for me to find a left one, because there are more LHD than RHD cars remaining.
stop light switch is on left side of frame
at RHD car passengers side
You will see everything soon :-))

Viele Grüsse
Stefan