MTFCA Forum

One of my winter projects is to replace the wiring harnesses on my '19 touring. I started installing the timer / generator harness & put it back in the same spot as the old harness that I removed. I wasn't sure how to rout the wires along the frame so I searched the interweb for some pictures. The first thing I noticed is that I didn't see anyone with the same routing on the firewall as what I have. Can someone show me a good picture of how I should run the wiring harness? I'm changing out all of the wiring except the brake light and turn signal wires that have been added.

Do I see a metal firewall on a “19” Touring? Dan

Sometimes the wood firewalls were replaced by steel ones. My 22 has a steel one too. I see some strange things in the picture. On the left as viewed there is something that looks like a wire coming from the firewall to where the pile of blankets are on top of the engine. What is under the pile?
Norm

Here’s a earlier thread on wire routing on a 1920 wood firewall http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1373246850

Your 1919 T may have a low cowl metal firewall installed on it sometime in the past. This was a fairly common practice for the 19-23 T owners to install a metal firewall on the earlier low cowl cars. It would fit with using the later firewall brackets with it as I remember. The metal firewall came out for the 23 low cowl T’s in late 22. T owners going to salvage yards would use what would fit back in the day and the later metal firewall would fit.

If it’s already in place on your car I would leave it as it is but that’s your call. A purist would say to use the wood firewall but for me it looks good as it is. Others will have their opinion.

Here’s a 23 routing that may help you for a low cowl metal fire wall.

Thanks for the picture and the link to the thread. I don't think I have holes for the wiring harness clamps to run it centered across between the coil wiring connectors. I also saw a picture with the wiring ran over the top, I think it even went above the radiator support rod.

The metal firewall was installed many years ago. I think this car was assembled with parts available in the 60's and 70's. I have a receipt from a title change back in the 50's. I get the impression that the pieces and parts might have come form quite few donors when it was put together.

Here is a picture of a collage the guy I bought the car from has. He wanted to keep it since it was of his mom and dad restoring the car. I can't get a good look at the firewall in any of the pictures:
I just had a towel over top of the engine since I had the head off. Here's a picture right before I put the head back on this afternoon:
How is the harness held in place where it runs along the frame on either side of the engine?

Thank for the input

Boaski wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:01 pm

One of my winter projects is to replace the wiring harnesses on my '19 touring. I started installing the timer / generator harness & put it back in the same spot as the old harness that I removed. I wasn't sure how to rout the wires along the frame so I searched the interweb for some pictures. The first thing I noticed is that I didn't see anyone with the same routing on the firewall as what I have. Can someone show me a good picture of how I should run the wiring harness? I'm changing out all of the wiring except the brake light and turn signal wires that have been added.

I believe the wiring for 1919-1925 starter cars was the same
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Picture of Steve Jelf's 1925 firewall
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In your picture showing the engine it looks like there is a clip on the bottom bolt firewall support not being used. The loom wire on the generator side of the engine runs along sort of under the hood shelf. Sort of! On T’s that I’ve seen over time the loom becomes greasy and roughed up after many times having the carb off and on to repair it! My Grandfathers 24 was that way when I got it years ago. Others will have ideas about it too.

And by the way. The low cowl 17-23 firewalls had the harness hole on the TOP of the terminal block area. The later 24-25 high cowl cars had the harness hole BELOW the terminal block area. There is a difference.

Various clips are used to secure the wiring looms.

Thank you for the pictures. That's very helpful. The hole in the firewall is below the terminal block, so they must have put in a standard late low cowl metal firewall when they replaced it. The car was not represented as a correct 1919, so I expected to learn of non original stuff on it as time went by. You can tell how little I knew in that I really wasn't even aware that it should have had a wood firewall. Learning new things ever day.

I'll see if I can find some clamps for along the side of the engine.

Todd
Your car is like a lot of others. It’s all Model T. Henry Ford was building his cars with parts that would fit more than just one paticular year. Some will interchange to be sure and the improved metal firewall was one of them and others that came along earlier and later.
He would use parts when he could for the next year. Changes came along in design and the dealerships used up their excess parts when they could for the next year. I’d get your car running like you want and then think about any detail changes later. It’s an authentic T like it is.