1964 electrical problem

[Jef S.]

So my 64 is getting back together. It starts great runs great all mechanical stuff ( odometer & tachometer) works and enough elctrical to start it and keep it running. But nothing else is getting electrical power no ammeter no horn no lights no gas gauge power the radio is not back in yet so i dont know about that. There is power to fuse box but none past there. Very frustrating! Any thoughts?

[Harry S.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Check the gound connection on the cluster. If it's not grounded the gauges have a problem. The horn could be the contact just under the steering wheel. The lights, check the pins in the switch and the firewall, ensure they are all straight and seat properly.

[Alan D.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Another one - check both sides of the fuse, I have found that the contacts get dirty due to age and will drop enough voltage that things do not work. (the probability of that is 2-3%)

[Edward J.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Jeff, It looks like the purple wire on back of ignition switch heads over to fuse block and powers those circuts. do you have power to all circuts at the block w/ignition switch in on position? and fuses all look good?

[Harry S.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Check the gound connection on the cluster. If it's not grounded the gauges have a problem. The horn could be the contact just under the steering wheel. The lights, check the pins in the switch and the firewall, ensure they are all straight and seat properly.

[Jef S.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Yes It seems I have power to the fuse block with the key turned on but nothing coming out. I have pulled the block away frm the firewall and it is a little dirty but it doesnt seem to be bad enough for complete loss of power.

[John W.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Jef,

The purple wire supplies power to the buss on the fuse block that is fed to all of the fuses. If you don't have power on either side of the fuse then the connection to the buss is bad, or the buss itself is broken. Most likely corrosion between the connection of the purple wire and the buss.

Remove the purple wire and clean all surfaces of the connection. Coat the connection with a little conductive paste. I use copper emulsion boiler never sieze to coat this kind of connection problem. The copper in the emulsion fills any voids in the connection and the emulsion keeps moisture from corroding the connection any more. Permatex Copper Anti-sieze should be available at your local auto supply store.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

Jef, are you using a testlight or volt meter? this is a easy way to make sure there is power going to both sides of the circut, or circuts. your not saying anything but you have power to block. this info would give us a next step. are all the fuses powered on both sides?

[John H.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

The purple wire doesn't power anything in the fuse block - it runs direct from the ignition switch, through the fuse block inboard 8-way connector, to the starter solenoid; it energizes the starter when the key is in the "Start" position.

Separate the two halves of the fuse block and check inside it for corroded or broken connections on the input side of the fuses; photo below is the inside of a '66 fuse block, but the '64 is similar.


FuseBlockOpen661024.jpg

[John W.]

Re: 1964 electrical problem

John,

A picture is worth a thousand words. As you can see there is corrosion on all of the connections on the fuse block in the picture. Not a problem as long as it is on the outside surface of the connection but when it penetrates the internal connection it is an excellent insulator. The real headache can be when there is enough connection for a voltmeter to read the voltage being present. As soon as you try to turn on a lamp or radio or whatever the voltage will drop to near zero because the connection can carry the voltage as long as it is not trying to carry any current.

I have seen the corrosion work it's way up inside the wire insulation where the terminals are crimped on to the wire. Clean all of the connections as best you can and put a very light coat of the copper based never seize on them before reconnecting them. Be careful that you don't let the never seize bridge two connections because that will cause a short.