I got contacted about some wiring issues on this 37 Packard. Went to go see Mark’s Packard and started looking at the issues he had. Found someone had done a make shift wire harness that was quite the mess. Discussion was to look for a new harness and do it properly. I left it with Mark to see what he could find.
Mark found someone that reproduces factory wire harnesses (Harness Unlimited in Wayne PAPA) for his car. Once he had the harness, he called me to arrange getting the Packard to my shop. Got it in the shop, up on Jack stands for easy access under the car.
Day 1 – 5 hrs.
Tried to see what every thing did but most switches and lights were not working. Found Turn signals working but on the rear only the left turn signal worked BUT it worked for both left and right turn signal. HHHMM Odd!! Found out they used a Trailer wire harness for rear lighting. Tried tracing wiring but it was so bad with colors changing along the way and rear harness run down the Passenger side which should be along the Drivers side. Finally came to the decision to just remove the harness. Ended up loosening the front set assembly and moving it back to provide more room under the dash. Tried to remove center part of the dash for better access and found Cigarette lighter was held in with a Hose Clamp. This will be the hardest part of the process (Even says this in the instructions – yes I do read instructions when doing this kind of stuff). Got most of the harness out today and now to sit back and go through instruction sheet to see best plan of attack.
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- Before
Day 2 – 3 hrs.
Short day but lots of looking under the dash to see how everything works. Took the main harness and routed it inside the cab area and routed rear harness to the back. Had to loosen column to get enough room to slide the harness through by the steering column. Removed dimmer switch and connected new harness to it and reinstalled (not an easy task due to location).
Day 3 – 3 hrs.
Decided to tackle the front lighting wire harness today. Main harness has 2 sub-harnesses add to it. One for the left side and one for the right side. The were connected with bullet style connectors and due to unequal length wires, this caused the wires to separate as the cables were straightened out. Decided to use seamless butt connectors with heat shrink. Would not be visible when taped and provides a way better water tight connection. Routed wires and then connected Healights, turn signal and park light connection on both left and right. Cleaned up connections and secured them neatly in place. Also checked amperage on Alternator and it is rated at 65 Amps. Will have to check ammeter on rating. May have to make some changes.
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- Before Main harness
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- After Main Harness
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- Before - Right Side
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- After - Right Side
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- After Left side
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- GM 65 Amp Alternator
Day 4 and 5 – 5 hrs.
Worked on the tail light section and Factory harness has a Park light Circuit, Stop Lamp Circuit and Brake light Circuit. This was a little confusing as there is only a 2 circuit bulb in the socket. Did some research and found out the 37 Packard does not have Turn signals. The Packards with turn signals had 2 bulbs in the Tail Lights. Small one for Park Lights, then Dimmer filament for Brakes and bright filament for turn signals. Who ever did the previous poorly installed harness, added the Turn Signal switch. Put my brain to use and with the Turn signal switch it puts Brake and Turn Signal on one circuit. This car also has a Backup Light which the harness package gives you a long black with to connect to the Reverse light and run to the front to a switch to turn it on. Since the Brake light circuit was useless now, I changed it to the reverse light circuit since it was in the rear harness already. Save the need to run another wire. Got the circuits connected in the Tail Light housings, I just need to connect wires under the car. Next Time !! Also connected wires to the Turn Signal Switch.
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- Factory Tail light for Packard with Turn Signal Lights
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- Small bulb on top to light up Licence plate
