The Ford Barn

Lembomw · 03-25-2013, 09:58 PM

I am getting to the final stage of rebuilding my ’30 Tudor. I am installing a dome light so it will be in the middle just behind the front seats.

There is no roof or headliner in the car yet, just the roof ribs.

I have done a search and while there has been a lot of discussion and instructions on how and where to run the wires up to the roof level I was not able to find out what to do with them after they are up there.

How do you run the wires so they get to the middle of the roof? Do you run them down the side then staple them to the side of one of the ribs, or run them to the middle of the header first then either under or over the ribs to where the light will be. I would think that running them on top of the ribs would not be good since the chicken wire could damage the wires. There was no headliner in the car when I got it so I do not know how it is attached so perhaps running them under the ribs could interfere with the headliner installation.

I would greatly appreciate advice on the correct way to do this.

Thank you,

Mark

Steve Plucker · 03-25-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lembomw

I am getting to the final stage of rebuilding my ’30 Tudor. I am installing a dome light so it will be in the middle just behind the front seats.

There is no roof or headliner in the car yet, just the roof ribs.

I have done a search and while there has been a lot of discussion and instructions on how and where to run the wires up to the roof level I was not able to find out what to do with them after they are up there.

How do you run the wires so they get to the middle of the roof? Do you run them down the side then staple them to the side of one of the ribs, or run them to the middle of the header first then either under or over the ribs to where the light will be. I would think that running them on top of the ribs would not be good since the chicken wire could damage the wires. There was no headliner in the car when I got it so I do not know how it is attached so perhaps running them under the ribs could interfere with the headliner installation.

I would greatly appreciate advice on the correct way to do this.

Thank you,

Mark

Mark,

I think if you have a copy of the Ford Service Bulletins...There are some Wiring Diagrams which just might help you out.

Pluck

1931 flamingo · 03-26-2013, 11:13 AM

I would run them along the SIDE of the ribs, roof on top, headliner on the bottom. FWIW
Paul in CT

Lembomw · 03-26-2013, 06:37 PM

Steve/Paul, thank you for your responses. I am going to see the club librarian tomorrow to see if he has any of the service bulletins that cover this. I think that running them down the side of the side of the roof then across on the side of one of the ribs. That makes sense. The trim shop will have to make sure they don't damage them when they do the headliner.

Thanks again, Mark

Bob/Kansas City · 03-27-2013, 04:28 PM

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In my experience the dome light wiring runs from the junction box up the windshield post and over to the center of the windshield header. From there it should run to the center of the car through the holes that are in middle of the top bows back to the dome light location. A ground wire can run from the light over to the side of the body along a top bow. You would use 16ga wire for your dome light.

03-25-2013, 09:58 PM	#1
Lembomw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 162	Dome Light Wires I am getting to the final stage of rebuilding my ’30 Tudor. I am installing a dome light so it will be in the middle just behind the front seats. There is no roof or headliner in the car yet, just the roof ribs. I have done a search and while there has been a lot of discussion and instructions on how and where to run the wires up to the roof level I was not able to find out what to do with them after they are up there. How do you run the wires so they get to the middle of the roof? Do you run them down the side then staple them to the side of one of the ribs, or run them to the middle of the header first then either under or over the ribs to where the light will be. I would think that running them on top of the ribs would not be good since the chicken wire could damage the wires. There was no headliner in the car when I got it so I do not know how it is attached so perhaps running them under the ribs could interfere with the headliner installation. I would greatly appreciate advice on the correct way to do this. Thank you, Mark

03-26-2013, 11:13 AM	#3
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Dome Light Wires I would run them along the SIDE of the ribs, roof on top, headliner on the bottom. FWIW Paul in CT

03-26-2013, 06:37 PM	#4
Lembomw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 162	Re: Dome Light Wires Steve/Paul, thank you for your responses. I am going to see the club librarian tomorrow to see if he has any of the service bulletins that cover this. I think that running them down the side of the side of the roof then across on the side of one of the ribs. That makes sense. The trim shop will have to make sure they don't damage them when they do the headliner. Thanks again, Mark

03-27-2013, 04:28 PM	#5
Bob/Kansas City Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 340	Re: Dome Light Wires Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) In my experience the dome light wiring runs from the junction box up the windshield post and over to the center of the windshield header. From there it should run to the center of the car through the holes that are in middle of the top bows back to the dome light location. A ground wire can run from the light over to the side of the body along a top bow. You would use 16ga wire for your dome light.