Just to throw my 2 cents worth in about your ammeter...the way it's wired up is giving you an indication of what your alternator is supplying to the whole system,eg elec demand and battery charging needs,this is the same as many aircraft ,I assume its done this way to give the user more relevant info to the state of the overall elec system,eg,if there is a short the ammeter will show a high current demand,whether this info is necessary,or even looked at is users choice...that just my observation of the aviation application of this setup.The bad is that all your current passes thru your ammeter,if you have a 65 amp alt make darn sure you have an ammeter capable of reading such current.
The other way of using an ammeter is what's depicted in the previous diagram,it shows what's happening to your battery,that's all.Batt needs charging? Ammeter shows the appropriate current going into it,busted alt? The ammeter shows what the battery is supplying to the system.The good part is the ammeter only handles the charging current as compared to the above example (and lorries setup) which indicates total current flow from the alt.The bad part of this setup is if you have a short it won't show on your ammeter as long as the alt can supply enough juice , it will only show as a discharge when the alt can no longer supply enough current . What's best? Dealers choice,the second example is the automotive standard....keep it simple for the user,the first example is just another option and gives a little more info of what's "really" going on in your system. Circuit breakers vs fuses? Dealers choice I guess,why do you need self resetting breakers? Wouldn't it be better to just have one trip and reset after you fix the prob,otherwise all it will do is cool down and supply the faulty circuit again? I've never really used breakers on cars,a well designed system is you best protection,you can get nice fuse boxes that run the blade type fuses and relays etc,that would probably be my choice,but that's all it is,my choice,plenty of ways to skin a cat!

Hey All,
Sunday Morning Update:

Temperatures in the low 40s. Wind is VERY gusty.

Went out and found that the wind had blown the Plastic&Tarp off of Ms. American. So since the Plastic&Tarp was off, I decided to start Ms. American and move her forward about fifteen feet.

She started right up, but the Autolite Carburetor had to be pumped while cranking to get her to do so. Shut her down after moving her, and unhooked the "-" Battery Cable. Am going to have to find the short in her electrical system if that will be alright with Mr. Comechero and Earl.

Went back to where Lorrie was parked, got in, pumped the Accelerator twice to give her some gas, and set the Choke. Turned on the Run Switch, activated the Start Switch, and Lorrie's MIGHTY 225 Slant Six Engine ROARED to life INSTANTANEOUSLY!

BTW, Lorrie's Ammeter went to 30 Amps for about five seconds right after the start-up, and then immediately went down to about 10 Amps.

Pulled her forward about fifteen feet, and shut her down.

This is the first time in I don't know how long that Ms. American, and Lorrie Van Haul have BOTH been able to be started at the same time.

So we've made some REAL progress.

NOW, am going to have to figure out what needs to be done that can be afforded to be done.

Am thinking that maybe Ms. American's Distributor's Centrifugal Advance Mechanism should be fixed.

Actually what she REALLY needs is her Front End rebuilt, but THAT is going to take some careful budgeting.

But just the fact that Lorrie is up and running is going to make working on Ms. American a LOT more easy.

Will keep you all updated.

JC

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Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey Steve,
Lorrie's Stewart Warner Ammeter goes from "-"60-30-0-30-60"+". And at start-up this morning, the Ammeter went up to 30 Amps for an instant and then with the Engine running went immediately down to about 10 Amps.
Have broached this subject with a few others and they too have varied opinions on it. The upshot is: Am probably going to leave it the way it is. It has been that way since 1986 when Lorrie's MIGHTY 225 Slant Six Engine was rebuilt, and all the Electrical rewired. It has never been an issue until recently, and even then, am not sure that it was an issue so much as it began to be questioned just out of curiosity.
As mentioned previously, IF, in fact, any Circuit Breakers are ever installed, am leaning toward Type lll (manual re-set).
In doing the research&homework on this subject, have been coming across all kinds of spiffy equipment that I had no idea even existed. And all it would take is the funds to get all of that stuff. Alas, Lorrie is probably going to have to make do with what she has unless I win the Lotto or something.

Anyway, we are in a "trust-building" mode here with Lorrie.

Am going to be taking her to the Farmer's Insurance Office tomorrow morning to reinstate her insurance which was cancelled last Monday when it looked as though having her insured was just a waste of money since she wouldn't start&run. And then on Friday, she all of a sudden decided to begin to start&run.

And while I'm at the Insurance Office tomorrow, am going to cancel Ms. American's insurance, as she is not going to be driven till her Lower Ball Joints are replaced. Am thinking that her whole Front Suspension and Steering System need to be rebuilt, but that too is going to take some amount of budget manipulation.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful response with regards to the Ammeter. All of this is good to know.

Hope your weekend is going GREAT.

JC

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Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Thanks JC, it's 90 degrees over here this weekend, summer weather... Great news about Lorrie, welcome to the world of Hei,THAT'S exactly how she should be starting all the time.imagine how many hei powered vehicles must be in freezing cold areas and give the owners trouble free service and easy starting, year after year with no maintenance, it's a pretty good old system. That being said, I have heard of guys carrying a spare module just incase! Mind you, if you have it you likely will never need it! The original hei system mounted the module inside the dissy, a remote mounted unit like we all have must keep the unit much cooler and help life expectancy.
Personally, IF I ran an ammeter I'd consider having it the same as you, it gives real time feedback on what the alternator is supplying to the total elec system,just put a voltmeter in there somewhere and your all set Enjoy Lorrie!

Hey Steve,
That's right, you are in the Southern Hemisphere. Just getting ready to go into Autumn. We're just coming up to Spring, and if the lawns don't get mowed early, they get so overgrown that it's tough on the Craftsman 42" Riding Lawn Tractor. So got out earlier today and serviced it. Aired up the tires, topped off the oil, cleaned and charged the Battery, put in NEW gasoline, and then this afternoon, the old thing started right up, and the lawns got mowed.
Hopefully Lorrie will LIKE having the HEI System.
Good idea. Will do that for Lorrie.
Lorrie's HEI System Assembly is under the Driver's Side (starboard) footwell. Might make it to where one doesn't have to take out the Engine Cabinetry and removable floor to get to it in case it needs to be worked on.


Am positively going to get a Voltmeter. There's room just to the right of the Tachometer to put it. Can get a Stewart Warner 2-5/8" White Faced unit, to match all the other Gauges, for under $60.00.
For sure. Hopefully she's back to being her old reliable self.

Take care.

JC

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Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey All,
Friday Afternoon Update:

Got Lorrie Van Haul's Removable Floor and Engine Cabinetry reinstalled.

To make sure that everything is alright, Lorrie's MIGHTY 225 Slant Six Engine got started. It started right up with a single pump on the Accelerator to set the Choke.

Lorrie is (hopefully ) back! It has been a remarkable almost five years of intense building.

Will occasionally post some of her escapades. Watch for them.

JC

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Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Glad to hear it! Next you need a comfy sheepskin seat cover with massaging beads for your seat.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Yeah!

No more fuses in the starting circuit!

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

Hey Reed,
Would you believe that even cold, Lorrie's MIGHTY 225 Slant Six Engine starts with just the barest touch of the Starter Switch.
Lorrie HAS a reclining Suburu Seat with a Gray SheepSkin Seat Cover! It has been with her since 1981! Have to admit though that it has seen better days.
Used to have those Massaging Bead things in Ms. American, but the Beads are held together with Nylon Mono-Filament Line, and all that has to happen is for there to occur a break in the Line and they just come apart.

Took them out of Ms. American, and took all the Beads loose and made a bunch of Strung Bead lines hanging between the Window and the Therapy Tub in the Bathroom.

Am afraid that the shape of the Suburu Seat precludes installing a NEW Bead Cover though.

The next thing for Lorrie is straightening out her Rear Bumper. Back in 1981, had a Trailer Hitch installed on Lorrie, and the guy that did it mis-calculated the mounting of it, and as a result, the top of the Rear Bumper droops slightly. Don't figure to ever use Lorrie to tow a trailer ever again, and so have made a deal with the neighbor who has a welding shop to take the Trailer Hitch off of Lorrie and remount the Rear Bumper to where it is level again. In return, he gets to keep the Trailer Hitch Assembly.

Will be doing THAT in the near future.

Anyway, be well.

JC

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Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor

Hey Ted,
It has been almost five years in the making!
Alright.

JC

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Lorrie Van Haul - 1967 Dodge - P200 Post Office Vehicle - 225 Slant Six - Torqueflite A727 Automatic Transmission - Right Hand Drive Steering - Big Three HEI System - Frantz Oil Cleaner System - Bendix Stromberg Model W Carburetor