anyone still use their old Christmas lights from the 60's?

[sleepar]

Think about it..... every one of these cars needs a new set of wires from head to tail lights... however which way you go search the forums and ask... don't wait for a problem to arise and if you have a problem start from scratch... stereo installations and just miles of bouncing around... just age alone. The wires get corrosion from the slightest pin hole and that reduces the amount of conductivity..... go with a size or two fatter wire and the relays and those old switches that are a fortune may last longer.... run a few extra grounds so the sheet metal and spot welds. Dont carry much or any loads use a tinned marine wire for under car and bare metal with a brass bolt and nut and dielectric grease.... wire is getting expensive so the sooner you can do it the cheaper it will be and be through... I wrap everything in friction tape then the regular tape.... if it aint broke don't fix it attitude can be disastrous... prevention is always better in the big picture.....
My $2.02 version...... and we take pay pal....:happy7:

 

[WAYNES WORLD]

All you have to do is take a really low mileage clean 60's Mopar and look at the inside of the connectors at the firewall and you will understand how important it is to address the wiring concerns. My car has 65k original miles, super clean with no rust but the inside of damn near every connector looked like the outside of the statue of liberty. Spent a lot of hours but it's all good now.
Wayne

 

[Moparsmitty]

At the very least install a simple battery disconnect switch on the car and USE IT. If the car is going to be parked for any length of time (especially in a garage) disconnect the battery so it doesn't have any chance of bursting into flames and destroying your classic or maybe even more.http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412L79Iz1wL._SY300_.jpg

 

[satman72]

Actually, I still do use old Christmas lights from the 60's, 70's. You can't get better colours than some of those old incandescent bulbs esp the Noma's. I scour yard sales for the stuff. The new LED's suck!

 

[sleepar]

Actually, I still do use old Christmas lights from the 60's, 70's. You can't get better colours than some of those old incandescent bulbs esp the Noma's. I scour yard sales for the stuff. The new LED's suck!

Lol... let me guess around the trim of the house and they have never been down....

 

[Photon440]

Actually, I still do use old Christmas lights from the 60's, 70's. You can't get better colours than some of those old incandescent bulbs esp the Noma's. I scour yard sales for the stuff. The new LED's suck!

I used to think the leds sucked, dull dim and limited colours. But the last couple of strings I got were extremely bright, rich vibrant colours and I'm getting rid of my finger burning Edison bulbs now.

 

[satman72]

I keep looking for nice LED bulbs. I'm getting there, hopefully this year.

 

[WP29440SE]

they call me the Grinch

 

[sleepar]

Then again my folks would still be running the old lights if I hadn't shot them all out with a bb gun.... those antique hand blown glass ones were the best to shoot...

 

[Funship32]

Actually, I still do use old Christmas lights from the 60's, 70's. You can't get better colours than some of those old incandescent bulbs esp the Noma's. I scour yard sales for the stuff. The new LED's suck!

Still run them myself. The C7's on the tree C9's outside. Even have several rows of C7's hung up in my garage as my party lights.

 

[sleepar]

Theyy make reproduction x mas bulbs... just replace the old car harnesses... is the point..

 

[nm9stheham]

My '62 has all the original wiring; it has 60k original miles and sat in the same garage for 52 years 'til I bought it 10 weeks ago. I have been measuring the voltage drops and figuring all of this up (am an electrical engineer and technician). The wiring and connections are in very good shape; there is only one bulkhead connection that shows any corrosion, and that wil be treated soon. Ammeter connections look new, and have been treated with silver loaded dielectric grease.

The issues so far have a been in the headlight dimmer control (all fixed) and the heat/cool blower control. Both are fixed with field silver plating (CoolAmp)on the contacts and silver loaded dielectric grease on them at assembly.

I'll be gradually going through all connections and switches. The only issue that would demand wholesale wiring replacement is that the insualtion is getting hardened all over. The wiring hangers aare all stil in place and as long as no chafing occurs, these stiff wires should last for a while.

One thing to know on the '62's and some other early A & B & C models is that the the heavy current connections go through the firewall on separate heavy wiring lugs, and not the Packard 56 spade lugs; this is essentially the MAD firewall upgrades form the factory and are on the BATT, ALT, and ACC wires through the firewall.

Bottom line IMO: There are some cars out there with good wiring left in them. With some proper care, these will work well. Eventually the hardening insulation will get them all if corrosion does not get there first. As a general practice for those owners who are not 'hyper-electical' or don't want to focus on that, the upgrades and replacements make great sense.

 

[MarPar]

these are my Christmas/party lights...

 

[sleepar]

these are my Christmas/party lights...

View attachment 203861

I knew if I mentioned Christmas someone would post that lamp... don't shoot you're eye out...
LOL

- - - Updated - - -

I keep looking for nice LED bulbs. I'm getting there, hopefully this year.

After weathering
40 Ontario winters it's time for a upgrade..lol

 

[Nacho-RT74]

one sencence for the original subject..

if they are good, why not ? Aren't we using and restoring old cars too with bad mileage, having modern and better mileage cars around?

 

[sleepar]

True... at least check it out to see because one day the wires are good and the next there not... im just throwing it out there... just incase it gets overlooked...