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Discussion Topic:
1937 Ford dash headlight switch/ciga lighter
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37RAGTOPMAN |
11-03-2010 @ 5:05 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1942
Joined: Oct 2009
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There is no dimmer switch on a 1937 FORD car or truck, the light switch is on the steering wheel,the horn button and light switch is turned on by rotating it, 1 click to the right is the parking light,this is from looking at the top, to turn on the lights, 1 click to the left is low beam, 2 clicks is bright beam, the actual light switch is at the bottom of the steering column, there is a rod atached to the horn button and goes though the column down to the bottom, the switch is attaced there or should be, its just like a MODEL A FORD, lights were turned on this way from 1928 to 1939, in 1938 FORD added the dimmer switch to the floor on the lift side of the clutch pedal, I assume on a right hand drive it would be on the right, but exactly were is mystery to me, hope this shed some light on this subject ,,, 37RAGTOPMAN and KEEP on FORDIN,,,!!!!!!! the dash instrument gauge lights are turned off by pulling the switch out, owned my 37 since 1975 and been driving since 1979
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trjford8 |
11-03-2010 @ 8:55 PM
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Charlie, I agree that the 37 book does not show a dimmer switch and the wire harness diagram does not show it. I have had two 37's and both had the dimmer switch. One had the original floorboards.In the 38-39 book(page 8-7) there is a change order from Ford on 12-21-37 the dimmer switch has been moved from the side to the center of the floorboard. I could still be wrong, but having two with the dimmer switch makes me wonder if there was a change in the late cars. With these old Fords the more I learn the more questions I seem to have and the less I know!
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doning |
11-04-2010 @ 7:11 AM
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New Member
Posts: 158
Joined: Nov 2009
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Contact Bob Jones at Dennis Carpenter. He sells NOS parts.
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37RAGTOPMAN |
11-04-2010 @ 12:05 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1942
Joined: Oct 2009
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my 37 CABRIOLET is a APRIL CAR,and does NOT have a FLOOR MOUNTED Dimmer Switch, maybe later towards 38 they started to install them, ROY,,N would know, maybe a call to him would clarify this up,I would really like to know, I think someone added these to their cars,to bring them up to modern standards, like currant cars of that time period, 37RAGTOPMAN an KEEP on FORDIN,,,,,,,,,,,
This message was edited by 37RAGTOPMAN on 11-4-10 @ 12:09 PM
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fordson |
11-04-2010 @ 4:18 PM
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Posts: 16
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Ok, its the "instrument panel light control switch" iam missing on my dash, its a winged switch, used in Ford cars from 1935-38 as pictured by "37 Coupe". Switch is on opposite side in comparison to US manufactured car. I have a foot activated dimmer, dunno if that is good or bad, will check on whats there on the bottom of the steering wheel column. Regards Randolf
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CharlieStephens |
11-05-2010 @ 3:35 PM
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Posts: 882
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fordson, How many positions do you have on the headlight switch? My 1937 owner's manual just arrived. When the two tabs on the ring around the horn button are vertical the lights are off. One click clockwise turns on the parking lights. One click counterclockwise from the vertical turns on the low beams and 2 clicks turn on the high beams. I would assume with the floor dimmer there would be one click counterclockwise to turn on the lights (any '38 guys out there?). When they went to right hand drive they may have interchanged clockwise and counterclockwise for the switch. Does the wiring to you foot dimmer look like it is part of an original wiring loom? Charlie Stephens
This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 11-5-10 @ 3:36 PM
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fordson |
11-06-2010 @ 1:44 PM
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Charlie, i cannot answer your question right now because they are still working on the tranny and engine. The car is unfortunately standing 10000 miles away in Cape Town while iam sorting the missing parts out from Switzerland. However i have just received the "new 1937 ford book" and i checked the photos of the interiour, as well as the wiring diagramm. As mentioned before there is no dimmer switch and all lights are functioning through the steering column (except for the instrument panel lights-operated by the switch i am missing) Therefore iam concluding that my foot activated dimmer switch has been fitted at a later stage. The wiring was at some stage redone so once we are getting to that i will let you know about original wiring to the dimmer. . No information as to position of the ring around the horn button in my just received book, or in the web whatsoever, with regards to the headlights. Once again if we get to that i will let you know how that operates on my car. I will have to also get into contact with someone who owns this particular model in cape town. Unfortunately that is not so easy because there are very few cars in the country. Regards Randolf
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drkbp |
11-07-2010 @ 5:22 PM
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It looks like someone has added a "starter button" switch to the right side of the dash. The "dimmer switch" on the floor between the pedals in his pictures is really the starter switch which is the same as my '35. I don't think '37's had starter buttons, ? The steering wheel is covering the ignition switch I think in his picture. A subtle modification, '37 guys? Ken
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CharlieStephens |
11-08-2010 @ 9:53 AM
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Posts: 882
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Ken, I hate to disagree but the owner's manual (Ford Reference Book 1937) clearly shows (with labels) the starter switch on the left hand side of the dash. On a RHD car I would assume this would be in the same position but on the right side of the dash. This matches what I find on my car. I know the floor mounted switch you are talking ablout as I also have a '32. The ignition switch looks like the one in my car but it is difficult to tell from the photo. Charlie Stephens
This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 11-8-10 @ 9:59 AM
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drkbp |
11-08-2010 @ 6:09 PM
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Charlie, You are probably right. My '38 car is not together but the dash has a starter button in it and I don't have any '37 gear. The button looks like the one Fordson has in the picture. Ken
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