Nicholas Studer
PCS Elected Director 2022-2025
Working on getting the parts together and making a plan for the hopefully rapid mechanical refresh and paint work coming in a few months. http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18944 is main thread for updates. The electrical system has been of particular interest to me since it's a bit of a mess.
1. The 1961 flyer for Eureka ambulances notes a 45-amp generator as standard (See http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showpost.php?p=841903580&postcount=21). The Cadillac shop manual for that year agrees, this generator also common to cars with air conditioning. This 1961 Eureka-Cadillac Hi-Boy served in four services during its 31 year service life. In 1992 - it underwent what was termed "restoration" in Taos County, NM. A 1992 dated paper service tag from a local electrical shop was present on a Leece-Neville 7706J 165 amp alternator that was in place when the car was surplused. The date code on the data plate is damaged, but comparing to others - the type of plate corresponds to the early 1990s. This model is internally regulated with a Leece-Neville 77973 voltage regulator in place on the back of the unit. There are a a red and yellow wire from the main wiring harness without attachment and hanging free in space.
Further forward, there is what appears to be a voltage regulator with the wires to the harness cut - but still present on both sides The regulator doesn't appear to be a factory Cadillac model, but no model markings seem to be present besides Made in USA and a voltage adjustment screw in the center. I believe it to be a Delco-Remy product from some quality time with Google, and a later model at that. Photo below.
An similar alternator setup is also present on the 1964 Eureka-Cadillac Hi-Boy owned by Mr. Joe McDonald in Rock Falls, IL. Larri Dirks is kindly getting me some further details on it - but unclear if it was original to the car or added later.
Does the hive mind believe the car had "just" a 45 amp generator and alternator when it started its life? If so, should I try to go back to this when we put the second battery back in? There are surely more than a few lights plus a Q1 siren to worry about, but no AC. Granted, there is supposed to be a second battery which we will be putting back in.
2. I was a bit perplexed what the pictured item in the bottom right of the was, beneath the voltage regulator. I am being told it is an aftermarket GM auxiliary fuel pump - and was probably added later in life due to a sluggish fuel pump. It was not hooked up and remains that way, and the car requires a bit of starter fluid to get going. Obviously, we'll be boiling the gas tank, flushing the lines, and rebuilding the fuel pump and carburetor. (You can see an an inline fuel filter someone added running off to the left) I expect we'll be rebuilding the engine, more likely than not too. Is this item indeed some 1970s/1980s add-on to the car, and likely to become unnecessary once the fuel system is cleaned up?
3. Running on the opposite side of the engine compartment, is what I believe are the flasher modules for the emergency lights. Does anyone recognize the brand? The yellow decals are only a warning about cleaning connections. It's also interesting that there's a disconnected wire hanging free, plus two other reds that are cut far forward of these modules (unsure if related). The two center lights in the front tunnels are not flashing, and the outer two are "steady burn." The rear "bullet lights" (1959 Cadillac taillamp modules) and the rear door lights flash). In contrast, Mr. McDonald's 1964 has a Cole-Hersey 3034 flasher, which is what my 1963 Pinner-Chrysler has. Again - unknown if that module was original to his car. I believe whatever these are, they're likely at least close to what originally was installed. I am certainly unclear why there's 1-3 wires disconnected....
It's going to be a lot of work - but thankfully the body is solid and most everything is there. Can't wait to see the end result!
1. The 1961 flyer for Eureka ambulances notes a 45-amp generator as standard (See http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showpost.php?p=841903580&postcount=21). The Cadillac shop manual for that year agrees, this generator also common to cars with air conditioning. This 1961 Eureka-Cadillac Hi-Boy served in four services during its 31 year service life. In 1992 - it underwent what was termed "restoration" in Taos County, NM. A 1992 dated paper service tag from a local electrical shop was present on a Leece-Neville 7706J 165 amp alternator that was in place when the car was surplused. The date code on the data plate is damaged, but comparing to others - the type of plate corresponds to the early 1990s. This model is internally regulated with a Leece-Neville 77973 voltage regulator in place on the back of the unit. There are a a red and yellow wire from the main wiring harness without attachment and hanging free in space.
Further forward, there is what appears to be a voltage regulator with the wires to the harness cut - but still present on both sides The regulator doesn't appear to be a factory Cadillac model, but no model markings seem to be present besides Made in USA and a voltage adjustment screw in the center. I believe it to be a Delco-Remy product from some quality time with Google, and a later model at that. Photo below.
An similar alternator setup is also present on the 1964 Eureka-Cadillac Hi-Boy owned by Mr. Joe McDonald in Rock Falls, IL. Larri Dirks is kindly getting me some further details on it - but unclear if it was original to the car or added later.
Does the hive mind believe the car had "just" a 45 amp generator and alternator when it started its life? If so, should I try to go back to this when we put the second battery back in? There are surely more than a few lights plus a Q1 siren to worry about, but no AC. Granted, there is supposed to be a second battery which we will be putting back in.
2. I was a bit perplexed what the pictured item in the bottom right of the was, beneath the voltage regulator. I am being told it is an aftermarket GM auxiliary fuel pump - and was probably added later in life due to a sluggish fuel pump. It was not hooked up and remains that way, and the car requires a bit of starter fluid to get going. Obviously, we'll be boiling the gas tank, flushing the lines, and rebuilding the fuel pump and carburetor. (You can see an an inline fuel filter someone added running off to the left) I expect we'll be rebuilding the engine, more likely than not too. Is this item indeed some 1970s/1980s add-on to the car, and likely to become unnecessary once the fuel system is cleaned up?
3. Running on the opposite side of the engine compartment, is what I believe are the flasher modules for the emergency lights. Does anyone recognize the brand? The yellow decals are only a warning about cleaning connections. It's also interesting that there's a disconnected wire hanging free, plus two other reds that are cut far forward of these modules (unsure if related). The two center lights in the front tunnels are not flashing, and the outer two are "steady burn." The rear "bullet lights" (1959 Cadillac taillamp modules) and the rear door lights flash). In contrast, Mr. McDonald's 1964 has a Cole-Hersey 3034 flasher, which is what my 1963 Pinner-Chrysler has. Again - unknown if that module was original to his car. I believe whatever these are, they're likely at least close to what originally was installed. I am certainly unclear why there's 1-3 wires disconnected....
It's going to be a lot of work - but thankfully the body is solid and most everything is there. Can't wait to see the end result!