1930 DC8 wiring question

[rogerpete]

I'm rewiring my dads DC8. I posted this on another page, but I wanted to be sure folks understand where we have been for a few years-

 

We will round the dates, as it all is rather blending in.
We brought this car home around the summer of 2013. This car was to replace a 1930 DC8 that my father had before he married my mom. Dads coupe was lost in a garage fire in 1991. Brought this car home, worked a little on it, and dad got ready & left for Florida for the winter. Mom wasn't feeling up to the trip, so she stayed home.

January 2014 I am having a business dinner in Cleveland, (a 90 minute drive on dry roads). I am the Asst Chief of my hometown fire department and my phone received a text page. It was a dispatch for a fire at my mom & dads property.
I get home to find our FD putting out hot spots in the shop where the Dodge was. My neighbor see dads garage on fire, and my mom called 911. Dads new DC8, was destroyed.
We take the car to my shop,start disassemble, and find a autobody place up for a challenge. 

Mid summer 2014 my dad finds out he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and needs pretty immediate attention. This was Tuesday.

The very next day, Wednesday, we find out that my mom has a pretty large brain tumor. She would need almost immediate attention. 2 weeks later she is at the Cleveland Clinic. Moms surgery did not go according to predictions. Mom gets admitted to a nursing home.

Dad has his surgery, which went as expected.

I start having prostate issues.

The guy working on dads DC8 quits the body shop, work on the car stops for almost 18 months.

Mom's health improves, she comes home. We gutted the house, build a bathroom that a wheel chair could get into, put on a wheel chair ramp, moved her bedroom downstairs, and hired home help.

I start a new job.

Mom's health declines again, it looks like she will need 24 hour care. She was not eligible for medicaid, and mom & dad don't have the $9,800 per month the nursing home costs. We were advised that they should get a divorce so she can qualify sooner. Mom & dads divorce was finalized before Christmas 2015.

Mom & dad celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary 3 months after their divorce.

Mom starts having seizures.

We lost mom April 1. The entire family is devastated.

3 weeks ago the DC8 was completed at the autobody shop. Meanwhile, dad gets the chrome done, the interior nickel done, and the upholstery, door panels done. We have a local cabinet maker rebuild the wooden top.

Beginning the process of rewiring the car, and getting it running again. We are going to have to take some liberties with this car. The upholstery isn't a factory match. The paint isn't original. I'm going to install a small fuse block under the dash. I understand there are a lot of purists on the forums, and I respect that. However, in the same breath, respect what we are doing as well as where we have been. I want to get this car into a beautiful driver for my dad by spring. Dad turns 75 this December.

The DC8 dad lost in 1991 was a deep maroon. This car was black. I seen a DC8 sedan online that was two toned maroon & black. I knew that color would pay homage to dads first & this DC8, both of which were lost to fire. Not an original color, but it is perfect for this situation.

 

So now- onto the question....
DC8 is positive ground. Bringing power from the negative post, up to the fuse panel. From there to the ignition, to the coil to the distributor. With a positive ground, does the power from the ignition pick up on the + or the - terminal on the coil? We picked up a new coil, (mounted on the firewall), key switch, as well as cap, rotor, wires, points & condenser from NAPA.

I'm wiring a "key on" terminal on the fuse panel that can be used for a future electric fuel pump if it is needed.

I attached a few photos- Thats dad & my daughter in my shop. The car pushed outside fresh from paint, and three photos to see where it came from, and one to see where it sat in the garage.

 

[Spinneyhill]

My 1930 Dodge Brothers 8 (DC) has the negative from the battery to the starter solenoid. The small wires take it from there. That is what is shown on the wiring diagram on p. 36 of the Instruction Book. You can see the cut large cable in your photo of the LHS of the engine. I don't know of any fuse panel, just the one on the ammeter.

 

What a great job you have done with a difficult case. Well done. I bet you are looking forward to being on the road.

 

 

Edited October 17, 2016 by Spinneyhill (see edit history)

[countrytravler]

Here is a local DC8 like yours.

[rogerpete]

Thanks for the wiring diagram, I printed it out on 11x17 and put it in my shop. 

I also appreciate the great photos.

 

Wiring from the ignition to the fuse panel to the coil to the distributor is done. Everything done with soldered terminals and heat shrink on the ends.