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 4Likes
02-15-2017, 01:27 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide,
SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
Posts: 13,152
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Not Ranked
Original ammeter
I need some ammeter information.
Is this ammeter....
....a Smiths or a Lucas unit?
Would it have an identifying number?
Was this particular style used for all of the Cobras up to CSX2200?
Cheers,
Glen |
02-15-2017, 04:42 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Manchester,
NH
Cobra Make, Engine: AK1085 (302 Street), HTM111 (427 Comp), CSX2375R (289 Comp) and COB5999 (427 S/C)
Posts: 19,111
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Not Ranked
Looks correct for Smith's "Equipped" cars. Based on picture attached...
Joseph Lucas MFG
Last edited by 1985 CCX; 02-17-2017 at 01:01 PM..
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02-15-2017, 06:35 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Carlsbad,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SAI FIA, 289HP (5-bolt), 48IDA Webers
Posts: 1,244
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Not Ranked
Smiths as Jeff said.
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02-15-2017, 09:14 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide,
SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
Posts: 13,152
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Not Ranked
So it would have a number (like AM 2300/01 for example....but not that one)
Any spring to mind?
Cheers
Glen
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02-16-2017, 07:22 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cambridge, England,
n/a
Cobra Make, Engine: 289 leafspring, r/p
Posts: 518
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Not Ranked
Sorry Glen, your photo won't appear (blue box with question mark), but I can tell you that the correct ammeter for a leafspring car is a Lucas BM4. It doesn't match the other Smiths instruments, and is a 30-0-30 instrument with a pendulum needle shaped like an arrow. It has a full printed scale but no part number visible on the face.
'BM' stands for 'Bakelite Moulded', or maybe 'Base (or Back) Moulded', borne out by the screw terminals on the back being set in the moulded bakelite casing. There is no screw post for a clamp as the ammeter is a push fit in the dash, with small tangs on the chrome bezel to help retain it. It relies on illumination coming from the external bulb on the fuel gauge and has no bulb of its own.
Roger
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02-16-2017, 08:23 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Studio City,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 109
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Not Ranked
Glen,
Roger is correct. It is a Lucas BM4 model. Part number for that particular unit is 36200B. For the BM4 ammeters, the part number was stamped on the side of the chrome plated brass bezel. The tabs on the bezels had a tendency to break off when the instrument was worked on, so sometimes they were replaced with one with another part number. These bezels are also being reproduced in the UK.
AJ
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02-17-2017, 02:57 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide,
SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
Posts: 13,152
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Not Ranked
Thanks for the replies. Yes I originally thought it was a Smiths too, and obviously it was fitted to to the original 260/289 Smiths-instumented cars.
I found the Lucas parts listings with the model interpretations. Roger, it's definitely a BM4 that I'm after (and yep, BM means base moulded, and "4" means it has a damped movement).
AJ, I now have a list of eleven Lucas 'BM4-family' ammeter model numbers that are correct or could easily be modified to be correct.
They do appear to be rare though, but where's the fun if there's no chase? 
Cheers,
Glen |
02-17-2017, 01:32 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Carlsbad,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SAI FIA, 289HP (5-bolt), 48IDA Webers
Posts: 1,244
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Not Ranked
Sorry I had a brain fart, the gauge is actually a Lucas unit (brought to my attention by Dan C), I have sitting here at the shop on an early Cobra I am restoring...
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02-17-2017, 03:25 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide,
SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
Posts: 13,152
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Not Ranked
Hey, we all get brain farts (don't we?).
I did see the similar 20 amp gauge on EBay yesterday. I also saw a 30 amp gauge for GBP 429 
It's like most rare things we chase for our cars, they will eventually come up within range of our acceptable price.
Cheers,
Glen |
02-20-2017, 06:22 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cambridge, England,
n/a
Cobra Make, Engine: 289 leafspring, r/p
Posts: 518
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Not Ranked
Well, if there are no components drawing more than 30A, it doesn't have to be able to handle anything over 30A. Unless there is a huge stereo system, extra lights everywhere etc. the only thing that might draw high current is the cooling fan. A generator/alternator won't produce 30A unless a component is asking for it.
Having said that, I had my 30A BM4 ammeter upgraded by Speedycables internally to handle 50A just in case, as I have a pretty big aftermarket electric fan to try to keep the thing cool in traffic. There's no way of knowing visually that the ammeter has been uprated - it just doesn't deflect quite as far as it used to. Frankly I think they're only useful for showing charge/discharge.
Last edited by rsk289; 02-20-2017 at 04:01 PM..
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02-23-2017, 03:38 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide,
SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
Posts: 13,152
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Not Ranked
Roger, my ideal plan (haha) would see the fitment of a Lucas generator, so not thinking of big current draw. I have a big lump of cast iron (a very early Mustang gennie bracket) stowed somewhere in my garage. A lot of other things need to slot in place first though....and I'm getting off-topic a little.....
Cheers,
Glen
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02-23-2017, 04:36 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cambridge, England,
n/a
Cobra Make, Engine: 289 leafspring, r/p
Posts: 518
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Not Ranked
I think the Lucas generator used a fabricated steel bracket, which Gerry at Hawk Cars is now remanufacturing.
I have a couple of Sunbeam Tiger 260/289 generator brackets, which are the big heavy cast iron variety - but these were for the Autolite generator, which I also have one of if anyone's interested.
My 289 has a Lucas generator (Dynator) with the fabricated steel brackets and a tacho drive off the rear.
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02-23-2017, 10:58 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Carlsbad,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SAI FIA, 289HP (5-bolt), 48IDA Webers
Posts: 1,244
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Not Ranked
Here is what the early Lucas cast pulley looks like...
rsk289,
Are you sure about 1965, maybe 1964?
Last edited by CompClassics; 02-23-2017 at 11:01 PM..
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02-24-2017, 01:39 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cambridge, England,
n/a
Cobra Make, Engine: 289 leafspring, r/p
Posts: 518
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Not Ranked
Sorry, yes, my typo - December 1964.
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07-20-2023, 10:44 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2021
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 528
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Not Ranked
Sorry to revive an old thread, but this should be of interest to some one here! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325706834...IAAOSwfU1klutR It's the correct Joseph Lucas 30-30 Ammeter for early Cobra's! I really want it, but for some reason, it will not ship to Colorado? I went around with him but he claims it's my problem, and eBay says it is the sellers problem! Oh well, my loss maybe your win. Cheers, Dennis |
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