Csx 4000 electrical question

[GRUFF78]

Some help , if possible...


I am currently contemplating the purchase of a CSX-4000 car that was assembled about 4 years ago. It is an aluminum bodied, period correct 427SO powered/Top loader/Salisbury car that is mostly correct to the 65 SC configuration. However, it has the “Painless” wiring system and some other “non-Lucas” electrical parts. (Horns, Wiper motor, Lights, etc) It also has the Baer brakes and the “non-Koni” shocks. Otherwise, the chassis appears period correct.

My intent is to build/purchase as car that is as period correct as it can be with reason and budget. My question is:

Is it possible to retrofit the Lucas components (firewall related) including the relays, wiper motor and lights and still retain the modern, Painless wiring?

The only real heartburn I have with this car is the modern look of the firewall components and if I am looking at a can of worms if I elect to change those electrical components for the period correct look and function.

Is there anyone out there who has done this swap? Can you describe the effort and parts required to convert the modern components to the Lucas look?

Respectfully,



GRUFF78

[computerworks]

...wait for Sal, CSX4241 to check in on this thread.

He has done what you are asking.

[Power Surge]

Actually I did not DO it, I was planning to do it. My current car (4241) has functional Lucas stuff. But, my original ordered CSX car (4819) and my Kirkham (357) had the modern stuff. On the KMP, it was all under the dash. On the CSX, it was mounted on the firewall. My plan was to add the real Lucas parts, and dummy wire them up, keeping the modern relays under the dash. For the CSX, you'd have to move them off the firewall. It can be done for sure, it will just be a pretty detious process.

[RON N BKFLD]

I have a Lucas harness for sale. (complete car harness) I need to see what I paid Kirkham for it.......Ron

[kris-kincaid]

I would just remove the new style harness and install the Lucas style. The hardest part would be mounting all the Lucas components on the firewall and hiding the existing holes in the firewall.

If it were up to me, I would pull the dash and the firewall and make a new firewall to go with the OEM style harness. If you were prepared, you should be able to do it in a weekend.

I've wired up a number of CSX4000 cars, feel free to ask any questions.

[PANAVIA]

GRUF--

Painless wiring is made out of modern components and modern high-temp oil resistant wire.

Sure they do some leaps in logic in some of their diagrams, but their stuff WORKS from a harness standpoint, and is a durable industrial item.( their EFI harnesses are a mixed bag, but their chassis - relay fuse block stuff is ROCK SOLID) I have installed about 20 of their cirkuit boss blocks in various cars, a bunch of their 65-66 mustang harnesses and their generic chassis harnesses.

I also am a fain of the Lucas stuff ,-- the lucas repro stuff now is better than lucas used to be but nowhere near the durability of a motorcraft, packard electric,delco (painless) or JT&T item.

I think you can put some lucas items in place to make it look quasi British and correct whilst still having the thing actually work.

Remember: do not accept a lucas part in anything other than the green and white lucas box. or on a green and white lucas card -- there is some serious junk out there posing as original L'.

I have thought about trying to get some of that cloth covering and having hi-temp wire inside it to make it look that part, but be reliable.

Gruff-- have you thought about what you would want to do for headlights and an Alternator >? what about an ignition system >?

--Steve

[GRUFF78]

Steve,

The car has the correct alternator and distributer(with Pertronix) with the modern, -4000 transistorized regulator. Lights and wiper motor are -4000 issue as well.

GRUFF78

[PANAVIA]

are you thinking of any high-amperage items >? - H4 lights , CD ignition system >? --

You could hide a spark box under the dash and feed just the trigger and wires under the hood.

as for repro cloth covered wire ; http://www.magnetoparts.com/wire.htm

[A98Coupe]

I did exactly what you are contemplating with my Kirkham. I completely stripped out the 'Kwik Wire' harness and removed the horrible modern fuse box and relays and then made a new harness using the remaining wiring and installing new Lucas DB10 relay and flasher, lucas SRB 111 horn & fan relays, plus new Lucas 7FJ fuse box.
For the wiring diagram, I used a comvination of the Kirkham drawing shown on their website and also the Lucas diagram shown in the Cobra 427 chassis handbook.
Regarding reliability, as long as you buy geniune Lucas parts it's not a problem, and even if there are a few problems, us Brits were brought up on Lucas electrics and are used to sorting out the odd problem - it's all part of the fun!

[GRUFF78]

Thank you, sir.

Great info.

GRUFF78