Technical '31 5W electical problem, brake lights out

My recently purchased '31 5W is experincing some electical issues. Brake lights, turn signals & radio won't operate while the engine, flathead 8BA, is running. Shutting the engine off and it all works fine. Start it up and they may work 1 out 10 times. The existing wiring is a bit of a mess with many connections made with only elec tape. Any ideas where to start? All the fuses are OK.

 

i would start by rewiring it.

 

I agree. You won't know where every poor splice was made, unless you start over.

If most of it was new looking, then it would be worth fixing. Sounds like you should redo it all. It most likely will be quicker, too.

 

I think I would try tracking down the root cause before rewiring a whole car and find the problem was a bad part and not a wiring fault.

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

I would track down each wire and check the guage to make sure the size is adequate for the draw on it. Make sure your connections are good and everything is fused properly.

 

Ignition switch for starters

 

where i'd start too.

 

Thanks. Should have mentioned that it's a 6-yr old build, so everything is pretty new. I followed the line from the generator to the fuse box, this morning, looks OK. The ignition has a lot of splicing coming off it. I'm going to go over all the ignition, rewiring the elec tape connections and anything else loose.

 

Ignition checks out. I did find the battery (in the trunk) is only grounded to the body. I was going to add a frame ground as well. Should I also add one onto the block?

 

Yes. Besides you can't over ground. Put the frame ground from battery to frame. Then frame to body. A third from engine block are bell housing near the starter to the frame.