It's time for: What the heck is this?

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:37 pm

Ok... maybe this will make you guys laugh because I don't know what this is. Or maybe it'll make you scratch your heads, because it looks like a homemade contraption to me. So someone PLEASE tell me what the heck this is, and if it looks right?

And if you can't identify it... well, it has something to do with electrical, although I have no idea what.

Thanks!!

72hiboy4x4 · Post by **72hiboy4x4** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:49 pm

I've seen those on a couple trucks. I can't remember what they are for, tho.

ToughOldFord · Post by **ToughOldFord** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:53 pm

I've got those too, on my camper special and on the trailer special. Has something to do with the trailer wiring, one of mine has "Trailer" indented on it.
Don't know beyond that. Maybe part of an ancient trailer brake system?

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:57 pm

Hmm... interesting! My truck IS a CS...

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:06 pm

i think its for the cs lighting.

lightning_msd · Post by **lightning_msd** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:21 pm

wt....????

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:11 am

I'll take a closer look when I have better light and see if I can see any indentations or numbers on it, or see if I can trace any of the wires. It really has me puzzled. My mechanic thought it was some ancient part of the heating system.

Supermike · Post by **Supermike** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:19 am

fordman wrote:i think its for the cs lighting.

You mean for lighting INSIDE the camper?? Or lights that might have been outside the camper (top/rear/etc.)? Otherwise, the lights on my truck are pretty much the same as any other.

One interesting tidbit... I was talking to my mom, and she said my grandpa's '67 Camper Special had BOTH a camper AND... get this... a horse trailer! The horse trailer fit the bed just like a camper. Mom said she remembered taking her horse and another to the fair, both loaded in the back of the truck! Anyone ever seen such a thing? I've not seen any reference to such a thing in the ads from back then.

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:16 am

What you have there is very rare factory option. That is a flux capacitor. You never noticed a tear in the space-time continuum when you got up to 81.5 MPH before?

Actually that is a trailer brake resistor. Old trailer brake systems used those. All that is is coiled resistor wire. It is missing a piece that bridges between the coils to adjust the resistance inline to the trailer brakes thereby controlling the intensity of your trailer brakes. It is an over sized potentiometer of sorts.

Heavenlyfire · Post by **Heavenlyfire** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:04 am

hillbilly67 · Post by **hillbilly67** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:11 am

averagef250-Actually that is a trailer brake resistor. Old trailer brake systems used those. All that is is coiled resistor wire. It is missing a piece that bridges between the coils to adjust the resistance inline to the trailer brakes thereby controlling the intensity of your trailer brakes. It is an over sized potentiometer of sorts

.

It's a way of creating resistance in wires called "turns" (the coils). The more turns, the more resistance. I have beefed up alternators by rewinding them with smaller diam. wire/more turns, to up the voltage. A 55 amp alt. can easily push 110 amps by doubling the turns. The only drawback is theoretically more heat generated, shorter lifespan of the alt. although the flipside is less charging time.

wt4speed#2 · Post by **wt4speed#2** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:44 am

Yea I was gonna say a version of a resistor . reminds me of the ceramic based a/m addons, on a grander scale .

Tony b

TheEskimo · Post by **TheEskimo** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:48 am

Interesting, ,my '73 has one of them. Always wondered what it was for.

71 LONG BED · Post by **71 LONG BED** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:21 am

Supermike wrote:One interesting tidbit... I was talking to my mom, and she said my grandpa's '67 Camper Special had BOTH a camper AND... get this... a horse trailer! The horse trailer fit the bed just like a camper. Mom said she remembered taking her horse and another to the fair, both loaded in the back of the truck! Anyone ever seen such a thing? I've not seen any reference to such a thing in the ads from back then.

My cousin had a home made plywood box on the back of his Chevy, that he used to put horses in. It had a long ramp that folded up. It had slats side to side used for traction. I was a kid but I remember it. I actually came across an old photo recently, with that truck in the background. If I find it maybe I'll post it. I'll get a good roasting though, because I'm standing in front of my uncles Chevy.

ratfink · Post by **ratfink** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:30 am

That is an inline resistor for the electric brake control. Some of them had adjustable clamp rings to adjust the voltage. They are not used anymore because of the solid state controlers used since the mid 80's
Ratfink

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