OK, bought a battery. Hooked it up. Opened driver side door, dome light came on. Good. Pulled light switch 1/2 way. Front park lights came on. Good. Pulled all the way out. Only one headlight and one tail light. Not so good. Hit the dimmer switch and no headlights! Checked the wiring instruction. It shows a dimmer switch for a '47 and a different switch for a '48. They both have 3 hookups but are different. I wired mine according to the "48 diagram. Hot (#2)in the middle, low on top, high on bottom. I remember when I hooked this up I sure hoped it was right because it was VERY difficult to reach and fasten the wires. Anyway I got a jumper wire and jumped hot to high and both came on. So I guess the dimmer switch is bad. O'Reilly's said they can have me one tomorrow.

Next, tell me how the ignition switch works. All the way left (11 O'Clock) is locked, right??? In this position, if you press the starter, will it engage or not?? Straight up (12 O'Clock) is OFF, right??? If you press the starter, what will happen? Right (1 O'Clock) is run, right? If you press the starter it should ingage and start, right?

Anyway, had to stop and watch Georgia in the Outback Bowl!

I'm not going to mess with it any more today. Going to wait until I get the dimmer switch and see if that clears up the first problem!

Press the starter and it engages and turns over no matter what position the key is in...the key position is merely power to the coil...on my '47 , straight up is "off" ...turn to the right is "on" ( ignition on )... Kevin

...Way to Go ! Your getting there...expect a few "bugs" ....

The starter will turn in all postions but only engage at the right postion

...Do you mean there's been something "wrong" with my car AND truck all these years...? Kevin

Sorry Kevin,"I've got to get my cars in order"
On the 48 you are certainly correct...

The ignition switch on my 48 is a 3 position switch with a tang on the bottom of it. All the way left (tang to right) is the lock position. Vertical (tang to bottom) is the run position. Right (tang to left) is for when you don't want to use your key. Also the started engages in any position of the ignition switch. Believe this is the original setup as the car hasn't been modified anyway except acouple of long block changes per the paperwork I have.

Thats the way my ignition switch works too.
The foot starter will turn the engine at all times independent of the ignition switch.
To actually start the engine you need to simultaneously push the foot starter and turn the ignition switch to the mid position.
No need to say that you have to stop pushing the foot starter when the engine starts.

Jianis

So, all the way right (1 O'Clock) tang to driver side, is the same as "off". Straight up and down is "start/run".

Correct. Tang to drivers side you do not need the key to turn it to start/run position.

...Makes me wonder how I ended up with a two position key-switch ( of course key does not match glove/trunk/door ) my '52 3600 was the same way ( two position )...so I thought it normal...

Correct operation of the ignition switch and key is explained in the Owner's Manual.

Why didn't WE think of that...? lol Thanks J.D.

Yep.....don't know why more dudes don't check their Owner's Manuals, parts books or repair manuals first.

I reckon that is easier to leave your brain in the box and get on the computer and type away! Typeing takes a skill that can operate with a bird-brain at the top. Chirp--chirp-chirp.

Well, if it wasn't for us dumba**s and our questions, how ever would you smarta**s ever demonstrate how intelligent you really are!

Now , never you mind with all that Russell . We're excited about your car and how things are progressing...besides I thought that's what this Forum was for...Crowing not Squawking...I personally look forward to your posts...Kevin

I didn't say you were dumb for asking a question, I do it all the time, It is easier to type in a question than walk out to the shop and look it up...Chirp...Chirp...Chirp! being a lazy bird brain myself.

Does your 47 have the electrolock ignition switch? Just looked at the the two operators manuels and they are different. My 48 uses one key. The 47 operators manual says it uses 2 keys. Guess I need to read the operators manual more.

Oh No...! I have no electrolock ! Something I'm tring to remedy...I don't check with my operators manual often because it's old and the original document that came with the car ( says my first old change was at 504 mi. ) And don't like to handle it...maybe I should get a repo...Kevin

Repop manuals are a bargain. Have all the information of an original and no fear of getting a greasy thumb print on it either.

Keith could you expand on the use of 2 keys?

Verbatim from the 47 operators manual.
The locks for both right and left hand front doors and the ignition lock have the same key. The rear compartment and glove compartment locks have the same key.
After I typed this, I remembered this website.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/47om11.html
Interesting observation on the oper manuals. The 47 is 64 pages and the 48 is 32 pages.

Do you know if all the 47's had the electrolock?
Wonder if it was standard from about 1940 to 1947.

Electrolocks were used from 1929 thru 1946.

...Checking with my GM "Ready Reference" Book , it indeed shows a 1947 front diagram sans Elecrolock...well , I guess that's an item I don't have to get "correct" on my '47...

Page 168...Excellent reference book BTW...found it on Ebay...copyright 1952