Automotive wire technology?

Decades ago, automotive wire was brittle, bigger diameter, and often broke down. Nowadays it's smaller, handling higher amps, and rarely breaks. The science of electricity hasn't changed. Watts are still calculated the same way, since Edison and Tesla. What's changed in the metallurgy or the coverings?

 

I may have found part of the answers. Excellent explanation and wiring diagrams for Voltmeters and history of good and weak Ammeters:

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

Great article on brighter headlight solutions and other electrical demons:
http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

And some decent tips for other gauges and car issues:
http://www.madelectrical.com/workshop.shtml

plus an usual range of products from an online Auto Electric store:
http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog.shtml

 

Hope I'm not boring anybody, but with gauge prices up and old dashes becoming harder to find, I figured I'd raise the issue and find solutions. Maybe somebody can take it another step and build a business or write a book about gauge mods.

This is a Model Railroad guy who's built all kinds of electrical DC circuits within the 0 to 15 volt range. He also offers parts, but his documentation is clear english with a bit of math. Mostly the circuits are done and downloadable:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html

My own reason for looking into this is the useless (almost) 1984 Mustang Ammeter gauge. A Voltmeter tells a better story.

I've got two choices:
1) Add a voltmeter somewhere in the car.
2) Modify the Ammeter to be a Voltmeter.

And I'm finding a bunch of articles on it:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=convert+ammeter+to+Voltmeter&hl=en&start=0&sa=N

This one comes from that Railroad site:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/Ammeter.html

EDIT: A Wikipedia article with easier language and decent drawings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage-to-current_converter

Some firm in California did it for a guy (converting his dash ammeter in his 1994 Mustang to a voltmeter for only $140. A little reading makes sense.

 

Here's a guy that does these conversions and tach rewiring for newer ignitions in older cars. (read this page):
http://www.rccinnovations.com/

 

Hotrod Mag article on engine upgrades and modern gauge systems vs. old ones:

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/113_0705_engine_swap/amp_meter.html

 

CapriceEstate will like this one for his '58 Chevy:
http://www.1957-chevrolet-alternator-conversion.com/volt-meter.html

And this job on a 1961 Chevy:
http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32245

 

Layman's language of the charging system and what the gauges say:
http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/charging.htm

Funny that there aren't more Wagon articles on that site. What is a wagon if not a Family Car?

 

The best article on Ammeter Voltmeter problems and solutions for all brands, including Ford, Mopar, Volvo, and many more:

http://www.rt-eng.com/mediawiki/index.php/RTE_Gauge_Faq

 

Converting 65 Ford gauge setups

This is an MS Word Document to convert a 1964-1/2 or 1965 Mustang gauge cluster to a 1966, with all kinds of neat info that can substitute the newer 1970 to 1982 Ford setups and replace the Instrument Voltage Regulator with a cheap chip! The IVR cuts power from 12 to 5 volts to the gauges.

http://www.treasurecoastmustangs.com/changing65dashto66dash.doc

 

For converting from 12 volt to Hybrid voltages

Mostly books for sale to maintain your gauges but rewire for the higher house voltages and recharging circuits:

http://www.kta-ev.com/catalog.html

And a related Toyota Hybrid conversion thread:
http://www.aeva.asn.au/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=913

 

Old Mopar gauge upgrades

Couldn't leave the Mopar guys out of the picture, and live to tell about it.
Vintage Mopars:
http://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/electrical.html

And this one for A-Bodied Mopars:
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?p=442731

 

Hey Norm yer talkin' to yourself again...thought I'd better pipe in with something.
I picked up some relays and will be installing them in for the headlights.
I thought about upgrading the wire, but it seems most guys are just splicing in to the existing. I don't plan on running any high output lights anyways.

 

No, the four walls are listening!

When I was Army tech, we used to rewire the old 1948 Dodge Deuce trucks (1968-1969) to use Ammeters, but I forgot how to do it, and I don't wanna sort through my old manuals in the basement on such a nice day.

Don't forget to upgrade your grounds on the Wagon. What a difference on my Halogens!

 

Electrical Course Manuals - Free!

Covers automotive from Module 10:
http://www.onlinefreeebooks.net/eng...ineering/basic-electrical-technology-pdf.html

 

HandyAndy said it. I'm talking to myself. I must be to post this Pedal-Power battery charger plan.

http://www.fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/JF/JF_OTHER/SMALL/Windstream - pedal generator.pdf