junction block on inner fender well

[Rt.146]

If the junction box is non-functional or breaking up like mine was, one can just try and repair/mold the junction box back into shape with a putty like POR 15 has, to hold a fusible electrical bypass link, easy enough to get at an Auto Parts store.

[ELTBIRD]

What is the correct guage wire for the fusible link or amp rating?

[ELTBIRD]

According to my 66 EAM, the junction block and fuse wire assy. part #'s are as follows:

ALL MODELS
Block- C5AB-14448-A
Fuse- C63B-14A094-B

MODEL 76 ONLY
Block- C5VB-14448-A
Fuse- C6SB-14A094-C

[Alan H. Tast]

I'm not having any luck tracking down the fusible link wire (yet) - it looks like I need to dig into a Master Parts Cross-Reference Catalog from the period to find the corresponding P&A number to C6SB 14A094-B. From the chart I posted, the P&A basic number 14526 shows up for fusible link wires, which has some wires ID'd with the 14A094 basic engineering number.

The '68 MPC pretty much has the same listings as the '65-'72 MPC Final Issue.

C5SZ 14526-C is listed as 6" long and used with the top control on '65 convertibles from March 1st, 1965 - no engineering/ID number, wire gauge or amperage rating was provided in the parts listing, but in the '65-'72 MPC it's listed as a 12-gauge wire. This wire was dropped from the catalog in March 1974.

C6SZ 14526-B is listed as 6"-long and used with power seats or windows on the fender apron, but no engineering/ID number is provided - this might be C6SB 14A094-B, but I'd really love to see a measurement for the length of the wire to feel better about this assumption (it sure doesn't look like it's 6" long). And if that's the case, does that mean the terminal block and fusible link wire were not used on cars without power seats/windows?

C6SZ 14526-D is listed as 9"-long and used with the top control on '66 convertibles; it's also listed in the '65-'72 Lincoln-Mercury MPC as being used on '66-'67 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertibles. This might use engineering number C6SB 14A094-C (noted by Eltbird), but no engineering/ID number is provided in the parts book listing.

In looking through the '65-'72 Lincoln-Mercury MPC, it does not separate the fusible link wires from circuit breakers and fuses (all use 14526 for a basic number): it arranges listing, regardless if it's a glass fuse, circuit breaker or fusible link wire, in ascending order of amperage. Numbers with a C6 prefix include:

C6SZ 14526-D, a 9"-long 12-gauge wire (too long for the terminal block one) - as noted above, this is listed in the '65-'72 Ford MPC for '66 T-bird convertible top control. It may be rated as high as 50 amps based on where it falls in the list - no amperage rating is given in the parts listing descriptions.

C6VY 14526-D (which is also listed in the '68 MPC and '65-'72 MPC Final Issue for '67-up T-birds) has engineering number C6VY 14A094-F and was used at the starter relay; it is a 7"-long 14-gauge wire, which again seems too long for what's been shown in the photos. It may be rated as high as 50 amps based on where it also falls in the list - no amperage rating is given in the parts listing descriptions.

And, if you're wondering about the C5VB 14448-A junction block, its P&A number is C5VY 14448-A and is described as being used with the convertible top pump motor fusible link. It and the '66 top motor junction block were replaced by D0SZ 14448-A.

[Rt.146]

What is the correct guage wire for the fusible link or amp rating?

I used a 10 gauge 6" long wires ,the 10 gauge wire is rated for 40 amps.,instead of a 40 AMP fuse, I 'm using a 30 AMP blade fuse, so far so good.

[Alan H. Tast]

To close the loop on engineering vs. part numbers for the fusible link wire, here's what I found in the April 1966 edition of the Master Cross-Reference Catalog, with descriptions added by me - bear in mind the numbers below may also include circuit breakers and glass fuses, but I suspect the engineering basic number 14A094 is strictly for a fusible link wire - more research needed for several of the ones listed:

Engineering # - P&A Part # - Description

C4SB 14A094-A - C4SZ 14526-B - ? ga. wire, ?" Long - (No listing provided in '65-'72 Fusible Link list - need to look in the '68 MPC and '60-'64 "Blue Bible" for this one)

C5AB 14A049-A - C5AZ 14526-B - ? ga. wire, ?" Long - (No listing provided in '65-'72 Fusible Link list)

C5VB 14A094-B - C5SZ 14526-C - 12 ga. wire, 6" Long - '65 T-bird Top Pump Motor Control protection from 3/1/65

C6AB 14A049-A - C6AZ 14526-A - 14 ga. wire, 6" Long - (No T-bird application listed - used on full- and mid-size Ford/Mercury and Mustangs for protecting the top control)

C6SB 14A049-A - C6SZ 14526-C - ? ga. wire, ?" Long - '66 T-bird Convertible (top pump motor control protection?) - use w/ C5VB 14448-A/C5VY 14448-A block (No listing provided in '65-'72 Fusible Link list - need to look at Obsolete-Supersede-Interchange book for more info - I suspect it was replaced by C6SZ 14526-D)

C6SB 14A049-B - C6SZ 14526-B - ? ga. wire, 6" Long - '66 T-bird w/ Power Windows or Power Seats - use w/ C5AB 14448-A/C5AZ 14448-A block

C6SB 14A049-C - C6SZ 14526-C -? ga. wire, ?" Long - '66 T-bird Convertible (top pump motor control protection?) - use w/ C5VB 14448-A/C5VY 14448-A block (No listing provided in '65-'72 Fusible Link list - need to look at Obsolete-Supersede-Interchange book for more info - I suspect it was replaced by C6SZ 14526-D)

C6SB 14A049-D - C6SZ 14526-D - 12 ga. wire, 9" Long - '66 T-bird Conv Top Pump Motor Control protection

C6VB 14A094-A - C6SZ 14526-B - ? ga. wire, 6" Long - '66 T-bird w/ Power Windows or Power Seats - use w/ C5AB 14448-A/C5AZ 14448-A block

C6VB 14A049-D - C6VY 14526-A - ? ga. wire, ?" Long - (No listing provided in '65-'72 Fusible Link list - Need to review Lincoln-Mercury listings for this one)

C6VB 14A049-F - C6VY 14526-B - 14 ga. wire, 7" Long - '67-'69 T-bird at Starter Relay

C6VB 14A049-G - C6VY 14526-A1 - ? ga. wire, ?" Long - (No listing provided in '65-'72 Fusible Link list - Need to review Lincoln-Mercury listings for this one)

So, it appears from the previous posts (especially the the '66 Electrical Assembly Manual reference) that the fusible link wire typically found on '66 cars on the right (passenger) side inner fender/front of spring tower is the C6SZ 14526-B wire that's 6" long, but again I'd love to see a measurement of the wire length to verify as I suspect it's shorter.

[Scott6T6]

I do not want to remove my original fuse link wire from the junction block on my Town Landau. The wire is old and stiff and even if I were to remove the wire, I would never attempt to straighten it out so I could measure the length. The junction block/fuse link assembly remains too nice to mess with, and I don't want to risk damaging anything.

What I did do is take a 1' long piece of 22-gauge steel wire and I bent it into the shape of the fuse link wire. I started at the tip of the upper terminal eyelet connector and followed it down to the tip of the second connector on the opposite end. It was a bit of challenge with the junction block/fuse link assembly in place on the right wheelhouse and the battery is an additional hinderance (I didn't have time this morning to take that out). Once I had replicated the configuration of the fuse link wire to my satisfaction, I cut it to the proper length. Then I straightened out the wire and measured it.
Granted, my method of determining the length of the FUSE LINK wire is an approximation, so I won't guarantee my measurement is EXACT, but it should be somewhat close.
The wire measured 6 3/4". Again, that is the length of the fuse link wire including the terminal eyelet connectors at each end.
That does NOT match any of the fuse link wire lengths specified in the sources Alan provided which is unfortunate.

By the way Alan, my car has NO power windows or seats, and it does have the junction block/fuse link assembly. I believe ALL '66 Thunderbird's were so equipped. I'm absolutely certain my car came from the factory with it and aside from whitewall tires, my car had no options.

Scott

[cacockrum]

I suppose if one is trying to replicate the factory fuse link it would be good to also pay attention to the terminals, their connection to the wire and any writing or numbering on the wire. If you look at the photos I included in my 2 posts of 8-22-22 you will see that the diameter of the terminals varies to match the bolts, that they include what appears to be heavy-duty shrink tubing over the solder connection which extends onto the shoulder of the lug, and that FUSE LINK is printed in white ink on 3 locations on the black wire insulation. This link and base were from a '66 so I cannot be certain that this applies to earlier models. However, for what it's worth, the link on my '68 is virtually identical except for what appears to be some yellow tape residue and perhaps a slight difference in length.

[Rt.146]

If the length of the wire you are looking for the length that connects the junction box's fusible link, I have one, I don't have it handy to measure, it is in a parts bag I have in the trunk of the car, the car is in the shop having the diff. swapped out, hopefully I will get the car back very soon,then I will be able to measure the wire's length.Trying to visualize that wire 3" may be the length, 4" may be closer it is the U shape of the wire that could lend itself between 3" and 4".

[Scott6T6]

This afternoon I dug out this nice used junction block/fuse link assembly I garnered from a '66 in a salvage yard many years ago. Then I removed the two nuts and took the wire off the junction block terminals. The wire is rather stiff and I wasn't comfortable trying to straighten it out for fear of potentially damaging it. Instead, I applied a strip of masking tape onto the wire from end to end. Then I removed the tape, laid it out flat and measured it. The length of the FUSE LINK wire is 7 1/8". It appears shorter than that when bent around and mounted on the junction block, but that's the length. I'm comfortable rounding it off to 7".
Scott

[Alan H. Tast]

That cleaned up very well. Looks like the red ID paint is over the engineering number that's cast into the block. I'm surprised at the length, too.

[Scott6T6]

It really did clean up nicely, almost looks NOS. Obviously, it was very nicely preserved in the first place which is why I took it. Yes, that red paint was applied over the engineering number, presumably to make it more visible.
The 1966 Electrical Assembly Manual does indeed identify the fuse link wire as C6SB-14A094-B FUSE ASSY. - ALL MODELS.
C5AB-14448-A JUNCTION BLOCK ASSY. - ALL MODELS.
Scott