Here's a picture of her burnt fuse block. I'm not familiar with Ron Francis harnesses, but whatever was in the red circle is what caught on fire and it burnt the wires above it just from the flame. There were two melted female spade connectors that were connected there.
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*******
George

Here's a pic of the alternator wire that shorted out on the metal wire loom right where the red circle is. The rubber grommet came loose from the end and slipped up the wire and let the tube rub thru the wire insulation.
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*******
George

And here's a pic of me being groped by Denise...I was diggin' it...hehehehe
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Arf Arf oooooOOOWWWWwwwooooo

UH Murf!! Lugnutt is gonna be jealous!!!! really jealous.
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Watch those speedbumps!! Debb

Hi Murph!!! Boy was it fun groping and petting you. We both ended up with goofy looks on our faces. :) Hanging out with you put a nice end to a rather stressful cruz. Thanks for being there bud. I'll see ya soon. :))
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

I fished out the directions for the Dimension II component panel wiring system and from the picture it seems it was a diode plug where the fire started. In the picture it has wires running to an optional voltage regulator. I don't believe there was anything there except for this pug. I could be wrong. What would have caused this to happen. Could it have something to do with the alternator shorting out? My dad says I sould have alittle more information before I call Mr. Frances so I kind of know what I talking about.
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

Lipstick Survival Run 2002
Syracuse, Lipstick Run, L'Ville Nats, Sturgis Rally,Bonneville Salty Dog Tour...........? :P

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

I just found an old RF catalog and this is what they say about the diode:
"Wire Works uses a special diode to prevent "run on" when the ignition key is turned off and the alternator is still spinning. This can also be prevented by wiring the alternator in a less than desirable method. Wire Works load tests this part and almost all failures are limited to some failure in the alternator itself. In an emergency situation, the circuit can be activated to allow you to continue your trip. Should this part fail, the alternator should be tested."

So the fact that it burned could have something to do with the alternator wiring or the different alternator that was put on.

I would think that you could just replace the fuse panel and solder new pieces on the wires that are burnt so they reach the new panel.

Anybody got any suggestions on who's panel to use? Another Ron Francis? Centech? If it had the same type of connections, with the stud and nut, it shouldn't be too hard a job to switch.

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*******
George

Since the car is wired with WireWorks instructions and wiring, and since the original module was WireWorks, I think I would replace it with the same unit.
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Lynn
'32 3W

I agree...now. I'm not a wiring expert at all, but I thought I had read something Skip wrote about RF harnesses, where he said they run their circuits different than most of the other harness manufacturers. Enjenjo confirmed that on RRT, so Denise should definitely use another RF fuse panel if it needs to be replaced.
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*******
George

We have a ron francis wiring kit on the Lincoln George.
So is she back on the road? and running ok?
Will she have to get a new kit and rewire the car now?
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Watch those speedbumps!! Debb

Got home about an hour ago Debb. Just going thru some mail, both snail and e and will call you in the morning. Boy have I got some stories for you. :))

The wiring solution opinions I'd like to get from members here. What would YOU do if this happened to you???
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

ohhhh stories, i like stories. Now I won't be able to sleep all night, lol
Glad your home and safe.
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Watch those speedbumps!! Debb

I would try and shmooze Mister Francis for a free wiring block.I have met him on a couple of occasions and,having heard several unkind things said about him,was surprised to find him very helpfull if not overly friendly!Perhaps if he will supply you with a new panel you can locate it as to have enough wire to just repair/replace the existing wires/terminals as needed without pulling all new wire.I have also heard that NAPA sells a very similar panel at a fraction of the cost although I have no 1st hand experience with it.GOOD LUCK!! See Ya!!
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Daryle

If Ron Francis was overly friendly, he sure has changed!
I bought a RF kit back when he was the only game in town.
It comes with a number you're supposed to save to reference if you need help.
Even the instructions were rude. All through them it said if you have a problem to go back and read the instructions again. It said "in caps" DO NOT CALL UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTLY HAVE TO!
Shortly after I got it my house caught fire. The box with the harness was on the steps. A friend of mine in the fire dept saw the box with the top on fire, carried it out and put it out before going back in to fight the fire. Only the top flap of the box and the instructions burnt.
I spent the next couple of years building a new house and garage. Started working on the car again, and my wife got cancer. Didn't go back to the car until she passed away 3 years later.
When I got to the wiring I called RF. I told him the story, and that I needed instructions. He said "how the hell am I supposed to know what you have after all this time?" I told him I had the reference number, his reply was "that's no damn good after all this time! You should have sent for them right after the fire." I told him I had more pressing things on my mind between the fire and my wife passing away. He told me to fill out another form with all the info, and I'll send it to you. He slammed the phone down as I was thanking him.
He sent the instructions for the light wiring, but not the ingniton, turn switch etc.
The kit had the wrong ends for the column and ingnition switch. Called him again, and he proceeded to tell me they sent ends based on my description of the column, he said "so if they're wrong your the idiot that doesn't know what he has!" I told him I took the column out of the doner car myself, the info I supplied was right, and I don't appreciate being called a f***in idiot from him. I started to tell him what I thought of the way he does business, but again he slammed the phone down.
If he is playing Mr. Nice Guy now that he has a ton of other companies building a better product, let him prove it by helping Denise out!
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Charlie

Charlie,my earlier post reads....NOT overly friendly.As I said,I have heard several similar stories,all of which I believe to be true.As I said earlier,I have spoken with him very briefly on 2 occasions,he was helpfull in answering my questions but was not very friendly or very patient in explaining himself.I have used his harness in the past but do to stories such as yours,I choose to do my business elsewhere.I also agree,there are much better products out there.Let's hope Denise catches him on a good day!!Have a Great Week,See Ya!!
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Daryle

Wups. That's what I get for responding to a post at 2AM when I can't sleep! hehe
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Charlie

Wow - & I thought I had attitude. I think Denise should contact him & see what he says, otherwise, I can contact Dennis Overholser at Painless - he's helpful.
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Lipstick Survival Run 2002
Syracuse, Lipstick Run, L'Ville Nats, Sturgis Bike Week,Bonneville Salty Dog Tour & Calgary Fun Run - Help!!
http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

After looking at the Ron Francis warranty http://www.wire-works.com/terms.htm it doesn't look like they would replace anything for her. I know Denise is looking for suggestions here, since she has to get the car ready for another "many mile" trip real soon. I don't know what the part was that burned and I looked on the WireWorks site but it wasn't much help. Whatever it was, I'm sure it served a purpose and should be replaced. Also, I'd take a look inside the fuse block to see if anything else looks damaged.

Personally, I'd replace the whole harness with a Painless or Centech. With the car being in its current unfinished condition, everything is pretty easy to get at and possibly the new harness could be routed the same as the one that's in it. Installing a new harness would give someone the chance to look over the whole installation and eliminate any of those places where sharp edges are in contact with the wire. Remember the one I showed you under the dash, Denise, by the fuse block? No disrespect to the people that put the car together, but it was an unfinished project car when you bought it and some of those things would have probably been checked and fixed before final assembly.

Wiring isn't something to cut corners with...better safe than sorry. I noticed the odometer has over 8000 miles on it already and in my opinion, the whole car should be checked out before the next 8,000. I know its a hassle, but that's all part of rodding. You saw my truck up on the hoist with the new brakes and front wheel bearings out of it to be repacked....just preventative maintenance before St Ignace, Louisville, & Bonneville.

Maybe someone else can add something.
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*******
George

You said it all George....She should just replace it all..Good insurance.
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

George, I went out and looked at our fuse box in the Lincoln and I don't see that part that got burnt. Ours looks a little different than her's does, but its hard to tell by that picture. Perhaps ours is newer, I know Big Olds was built over a long period of time, this it the 4th summer for the lincoln. I can post a pic of ours if you think it will help anyone.
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Watch those speedbumps!! Debb