Wiring upgrade

Currently, there are two aftermarket fuse panels for sale, that I know of. Bob Timma's is sold through Marino Perna at Pantera East, and the second is sold through Larry Stock at PPC-Reno. Both use modern spade-fuses, both have extra circuits (Bob's has more) and both fit in the stock fuse block spaces. I'm aware of a few guys that at least started to rewire their Panteras with something more modern than the as-delivered mess. At least two were never finished so try to stay motivated & maybe do it a little at a time so the car is not totally immobilized for years.

Jack,
Thanks for the response. I was not aware of the fuse panel replacement product you identified. I have installed "Hot Rod" wiring kits in at least three cars. Found that just ripping everything out and replacing all wires much easier than trying to rework the existing wiring to fit modern panel. I plan to remove everything and have the body/chassis dipped. Starting from that point, I have the notion that starting with all new parts and making lots of home runs to the panel would be a great improvement over the stock wiring. Plus I could add relays to take the load off the ignition, turn signal and light switches. See any draw backs or problems?

I first tried to use a pre-fabed hot rod fuse pannel for the pantera. The Lucus wiring is so uncommon that the grafting of the fuse pannel to the origial design was not worth the effort. I abandoned that effort. The task you attempt is not for the faint hearted. The Pantera wiring diagrams vary from year to year so one cannot be 100% the colors are accurate for your year.

I ended up using a 5 slot blade fuse mount that could be stacked to provide the necessary qty of fuses. Then connected the original wires to this new block. Purchasing a pre-made fuse block would have been much easier but I wanted the challange. Building your own relay system is easy and worth the effort. Pre-made relays are also provided by vendors. Pick your battles wisely based on our comfort level.

We redid my early 71 using the Painless 18-circuit non-GM universal kit. Came with new blade-style fuse box, some relays, flasher, etc. Worked well with my fuel injection & MSD. I didn't personally install it but helped and observed. The main stock wiring we used was just the set running from door to door for the dome light switch, I think, and another stock connector or two. He spent a little extra time figuring out how to get the headlight motors to work right (using the stock relay), and added a few diodes. We used a non-stock switch for Hazard since the Painless system only runs a couple of wires there.

We lengthened or added a couple of wires, but overall it went pretty smoothly and seems to work very well, less bulky & simpler than stock, better circuit protection & less fire hazard (set up for voltmeter), etc. Would go quicker if carbureted & stock ignition, too. Plus we soldered & heat-shrinked every connection. I was very pleased with that Painless kit.

After 24 years of driving & working on our car, I can agree with the ...'uncommon Lucas wiring'... The main problems seem to be the 100% unplated connectors that corrode & then don't work, the unusual switches, grommets and fasteners and a host of funky details (such as ground loops) that tend to drive one crazy in a project like this. As someone mentioned, there are at least 5 different wiring schematics, and I have yet to find a single car that perfectly fits any of them, so be careful.

The drivers side power window went dead on my 1971. The wiring diagram says that the windows are each on different fuses...13 and 14. Problem is that when I take off the box I can only count 12 fuses. What's up?

Stockcat,
I found the extra fuses for the windows in a small fuse box (just 2 fuses) hanging below the main box (I fried my window fuses installing a new switch from Hall).

Being a Brit and owning old british cars I've spent many hours working on Lucas electrics. In England Joseph Lucas is known as "The Prince of Darkness". But's it not just Lucas electrics in there, a lot of it is italian. In the UK the Pantera owners complain about "rubbish italian electrics"!