59A Restoration Project

[Kathe Barnett]

Long story short....my husband bought this 59A "project" for me 16 years ago. He had restored my 63B sunroof coupe, but I always was smitten with the A. We sold the B to fund the A project. A few years later, we sold the B and sent the body to be restored (rust, poor workmanship, etc). One year later, we got the call to "come tow it home. Shop is closing." It was now missing its window frames and was still a hot mess. Subsequently sent to another body shop. A year after that, it came home and we are now undergoing the long task of putting humpty dumpty back together (the last owner had taken it apart and we purchased it disassembled). Currently working on wiper motor. Black windings in motor; should they be copper? They are black. Wondering if someone tried to jump start at some point with a 12V? Thoughts appreciated.
Kathe

[Martin Benade]

That might be ok. I’d touch a pair of wires (6v + and ground) to the connections at the top of the picture, maybe it’ll run- if the armature is still good, and the field winding is connected to those. A quick touch shouldn’t be harmful.

Where are you located?

[Harlan Halsey]

Smell the windings.

[Kathe Barnett]

Thank you Harlan & Martin. I'm in northern California (Sacramento). Did smell windings, don't smell burned, just look dark. Didn't want to buy a battery to test wipers (do have a multimeter, so should see what readings through windings should be); car is still has a long ways to go!

[Martin Benade]

For a quick test you could even use 12 volts briefly. I ran my variable speed T6 wipers on 12 volts for years, turned down as much as I could. Only recently have I added an electronic reducer.

[Harlan Halsey]

Thank you Harlan & Martin. I'm in northern California (Sacramento). Did smell windings, don't smell burned, just look dark. Didn't want to buy a battery to test wipers (do have a multimeter, so should see what readings through windings should be); car is still has a long ways to go!

There is an active 356CAR group in Sacramento, San Jose, and on the coast. I'm sure there are many 356ers not too far away who would give you a hand.