Here's A Pic of My Latest Senior Moment

[magwakeenercew2jh]

I'm trying to combine three steering columns into one for the '68/'71 build.

One had the wire for the gear indicator light and the other two didn't. Happened that the one with the wire was not the first choice of columns , so I got after the "wire" with my side cutters.
And then threaded the "wire" up where it belongs on the coulmn I'm using


Duhhhhhh! It's NOT an electrical wire. It's optical.

So, in trying to regroup, I shined a flashlight on the cut ends and it sent light where it was supposed to shine. BTW, I've glued in the pointer to the indicator, and had to glue on the plastic housing, since the holder was slightly broken at the one screw hole in the column cover. Point is, I'm committed to the pointer and indicator now. So buying and installing another optical cable would be more of a pain than not knowing what gear I'm in in the dark would be (not that we can't tell reverse from park, or that riding around for two hours at 3500 RPM wouldn't tell you something about you current choice of gears )

Question(s):

1) Anybody ever make the same stupid mistake? (forget that question, it leaves me too "open")
2) How about "shrink wrap, tight enough to hold the optical cable together and, also, not let any light out?
3) Where does the "mother light" plug in? I'd guess in one of the dash sockets. Does it matter which one?

Okay..I know it was a rookie move at best. And a lame move, for sure.
Be gentle with me. But, if you can't be gentle, I can take it.

Thanks.

[Boog]

I know you are probably not the first one to do that Magwa. Here's an idea. Try super gluing the pieces together and see if light still makes it through. Then use some heat shrink tubing over the glued joint. That ought to work.

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

Yeah the corvette guys sell a repair kit for the fiber optics in the late sixties console. And it is basically heat shrink. The kits are pretty cheap and come with some extra cable.
http://www.ecklers.com/corvette-repa...1968-1971.html

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Thanks, Guys.

The light shines thru when I butt it end-to end. Guess I'll try the Super Glue (the clear), and hit it with a double dose of shrink wrap.

One good thing about stupid moves....I usually don't make 'em twice. Oh, I'll make stupid mistakes. But, hopefully, not the same one twice!

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Oh, I'll make stupid mistakes. But, hopefully, not the same one twice!

It happens to all of us, just ask my wife! Some of the dumb moves ive made make her scratch her head and ask me, why? Glad this one wasn't too costly though.