47-55.1 Starting a 52 Chevy 3100 Project.

[oldman3]

Glad you got it on the road, enjoy...Jim

[8man]

Glad you're driving!

[gigamanx]

Gorgeous truck. That's a nice feeling to be on the road again! I had the crappy eBay steering column and wish I just sprung for the nicer one too. Still drove ok, but was sloppy and made some rattles when I went over bumps.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by Zippi

Sweet looking ride man. I had problems with my doors not wanted to latch all the time. I tried these door latch repair clips and my doors work great now. $4.50 a pop unless your just wanting new latches.

Thanks. I have thought about those.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Glad you got it on the road, enjoy...Jim

Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by 8man

Glad you're driving!

Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Gorgeous truck. That's a nice feeling to be on the road again! I had the crappy eBay steering column and wish I just sprung for the nicer one too. Still drove ok, but was sloppy and made some rattles when I went over bumps.

Thanks!!!! The steering column was awful. The shifter never was right and was really sloppy. The electronics inside were bad. I was so happy to get rid of it. Also I like your Model A project. I will be getting mine back in my garage soon. You should share your progress on thehamb. Here is a picture of mine.

[joedoh]

what a great feeling it is to drive something you worked on from start to finish! does your dad like it? or does he love it?

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

what a great feeling it is to drive something you worked on from start to finish! does your dad like it? or does he love it?

He loves it. He is wondering when we can get the A/C done so he can drive it. It only hit 108" over the weekend.

[joedoh]

haha yeah driving a tin can with a steel interior in that heat is a real life sapper.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

The steering column was awful. The shifter never was right and was really sloppy. The electronics inside were bad. I was so happy to get rid of it. Also I like your Model A project. I will be getting mine back in my garage soon. You should share your progress on thehamb. Here is a picture of mine.

Model A looks awesome!! I tried to post on the Hamb and they said my build wasn't welcome because its not an original hotrod. I thought of Killbillet but it seems like that forum really isn't very active. So, I ended right back with my crew here on the 49 truck forum and started a YouTube channel to work on the build.

Very much enjoying the next chapter of hot rod life.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Model A looks awesome!! I tried to post on the Hamb and they said my build wasn't welcome because its not an original hotrod. I thought of Killbillet but it seems like that forum really isn't very active. So, I ended right back with my crew here on the 49 truck forum and started a YouTube channel to work on the build.

Very much enjoying the next chapter of hot rod life.

That sucks. I have seen builds close to yours on there. Maybe they are anti LS1? Funny thing. Building my Model A gave me the confidence to build the truck. The Model A was driving though when I got it but I had to go through the whole thing. Here is a pic when I first got it. It has had everything replaced. Engine, transmission, steering column, front end, dropped I beam, 8.8 ford rear end, seats, 4 wheel disc brakes, wheels/tire, gas tank, interior, 32 grill/hood and wiring.

[28TudorAZ]

So I am having an issues with the turn signals lights staying on constantly and not flashing. I have replaced the flasher unit with an LED one and the emergency flasher lights work fine. I have swapped the flashers around to see if the issue followed the flasher and it does not. Any ideas?

[joedoh]

its how you have your column wired, there are two ways to wire it and when the lights stay on constant it needs to be the other way. it has to do with the taillights, if you have a separate turn only bulb and a separate brake only bulb, you wire it one way. most GM use a combination turn/brake bulb, so it needs to be wired the other way. the instructions for your column detail this, for whatever reason I think aftermarket wiring harnesses always have it wired the wrong way for a GM out of the box.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

its how you have your column wired, there are two ways to wire it and when the lights stay on constant it needs to be the other way. it has to do with the taillights, if you have a separate turn only bulb and a separate brake only bulb, you wire it one way. most GM use a combination turn/brake bulb, so it needs to be wired the other way. the instructions for your column detail this, for whatever reason I think aftermarket wiring harnesses always have it wired the wrong way for a GM out of the box.

So this is inside the column or the wires at the bottom wire harness? I did find a work around, I put some wire on the flasher and switched the wires opposite and it works. I can pull the wiring harness box off the firewall and switch the wires but it is a pain. I would like to fix it right so I dont have to have wires on the flasher.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

So this is inside the column or the wires at the bottom wire harness?

neither, its your wiring harness that has the wiring change.

Originally Posted by 28TudorAZ

I did find a work around, I put some wire on the flasher and switched the wires opposite and it works. I can pull the wiring harness box off the firewall and switch the wires but it is a pain. I would like to fix it right so I dont have to have wires on the flasher.

make sure you test your workaround with all conditions, turn signals, brake lights, park lights, etc. the way electrical systems work in cars and trucks is ANY path to ground. since the bulbs are grounded on one side you can think of any bulb as a path to ground through the + wire, because when it isnt energized the ground will travel through the filament.

if your workaround works in every case, it could be your harness is wired wrong. but 9 times of 10 and I have heard about this more than 10 times, the harness wiring at the column is to blame.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

make sure you test your workaround with all conditions, turn signals, brake lights, park lights, etc. the way electrical systems work in cars and trucks is ANY path to ground. since the bulbs are grounded on one side you can think of any bulb as a path to ground through the + wire, because when it isnt energized the ground will travel through the filament.

if your workaround works in every case, it could be your harness is wired wrong. but 9 times of 10 and I have heard about this more than 10 times, the harness wiring at the column is to blame.

So everything works as expected when I swapped the wires. I already tested everything. Its going to be a huge pain to pull the fuse panel and swap the wires. Oh well its gotta be done.

[joedoh]

thats great news! so the fusebox was wired wrong?

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

thats great news! so the fusebox was wired wrong?

It must be. The emergency flasher works fine just not the turn signals. I just put wires on the end of the flasher to test and it works. I stuck some tape on it and just shoved it up there for now.

[28TudorAZ]

So yesterday I took it by the guys house who I bought the truck from. He thought it was pretty awesome. I found out more history on it. He actually got the truck from his uncle when he was 16 about 30 years ago. He said the last time he rode in it was when he was 16 so I took him for a ride. He also said his uncle had passed away quite a while back and took a picture and sent to his dad. He said his dad also loved it and was glad that it went to a good home. Here is a picture of it in front of his house.

[8man]

Nice reunion.

[joedoh]

thats a gorgeous truck!

i was thinking about your flasher problem, try extending the wires but hooking it up normally. it shouldnt really matter on a two prong flasher which prong is in which hole, its just a bimetal strip, it could be one of your prongs isnt touching?

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by joedoh

thats a gorgeous truck!

i was thinking about your flasher problem, try extending the wires but hooking it up normally. it shouldnt really matter on a two prong flasher which prong is in which hole, its just a bimetal strip, it could be one of your prongs isnt touching?

Could it because I have LED lights?

[Tempest67]

Yes, your LED's could be the cause, as they do not provide enough resistance in the wire to activate the flasher.

You will need to install a resistor into each signal light.

If you have a couple of 1157 (dual filament) sockets, try testing them with standard 1157 bulbs and see if that solves the problem

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by Tempest67

Yes, your LED's could be the cause, as they do not provide enough resistance in the wire to activate the flasher.

You will need to install a resistor into each signal light.

If you have a couple of 1157 (dual filament) sockets, try testing them with standard 1157 bulbs and see if that solves the problem

It works now with the wires switched. Just saying that maybe it would work either way if I wasn't using LED lights.

[dsraven]

LEDs have less draw so the flasher unit will flash slow if at all. Try an electronic flasher, it may work better than the cheap step sister bimetallic style that relies on current draw to heat the bimettallic strip.

[28TudorAZ]

Originally Posted by dsraven

LEDs have less draw so the flasher unit will flash slow if at all. Try an electronic flasher, it may work better than the cheap step sister bimetallic style that relies on current draw to heat the bimettallic strip.

I already have an electronic flashter. LED's only worked wired one way. I am thinking if I didnt have LED lights it wouldnt matter and it would work. Oh well I will swap it the wires at some point.

[28TudorAZ]

Put the headliner in tonight.