Project Reno - 72 cheyenne rebuild

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

That improvement thing is kicking my butt too. i keep adding things and circuits and modifying the factory style harness to make it better or safer. every time i think i am about ready to do something, i come up with a "better" plan that requires more parts.

that bumper looks very sweet. goes well with the paint color.

Hey thanks for the comments! I hope the bumpers look good from-a-far. You never really know till you stand back away from a truck and look at it as a whole.

[cmabolt]

No fires and we have power.
Well got the electrical systems all fused up and no fires. Yahooooooo!! I have success on all circuits except no brake lights at all and the horns are on all the time. I have turn signals, hazards and markers, but no brake lights. I have signal at the brake switch, but nothing at the rear harness connector. So, I am going to look into the steering column wiring. I am awaiting diagnosis instructions from AAW. It could also be the inner cab rear harness connector, but I doubt it. As for the horns, well I tried new grounds for both of them and dismantling the steering column horn button assembly and still, horn works all the time. No clue there.

Here are a few pics of the wiring under the hood. I got things pretty clean.
Junction from battery to supply battery to passengers side of engine compartment.

AC/HEAT wiring on passengers side of engine compartment.

AC/HEAT trinary switch wire routing.

Got the motor fluids replenished and just need to install O2 sensors on headers for a restart. I also got the Vintage air system calibrated and it works like a charm. Blows very hard thru vents.
More to come and hopefully some resolution.

[mjensen]

Soooo super clean! I love it!

[DWilbur]

Looking good. I could have used your horn problem on my way home from work I got cut off twice tonight. I did get back at the 2nd drive and blasted Cummins smoke in there face.
sounds like you have constant power to the horns it should be easy to trace.

[cmabolt]

Update time. Well today got some electrical gremlins taken care of. I took the whole horn assembly apart at the steering wheel and found the after market plunger for the horn button was not long enough and allowing the circuit to stay grounded. I fixed it and that seemed to fix the horn. As for the brake lights, the connector for the steering column turn signal switch was jacked and not connecting the way it was supposed to. I lubed it up with some dialectic grease, checked all the wire connections and put it back together. That seemed to fix the issue. I now have brake lights. However, I may need a new turn signal switch if the connector acts up again. And finally, My gauges were working, but I could not get a reading on the temp or fuel. I pulled the gauge cluster off the dash and discovered I had the temp signal wired to the fuel gage and vise versa. Amazing, no matter how careful I am, there always seems to be a few stupid blunders like that. At least it was easy to fix. I also fired up the engine today from inside the cab. Thats was another milestone. Here is a shot of the gauge cluster all lit up at night. Blue LED's

[rgunlock]

Way to go! Sounds like electrical is done? What's left before you can drive it at least in and out of the garage?

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Way to go! Sounds like electrical is done? What's left before you can drive it at least in and out of the garage?

Electrical is done, if nothing else rears it's ugly head that is. I need to re-bleed the brakes again. Pedal is still a bit soft. I also need to find someone to heat and bend my shifter. It is straight at the moment and I need to bend it back about 6" and to the left about 4" then I should be able to back her out of the garage. Wooohooo. Wish i had a torch. All I need is about 5 minuted with a torch and she would be ready.

Once I driver her around the neighborhood and test brakes, clutch etc, I will need to get custom exhaust done, then wheels and tires last. Next I will focus on the interior carpet, box for behind the seats, amp and stereo, seat belts and whatever else I forgot.

[mjensen]

Exciting times!!!

[mcbassin]

Cluster is awesome!
Congrats on getting the electrical done.

[DWilbur]

cool looking gages.. I'm glad you found the gremlins in your wiring great job. let me know if you would take a vacation in California to help me with my wiring.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Exciting times!!!

You're tellin me!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Cluster is awesome!
Congrats on getting the electrical done.

Thanks Mike! Have a Great Holiday!

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

cool looking gages.. I'm glad you found the gremlins in your wiring great job. let me know if you would take a vacation in California to help me with my wiring.

Hey thanks! Not sure about the blue now that their all lit up, but they are very bright. After all the $$ I put into a billet dash, classic instruments and such I am happy about the finished product.

Lol - Love Cali. Close but no cigar. Santa Fe is as close as I'll be this year.
Happy Holiday's and good luck with the wiring.

Chris

[ryanroo]

sante fe is close to me. does this mean you are coming to help? i have lots of wires. haha

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

sante fe is close to me. does this mean you are coming to help? i have lots of wires. haha

You might be on to something. Maybe I will just start traveling the country and helping people with their wiring. I love it out west. If I could figure out a way to stay out there i would. Beautiful country. Though I think it's probably a better idea to wait and see if my truck burns to the ground before helping anybody else with their wiring. just to be safe.

Happy Holidays!

[CUSTOM/10]

Damn it Chris..... Your getting way ahead of me... Slow down a bit.... Take a vacation from the truck over the Holidays.... "LOL"

Gary

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

Damn it Chris..... Your getting way ahead of me... Slow down a bit.... Take a vacation from the truck over the Holidays.... "LOL"

Gary

Sorry about that Gary! it really doesn't seem like i am making much progress on a daily basis, but then i stop and look back and whammo, it's so close to being finished. Anyway, I decided to replace my turn signal switch which was china- made crap and add a wiper switch delay, made here by a forum member, so while I wait for those to come in, my dash is apart again and I wait. So after that, it's install front/rear glass and get custom exhaust. crossing my fingers it's smooth sail in from here on out.

Chris

[CUSTOM/10]

While your waiting you can make me your 1st customer and come help with my wiring !!! "LOL"

[cmabolt]

Well, finally got the hood 98% of the way aligned. I'm afraid it will never be perfect. . Got the wiring for the amp in place and finished some odds and ends.
Here are some more pics of wiring porn. Lol

Mounting of accelerator module on drivers fender.

finished weatherpak connector for rear harness

This is what's left over after cutting out waste and adding mods.

[DWilbur]

Now I think I know why I can't plug in my throttle peddle in to my computer. I'm missing the accelerator module. Thanks for posting the pictures.

[cmabolt]

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Now I think I know why I can't plug in my throttle peddle in to my computer. I'm missing the accelerator module. Thanks for posting the pictures.

It's official name is tac module. Should have come with motor.

[DWilbur]

No I did not get it with my engine. The PO I bought it from was clueless about the engine and at the time I did not have the wisdom to know what was missing. I do have a donor suburban that I can get it from but the engine in the burb won't if I grab it. I will check with a salvage yard and see if I can get one.

[cmabolt]

Well, you only need this if your motor was drive by wire. If it is, then you need the accelerator pedal and tac module from the same vehicle if you can get it. You may
Also research and make sure that you have compatible accelerator pedal and tach module components for your year and model engine. This will save you headaches. Search ls1tech and you will get a ton of info there about your motor.

[DWilbur]

I have the DBW peddle and a wiring harness. hopefully I just need the tach module.

[cmabolt]

Happy New Year everybody! Well, Santa Fe was (((((((COLD))))))) burrrrrr but just can't beat the fresh air and views out there.

When I returned home, I found many small packages awaiting me. My knobs for wiper and wiper delay.

new American made turn signal switch

headlight retainer rings. My old ones had a missing tab on each side.

I also received a message that my wiper delay unit will be on it's way to me this weekend. So, weather permitting, I should hopefully get the dash back together this week and move on to assembling the rest of the interior. I also need to put some more elbow grease into the outer grill. A few passes with finer and finer grit sand paper until it is smooth enough for a polish. I really want to use as much of the original grill as possible.