First build, 1953 pickup

[53Charlie]

Thank you NVRDONE. I recall in the suggestions and recommendations that came with the Fatman Fabrications MII kit, keeping it simple, regular (no vacuum assist) brakes and manual steering. I should have listened! It took several weeks and three different attempts to finally have a steering high-pressure hose that would fit and would not leak

[53Charlie]

Making some progress, I was able to grind a little clearance in the lower part of the motor mount, now the shaft and the joint turn freely. I used the “homemade double-D machine” to make the slightly longer shaft

[53Charlie]

Allrighty, the suspension is all in and the lower A arms almost, almost horizontal. I am going to leave it there for a few days to see if it settles down.

[53Charlie]

I like the original gauges, and have modified the case to use the gauge mechanisms from a late 80’s Camaro. I drilled the button in the middle to add the Check Engine light. I made overlays based on the restauration decals commercially available.

[dsraven]

nice.
all that little stuff taks forever to get done right, but it's good when it's finished.

[53Charlie]

I mentioned earlier I am using a 1992 S10 Blazer tank. The tank itself is a new replacement, but the fuel gauge / fuel pump structure is original 1992. I checked the fuel gauge sender when I added the Walbro 255 pump, everything worked ok. A couple of weeks ago I went to crank the engine and immediately noticed the whirrrr sound from the fuel pump was gone. I was bummed that the Walbro had crapped out with less than one hour running time, but the pump was fine, it was the corrosion in the pins of this little connector on top of the tank. The ground wire showed completely open, no conductivity whatsoever. A good cleaning and she is back running good.

[dsraven]

good troubleshooting to find that issue. thanks for the pics too.
I remember doing a fuel pump on a grand prix. the fella limped in after it wouldn't start. when he phones I told him to whack the tank a few times with a broom handle or a stick, to set up some vibrations, then try again, it worked and i advised him to keep it running till it was inside my shop.
long story short, i got the old pump out of the tank and found the wires inside the tank, from the inside connection point down to the fuel pump, were actually fried and the insulation was cooked right off. bare wires with a burnt pvc coating. that would have caused a little excitement had anything gone sideways
I have also found quite a few GM fuel pumps with a bad ground wire where it connects to the truck frame or car unibody. sometimes fixing that has saved me draining and dopping the full tank (they're always full when the in -tank pump quits, lol)

[53Charlie]

I try to figure ways to save money on my build. I am retired and do not have unlimited resources. So, allow me to introduce my eBay score, a $10 electronic speedometer. It appears it was never installed, but it had no instructions whatsoever, and although the brand sounds well known, there is absolutely no information anywhere on the web about how to install it, or how to calibrate it.

[53Charlie]

So I spent $60 having the Speedo checked by a specialized shop in California. They told me the speedo works, and told me what wire was 12v, what was ground and what goes to the VSS. There are two other wires I have no idea what they are for. But the speedo was very easy to adapt to the trim rings in the truck, and miraculously, it works, and it appears the calibration is almost right on the money. Sorry for the tilted pictures, I have no idea why they get tilted when I upload them

[dsraven]

Good chance one is a power for back light and other is a ground for back light? No other functions on the gauge, right?

[dsraven]

Sorry, there is a highball indicator there too. Disregard the ground circuit cuz it already covered or other stuff wouldn't work.

[53Charlie]

Hi dsraven, thank you for the input. There are two holes in back for lights, and one hole for the hi-beam indicator in the middle. So I don’t think the extra wires are for lighting.
It appears this speedo was made for large trucks, so maybe those extra wires could be for some function depending on speed? Or, you know how some of those trucks had a two-speed rear axle, so maybe some correction for that? In any case, it appears I do not need those extra wires, the speedo and the odometer are working. There are 10 dip switches in the back, I will figure how to use those to adjust if needed
I know most aftermarket speedos go to 160 mph or more! I don’t expect I will ever go past 85 mph so I’m good 😊

[53Charlie]

Progress report, I connected the speedo according to the instructions from the speedometer shop, amazingly, it worked, and it even appears to be pretty close to calibration!

[53Charlie]

A little info on lighting; the two bulbs in the back of the quad gauge just did not provide adequate light. I painted the inside of the box silver, and I found a 12V LED “tape” which I glued to the perimeter.

[53Charlie]

I had to put a 100 ohm resistor in the LED feed line because it was too bright. I am pleased with the result!

[dsraven]

cool idea. it's well lit now for sure

[53Charlie]

Working on adapting the steering wheel. I am using a shortened 1975 Chevy Van tilt column, and a mid 60’s Chevrolet steering wheel. The splines match, but the hole for the horn contact is in the wrong place (2:00 position). For the horn and the turn signal cancel to work, the horn contact hole needs to be at the 10:30 position. I had to drill the hole a little “earlier” (maybe 10:00?) because it would have eaten one of the three holes where the horn attaches, but it will work.

[53Charlie]

Steering wheel in place, gives it the “old time” look I was after. Slowly cleaning all the mess of wires hanging under the dash

[Blackie]

That does look good mate - nice choice

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by 53Charlie

Steering wheel in place, gives it the “old time” look I was after. Slowly cleaning all the mess of wires hanging under the dash

That looks great! I'll have to drill the same hole sometime if I want my horn back