Wife's 48

[8man]

Thank you.

[oldman3]

Looks good...Jim

[8man]

Thanks Jim. It felt pretty good for my first attempt at building something like that.

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice Job Robert!

[8man]

Thank you.

[8man]

Yes, it was the Christmas season, but I was still working on the truck.

It really is time to do electrical, so I got really aggressive on this one. I intend to put all of this into this build.
IMG_0964 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
Some of you will recognize the Dakota Digital gauges, but maybe not the cruise stuff or the headlight electronics (just like her car) with automatic on/off and courtesy light delay. Then there is the keyless entry system with push button start. I have been reading installation manuals about 3 hours a day for the last week and I think I'm ready to start connecting wires to these things.

I did start the Kwik Wire harness install.
IMG_0965 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
I have been thinning the wires out that the DD gauges don't need and preparing where all this wire will run.
IMG_0968 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
I'm going to try and run all of the wires down the firewall so I can put a plastic loom cover over them. When they get to the bottom of the fender, I'll start in 3 directions from there, to the front, to the rear and across under the floorboard to the transmission and everything else on the rider's side.

I did have some fun and put the tailgate on with the back lights, everything except the bed roll lights.
IMG_0967 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
Some of you will notice that my driver's side back up light will be slightly covered by the license plate. Lesson learned.

I spent all afternoon looking at different problems, like...
1. I was looking at the headlight buckets and thinking about installing them, but I don't know the trick to getting those little clips on the fender without scraping all the paint off. I'm just before going out and buying some 10x24 button head bolts and just bolting them in place.
2. This is my second wiring job and I'm thinking I'll get the fuse box mounted and pull the wires to wherever they are going and then cut there, after I've routed them so that I can put a loom over them to protect and hide them, and then attaching the connector at that point. Last time I left WAY too much wire under the dash.
3. On the last wire job I soldered everything! I'm thinking I'll use some weather pack connectors on everything outside the cab and use some cheaper connectors inside the cab. I was thinking connectors just in case I had to remove something later.
4. If anyone has used a cruise control kit from DD, I'd be interested in learning where you put that big, heavy box. I looked on the firewall under the hood but think it would be less obnoxious inside the cab, up on the firewall to the right of the brake pedal assembly and over the throttle pedal assembly. I think it will fit, but was looking for some thoughts.

I hope to have some more pictures of "stuff" connected, but I know it'll take some time, but I'll get there.

[OutlawDrifter]

Robert, this part can be tedious!

I would recommend using the nylon loom instead. I used plastic and will eventually go back and do everything again with the nylon that I've been using on everything since.

Most of the wiring stuff I buy, I get from CE Auto Electric Supply. The owner Tony is a great guy and I've received hand written thank yous on my invoice from him.

You've got the right idea to pull it where you need it to go, find the best place to lay it down, and then do the loom last. Using weather packs is a great idea as well. With the great work you've done to this point, I have no doubt you'll nail this part of the project too!

P.S. when running wires under the dash keep the groups together with zipties every 6-8", it will keep it clean and aid in routing.

[8man]

Thanks Drifter. I will look into the nylon as I don't really like the plastic and will contact CE Electric as well.

[8man]

Ok, first off, let me reiterate this, I am learning as I go. So, several months ago, I installed the AC compressor on a Kwik bracket system. It looked right, but this week I started installing the Vintage Air system. As I looked at the hoses, and where they run, I realized the compressor was UPSIDE down! The outlet and inlet were on the bottom. With the radiator full of fluid, I didn't want to pull it, so I went to work, and 3 hours later we have this.
IMG_0970 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
Oh, did I mention that because it is a SBC, there are SAE bolts with the bracket, but metric to the compressor. Yeah, I figured that out as I was trying to get it apart.

In the good news department, I did make some progress over the last few days.

First, the VA is installed under the dash. Not as much fun mounting this by oneself as you might imagine.
IMG_0971 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
No, it is not wired in yet. I took a break from wiring to put in the other stuff I need to wire up so I can see how much room I'm going to have to work with. See the radio in the previous post.

Also, I picked a spot for the cruise control, and mounted it under the dash.
IMG_0972 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
I had to place it where it can control the throttle and then wire it all up. I used the throttle cable hole in the firewall for that. I shortened the pedal assembly and will drill another hole for the throttle cable. When the guys fired it up, they had connected the throttle cable for me. It was at a severe angle and bound up, holding the throttle open at times. I thought that might not work like I wanted so I'll reinstall it so that it works smoother.

I have been running wires, but I haven't taken any pictures of that yet. However, when I get the other three (3) cpu units wired up and mounted, I will take pictures of that!

[OutlawDrifter]

Any progress is good progress, keep going!

[joedoh]

staggeringly beautiful! i love how shiny the green is, especially looking back at the beginning of the thread!

I am always dumping coolant on my floor because of my excitement to get things installed incorrectly, that sickly smell is a good reminder haha. glad you got yours figured.

[youngrodder]

Its funny how you think, I have all sorts of room for activities then you mount he AC, all of the relays and various CPU boxes and you quickly run out of room.

Looking good.

Marc

[rnrdthefox]

I bet you walk into the garage with a smile even on a bad day when things aren't going as planned. Every day would feel like a new day working with everything freshly painted knowing you are working on final assembly items. Jealous

[8man]

Outlaw, you are right, any progress given how long this took just to get painted.

Joe, thank you, I do like the paint, now that it is almost done and I'm only waiting on about 5 small parts.

Youngrodder, exactly why I'm putting stuff in to check for fit and then I'll go back to wiring.

Rnrdthefox, yes, I do. The paint color makes me smile every time I look at it.

Thank you all, it is a journey that is very satisfying.

[oldman3]

Robert, when you get to the point you are now, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and know it was all worth the effort. Coming together nicely...Jim

[8man]

Thanks Jim. I am enjoying going into the garage now.

[8man]

I know it's been a while since I posted any progress, but it was happening - sort of.

I got all the wires run to the far corners of the truck and to the relay box behind the seat and under the dash. Here is some of what happens when I hook up the 20 amp power unit and put it in reverse.

IMG_1011 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

All the lights work, the dome, door locks and radio are all functional, I even got to listen to my Pandora station.

HOWEVER, I went with the Gallo Technologies GTS-3 push button start. I hooked it all up and when I added the 20 amp power, the light flashed green, the key fobs wouldn't do anything and if I tried anything with the electrical system or opened a door, the alarm went off. After almost 2 weeks of trying to get Gallo to talk to me, I finally got them to answer the phone. They said, "it shouldn't do that, mail it back and we will check it out." So, I'm stopped on finishing the electrical again. When I get it back I'll reinstall it and see if it works. I have the Dakota Digital gauges sitting on the work bench waiting to be installed and plugged into the "brain" unit and I have to put the Vintage Air under dash vents and switches in and the inside will be ready.

Then I decided to finish the front, since the lights were working and I needed to do something. I got out the brand new OEM grill and tried to put it in place. Notice I said "tried"! I have read where they don't always fit, but I had no idea the parking lights wouldn't fit without trimming the darn thing. After some Dremel cutting and grinding and a pair of tin snips, this is what I have.

IMG_1012 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Laura is very happy with the front, as am I. Next report after we get back from Sedona in a couple of weeks.

[dsraven]

it looks really good, nice job. good plan to go with the chrome on the dark colored truck.
it sucks that things didn't work out electrically but it gave you time, with no real deadline, to do some other interior work. hopefully the push buton will come back working and labelled as to what wire goes where.
when trimming stuff like you had to on your lights, I sneak a bottle of the wife's clear nail polish to cover the bare metal where I had to dremel a bit. that way it doesn't start to rust right away.

[8man]

Thanks for the suggestion on the nail polish Raven.

I've been spraying some paint into an old plastic spray can top and using a q-tip to paint over the exposed metal. It is a Rustoleum 2K primer/paint so I'm hoping it is doing the job. However, I may have to go shopping for some dark green fingernail paint, or ask the wife to do it so I'm not seen shopping for it.

[dsraven]

haha, yeah. get the wife to take a paint sample with her and bring some clear coat too.
it's like when the wife takes you along shopping and she wants to try something on. the change rooms are usually located right in with the bras and panties so when she goes in you are left there by yourself like some perv. maybe next time I will pick up a few skimpy things and walk around with them and if anybody looks at me weird I'll go "will these make my butt look big?", haha. kidding.
I like taking my wife to an auto parts place and taking my sweet time looking at stuff I totally have no need for or interest in buying. we have a store kinda like harbor freight called princess auto. lots of different stuff in there but they have a "surplus" area with all kinds of different types of things. she likes shopping in that area while I am looking for lights or welding supplies etc. last time I had to go find her when I was done and she was like, "oh, I'm not done looking yet".
now I go there alone.......

[oldman3]

Robert, truck is looking great. Electrical parts can be a pain, when you check to see what you did wrong, and it's the part. Had large problems with my re-pop grill also...Jim

[8man]

Raven, that's hysterical. Thanks for the laugh this morning.

Jim, I'm such a newbie at electrical (my second time) I spent at least 2 days trying to figure out what I did wrong before I started calling Gallo. And thanks for the compliment. Once I did the trimming on the grill, it went in and fits good.

[nvrdone]

raven. thats the best laugh I've had in a long time. Even my wife enjoyed it. Now she understands why I hate going shopping with her.

[OutlawDrifter]

Robert that looks great. Hopefully they can get your system sorted out with a new one!

[8man]

Thanks Drifter.

Raven, the wife is already shopping for fingernail polish!