Matt K. 1964 Impala SS

[skymangs]

This is a customer car. It's in for a complete American Autowire harness, Vintage Gen IV install, shifter install, and some work to the existing air bag setup.

It's a real SS, It's bagged with shockwaves up front, and a brand new 327/700R4 combo.

Wiring is about 90% complete. If anyone is looking for a review on American Autowire installation, it's very frustrating. Every single pin has to be crimped and soldered, including each individual bulb socket in the dash. One of the most time consuming harnesses I have EVER installed! Also, the instructions are on 15 or so loose pages. Each one is sealed in a seperate bag with some sub-component of the harness... lots of head scratching, and digging through countless pages looking for one tiny piece of the puzzle. I managed so squeak through it without calling the company, but I was tempted several times!

[skymangs]

Here's some pics of the dash and instrument cluster going together. My customer is having all LED bulbs installed.

[918733]

Glad I read this because I was considering the American Autowire set up and I dislike electical stuff as it is, another nice job under your belt

[oldman3]

Hey Chris, Jim here, could you tell me what American Autowire kit this one is. I've used American Autowire Highway Series which is one of the easiest to install. Each wire is run individually to the component and then hooked up at the panel. It could be installed in any car, I put it in a 56 Packard, didn't have any problems. If this is for a specific car then I have no knowledge on them. Car looks good, looking forward to more..Jim

[skymangs]

918733; Tha;nks. It is a good harness, just a lot of work.

Jim; the harness box just says 61-64 impala update kit. I've been using ez harnesses for the last 7 years or so. I've been really happy with them, and at a cost of $185, I'll keep using them! 56 Packard, what a car! I have a 53 Clipper Deluxe 2dr sedan, real survivor car. 61k on the clock, been stored indoors since 1967. Paint is thin, but still has a shine!

[skymangs]

Here's another quick batch of photos. AC is almost done, waiting on a couple of fittings to arrive for the low side to the condenser. He will be running inner fenders, so the #6 line won't be hanging out there like a zipline!

[skymangs]

Here's the shifter install. It's a B&M Star shifter, going in the original console.

[oldman3]

Chris, nice job, is the shifter, cable or rod controlled...Jim

[skymangs]

Jim; It's cable shifted.

Working on re-vamping that air ride system now. The owner ordered a train horn (to go on the phantom inner fender). I have removed all the pre-existing air ride items from the trunk (3 gal tank, solenoids, and compressor). I am adding the 1.5gal tank and air compressor (for the train horn) tucked behind the new 5 gal air tank, and hopefully twin 480C compresors. I just don't trust having only one Compressor on something as critical as suspension!

[skymangs]

So the dashboard is all back together, Custom Autosound stereo installed, glove box assembled, and AC is all buttoned up.

[skymangs]

first pic is the old air setup. 3 gal tank with one very small compressor. Since all the lines were already run, and the owner didn't want me to move everything around, I made the best of it. 2nd pic is the new 1.5gal tank and associated compressor etc. for the air powered train horn. Third pic is how I intend to hide that rats nest. New 5 gal tank with twin 480C compressors.

[skymangs]

Here's the previously mentioned train horn. Will get mounted to the pass side inner fender eventually. I'm just setting up the system for him.

[oldman3]

Hey Chris looking good, man that's a LOT of horn...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks Jim... I kinda thought so. Whatever floats his boat, that's what I always say!

More updates... My small part in this project is complete. It goes back to it's owner tomorrow. Everything works, wiring looks clean, shifter looks clean, AC looks clean, I'm happy.

This car now has 6 relays bundled into 3 relay packs. Hi beams, low beams, fan, and one for each of the three compressors.


I always use the RL5 relays from All Electronics, I love the way they clip together, makes them looks so clean. I'll take some more pics tomorrow of the air setup in the trunk, and the rear relay pack.

[oldman3]

Very clean looking, nice job...Jim

[skymangs]

Thanks Jim. Looking like I get some time to dedicate to the 49 this weekend... Snow's in the forecast!