Atlanta Uniques - May need Advice

patrija · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 08:06 PM

Hey you "Unique guys"

... got some new Autometer gauges and a new dash on the way from Alan, so may need some assistance/advice on wiring this stuff up. Already dropped a line to Chill. I'll let you know!

ToyCollector · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 09:53 PM

Jason, I assume you are replacing existing guages? Happy to help you out. I won't get into what I had to do here, but again, happy to give advice as your situation was likely better than mine with ripped out guages and no labelling. Luckily my manufacturer follwed their wiring harness colors.

GeorgiaSnake · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 06:03 AM

Jason tag the wires as you take them off the existing gauges. It should be a snap to make the changes. Sounds like a project we all need to watch.

Football is over - baseball hasn't started - plenty of free time.

If you are trying to keep up with TC (number of projects) you will need to remove your brake calipars, take the differental apart, pull the hood, take the motor out of Wendy's car, rip the siding off your house. start reroofing your house and every other house within walking distance, paint the garage floor (without moving the cars), swap the motors of your bikes then look around and see if anything is still unmolested and in need of modification.

Randy

patrija · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 09:53 AM

Only small projects this year, so I'm not threat to TC's project manhood. Although I've had a financially dangerous conversation with Jim Highland at Bilstein Shocks ...

I'm hoping to have my dash removed this evening and will tape/mark each gauges wires for hopefully easy replacement. I'll let you know how it goes. New Autometers are here and dash should be on the way from Gadsden soon.

chill · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:21 PM

I was just thinking about the weekend... should I go by Jason's and drink beer while he works (sparks, potential bloodloss) or go by TC's and drink beer while he works (sparks, potential bloodloss)... decisions decisions....

patrija · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:36 PM

I suspect that TC's "shop" would be much more exciting.

I did make progress today - old dash is removed and wires are marked. Gauges have arrived, just waiting on the new dash. Hopefully if will be here by the weekend. Unfortunately, now that I have the car apart, I'm looking at other things I've wanted to fix - rerouting the speedometer cable and cleaning up engine bay wiring.

patrija · #7 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 07:37 PM

I'm almost done my dash replacement project that has turned into a "rewire 90% of the car" exercise. New dash and gauges are installed and wired; MSD box, solenoid, and related wiring are moved off the passenger footbox; and changed to Powermaster 1 wire alternator.

Everything appears to be working right .... EXCEPT that car will turn over but won't start now. I have Monday off (President's Day), so going to check ignition setup, spark, etc tomorrow.

GeorgiaSnake · #8 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 07:53 PM

Which wire did you run to the coil? That's the round thing with the big wire coming out of the top of it

Randy

ToyCollector · #9 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 08:28 PM

I assume you disconnected the ignition switch wires. Are all your prongs used on the switch? If not, run the ignition wire to one of the other available prongs. Don't ask how I know these things?

patrija · #10 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 05:59 AM

Been in the garage since 7:30 am - hoping to put this thing to bed today. Nice to have a holiday on Monday. I'll check the ignition switch TC - I used the same one as before and hooked up the same way, so hopefully should be OK there. I do have spark but saw some arcing on top of the coil when removed the plug wire from the coil to the distributor, so going to get a new coil to see if that makes a difference.

chill · #11 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 07:21 AM

Make sure the white wire out of the MSD box is not grounded.

patrija · #12 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 08:12 AM

Think I taped that off, but I'll check it. Headed out to auto parts store for a new coil (maybe a cheap fix?). Thanks!

patrija · #13 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 10:43 AM

Turns out the postive wire's round connector for the coil had cut the rubber between the postive post and the spark plug connector. Talked to MSD and they said that is causing the arcing I saw on top of the coil and therefore inconsistent spark. New coil ... and HOUSTON ... WE HAVE IGNITION! Now to put everything back together.

chill · #14 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 10:59 AM

..and the weather's just perfect for a test drive

patrija · #15 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 03:48 PM

Guess what ... sun came out and went for a quick test drive. All gauges work and car's put back together.

Summary: New dash and gauges. Removed 2 large wire looms that were coming through the firewall and filled hole with chrome plugs. Cleaned up the passenger footbox and wiring by moving MSD ignition and solenoid. Replaced external voltage regulator and alternator with a Powermaster 1-wire chrome. Had to run the water temp gauge over the intake for now, but will run under car once I get a longer sender from Autometer.

GeorgiaSnake · #16 (**permalink**) 02-21-2005, 05:48 PM

Good job Jason - Now you can join us and show off that new motor. Next weekend looks like we may have at least one good day.

Randy

chill · #17 (**permalink**) 02-22-2005, 09:00 AM

Congrats!

patrija · #18 (**permalink**) 02-23-2005, 08:25 PM

Thanks guys, it was a fairly big project (at least for me) and a lot of fun. I'll probably have the Cobra down out Southern at the end of next week to get a new oil pan, mine was dented by a huge rock in the road during the warm days in January.

Clyde - Thanks for the info on Robinson Racing. I talked to them today and they're happy (excited?) to work on the car when I get the new bilsteins and hypercoils. Plan to take the car to a local shop on Friday to get t up in the air to get some suspension measurements I need (distance between eyes, bolt sizes, etc.) before ordering.