A bonus day…
Hadn't expected to return to the shop today, but when India said she was going to an art show with a friend, and the weather looking gray, I decided to go for it. Glad I did as a lot was accomplished, but we had one set back as well.
When we left, the windshield garnish molding was all in place and the windshield itself "good to go." This morning, I noticed that the LH side was cracked around one of the molding screws. So it all needs to come out and a new piece of glass cut, this one slightly smaller. These cabrio windshield frames are suspect anyway, particularly this one that had accident damage. No a big deal, but a couple more hours of work.
But, new firewall pad in hand, I could finally get the dash together. This one needed a little punching out of the fiber insulation, but nowhere near as much as last time and thus it is much neater in appearance. Did punch the heater holes though. Once done, it was positioned in place and the ignition switch pulled through its hole and mounted to the back of the dash. The coil was then mounted to the firewall to anchor it on that end.
With the ignition switch in place, the wiring harness was then threaded back through the lower left hand slot of the pad. With voltage regulater wires attached and the firewall slot covers were installed to anchor the harness's position so it could be securely fastened inside. Using the wire clips that hold the harness in place, we attached all but one clip to the perimeter of the firewall, making sure it was either over or under whatever obstacle arose. The instrument light switch, which mounts to the lower inner edge of the dash was then mounted.
Next, the throttle cable was attached to the dash and the cable itself threaded through its firewall slot. Gauges came next, first threading the water temperature fitting and the oil line through the firewall and into the engine compartment. The oil line gets a cloth cover, which I had gotten at Vintage Wiring of Maine. It was a little tricky getting the full gauge cluster assembled, but it got done, then mounted into the dash with four bolts. Once done, I could thread the speedometer cable through the firewall and attach it to the back of that gauge. Having run out of wire clips to mount it and the last section of wiring harness, we made up 5 or 6 and painted them black. Too humid to dry fast however, so they will have to wait until next time. Forgot how the wiper vacuum tubing goes, so that will wait until next time. It's a tight fit under there for a tall old guy! Fun work though.
The heater was positioned next and it fit perfectly with the pre-cut pad and firewall holes. It is a Deluxe heater, which draws air in from around the sides, not the back, so it seems to mount flat against the firewall. I think I will remove it and put some spacers in to give it an inch or so of clearance; better to have some ventilation back there to my way of thinking. Looks good though. Note the missing wiring harness clip to the right of it and the covered oil line to the left.
Finally, the glove box door was attached. First the latch mechanism, then the electric clock that Andy gave me and I had rebuilt, were attached to the door. The rebuilder added a plastic inline fuse to the clock, a good thing to prevent future damage to its works, but glaringly unauthentic. Guess I'll leave it though, since it will be hidden under the dash. This operation was completed (for now) by attaching the door hinges to the lower edge of the opening. Two bolts held in place, the door panel adjusted to fit the opening evenly, then all four bolts mounted and tightened. The glove box itself will come later when everything else is in.
I got the instrument and dash panel light bulbs installed, but didn't have time to get the various loose wires attached to their proper terminals. I did order a new authentic Delco battery from Antique Auto Battery in Ohio yesterday, so will install it and power it up next time.
Here's what the dash looked like when I left:
I don't think I will put a radio head in the car, even though I have a nice one, just in case I ever have the car judged, hence to opening. Without the who assemble - box, speaker, antenna - it would not be authentic. So it will get a face plate instead, which I polished but now need to add detail painting.
I also can't put the wiper switch back in until the windshield is fixed.
I sure wish that damned glass hadn't cracked! But a good day nevertheless.
When we left, the windshield garnish molding was all in place and the windshield itself "good to go." This morning, I noticed that the LH side was cracked around one of the molding screws. So it all needs to come out and a new piece of glass cut, this one slightly smaller. These cabrio windshield frames are suspect anyway, particularly this one that had accident damage. No a big deal, but a couple more hours of work.
But, new firewall pad in hand, I could finally get the dash together. This one needed a little punching out of the fiber insulation, but nowhere near as much as last time and thus it is much neater in appearance. Did punch the heater holes though. Once done, it was positioned in place and the ignition switch pulled through its hole and mounted to the back of the dash. The coil was then mounted to the firewall to anchor it on that end.
With the ignition switch in place, the wiring harness was then threaded back through the lower left hand slot of the pad. With voltage regulater wires attached and the firewall slot covers were installed to anchor the harness's position so it could be securely fastened inside. Using the wire clips that hold the harness in place, we attached all but one clip to the perimeter of the firewall, making sure it was either over or under whatever obstacle arose. The instrument light switch, which mounts to the lower inner edge of the dash was then mounted.
Next, the throttle cable was attached to the dash and the cable itself threaded through its firewall slot. Gauges came next, first threading the water temperature fitting and the oil line through the firewall and into the engine compartment. The oil line gets a cloth cover, which I had gotten at Vintage Wiring of Maine. It was a little tricky getting the full gauge cluster assembled, but it got done, then mounted into the dash with four bolts. Once done, I could thread the speedometer cable through the firewall and attach it to the back of that gauge. Having run out of wire clips to mount it and the last section of wiring harness, we made up 5 or 6 and painted them black. Too humid to dry fast however, so they will have to wait until next time. Forgot how the wiper vacuum tubing goes, so that will wait until next time. It's a tight fit under there for a tall old guy! Fun work though.
The heater was positioned next and it fit perfectly with the pre-cut pad and firewall holes. It is a Deluxe heater, which draws air in from around the sides, not the back, so it seems to mount flat against the firewall. I think I will remove it and put some spacers in to give it an inch or so of clearance; better to have some ventilation back there to my way of thinking. Looks good though. Note the missing wiring harness clip to the right of it and the covered oil line to the left.
Finally, the glove box door was attached. First the latch mechanism, then the electric clock that Andy gave me and I had rebuilt, were attached to the door. The rebuilder added a plastic inline fuse to the clock, a good thing to prevent future damage to its works, but glaringly unauthentic. Guess I'll leave it though, since it will be hidden under the dash. This operation was completed (for now) by attaching the door hinges to the lower edge of the opening. Two bolts held in place, the door panel adjusted to fit the opening evenly, then all four bolts mounted and tightened. The glove box itself will come later when everything else is in.
I got the instrument and dash panel light bulbs installed, but didn't have time to get the various loose wires attached to their proper terminals. I did order a new authentic Delco battery from Antique Auto Battery in Ohio yesterday, so will install it and power it up next time.
Here's what the dash looked like when I left:
I don't think I will put a radio head in the car, even though I have a nice one, just in case I ever have the car judged, hence to opening. Without the who assemble - box, speaker, antenna - it would not be authentic. So it will get a face plate instead, which I polished but now need to add detail painting.
I also can't put the wiper switch back in until the windshield is fixed.
I sure wish that damned glass hadn't cracked! But a good day nevertheless.
posted by Bob Shafto at 10:19 AM
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