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Sterling #130 (aka American V8 ~ Chapter 2)

nbb350

nbb350

Member
regarding picking parts out of the junkyard...I've done that and learned that it usually isn't worth my time and effort for the small stuff - Amazon is much easier to browse and they deliver! Plus, the parts are new, clean and warrantied instead of covered in decades of grease and may not even work.

Speaking of Amazon, in addition to a few more misc parts, I ordered some connectors and wire loom - delivered in SIX boxes! Not sure how Amazon can still make money with Free Prime Shipping when they send out that many boxes...



We had a nice weekend here (low 30s), so I flipped on the garage furnace and cranked the stereo and got to work!
Light harnesses are done, here is the rear:


And now I'm working on the column/firewall/front end connections:


Unfortunately, the one part I'm not having any luck in finding online anywhere is the main harness side connector for the windshield wiper motor. I found one source online, but he sells used harnesses with either 3 or 4 wires - for $25+s&h each. Even *I* might head to the junkyard for that part...plus, I need 5 wires anyways.

Anybody ever found an online source for the connector into which I can plug one of these:
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
I have a flat-5 pole connector in my new kit that I've been tempted to solder onto the wires, but if I ever have to replace that wiper switch the connector on the end of the wires has to be able to pull thru the internal gap inside the column - and the flat-5 connector I have won't fit thru the gap. That would mean clipping the connector off to pull the switch out and then either soldering on a new connector while laying on my back under the dash...or pulling the steering column out.

yes, I realize the chance of having to replace a brand new wiper switch would probably only happen somewhere between "winning the lottery" and "flying pigs", but it has become an OCD issue now. :D

my current thought is to buy another turn signal connector (main harness side CAN be purchased) and clip the sides off so the wiper connector can plug into it. i THINK that would work...

i have time to look though...they're forecasting single digits for the near future - no garage work until the next "heat wave"! *laugh*
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
letterman7 said:
something like this 6-Pole Square Trailer Wiring Connector Kit (Car and Trailer Ends) Hopkins Wiring 37995
Click to expand...

btw, I bought a bunch of molded connectors like these and started using them in my wiring harness...until I tried to put one together (not easy) and then take it back apart again (damn near impossible without pliers and a screwdriver). that's when I went to amazon and bought these:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Pins-Waterproof-Electrical-Wire-Connector/dp/B00DREUQNM/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1423587219&sr=1-6&keywords=2+pin+connector]Amazon.com : 5 Kit 2 Pins Waterproof Electrical Wire Connector Plug : Automotive Electronic Security Products : Electronics[/ame]

more money & work up front, but worth the ease of use in the end. (IMHO) *thumbs up*
 
letterman7

letterman7

Honorary Admin
Yep.. single digits here this weekend as well. Went and bought myself a propane torpedo heater. We'll see if that works and if I can work with the noise it'll generate!
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
Not much new to report...still too damn cold in the garage to work, plus I caught the inevitable winter cough/runny nose, so I'm using that as an excuse to binge-watch tv shows in the evenings. :D

I sent out a few RFQs (with a detailed and dimensioned CAD file) for a custom radiator the other day and just got my last response. Wow...they range from $330 (Howe Racing Enterprises in Michigan) to $700 (Griffin Radiator in South Carolina). Howe obviously gets the work, but not just because of their low price - they were also the only ones to ask questions and refine my design over the phone.

Why a custom radiator, you ask? Well, i based my mockup and mounts on the radiator and AC condenser out of a Ford Bronco II (it was about the right size and FREE). But the Bronco radiator flows the wrong way and has a filler neck and integral tranny cooler - neither of which I need. The new custom radiator will attach to the mounts I designed, but transfer the loads to the tanks - not the core (their design refinement). It will also add a NPT bung for a fan temp switch and an angled inlet bib to work better with the sloping hood.

The final product will be similar to this:
gri-1-55222-h_ml.jpg
 
Last edited:
letterman7

letterman7

Honorary Admin
Of course, with a built in transmission cooler, you then also have a ready heat source for the car if you aren't adding a/c with a built in heater core.
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
Well, I haven't got the radiator yet, but apparently it's already in production! What have got though is two calls from the guy building it asking me questions about my design regarding their shop tolerances. Rick & Jim have been great to work with so far! <knock on wood> *thumbs up*
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
New toy sitting on the front porch when I got home today:
20150309_195026_zpsghp9t1mm.jpg


and the best part is, it FITS!! (barely)
20150309_195554_zpswmbs5vbe.jpg

20150309_195602_zpsqudthemi.jpg

20150309_195725_zpsh3xktzxf.jpg


I'm going to have to make a new hole for the lower radiator hose and relocate some AC parts, but I think it'll work. This was as small as they could make it without going "too small" - there were "increments" I had to work around with the core sizes. So shiny! :D


Over the last week I also managed to get the wiper connector problem fixed; I bought a couple turnsignal/column connectors (options are 3 7/8" or 4 1/4"...depends on the generation of column) and it fit into one of them:
20150307_123356_zps6eo2w2qk.jpg


And installed the firewall connector:
20150307_123528_zps2bjezvln.jpg
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
Sigh...still plugging away at the electrical system. Last night I had to extend the wiring harnesses of the linear actuators. I laid everything out, made a plan, and followed the plan to the letter. As I sat back to admire my work, I realized that my plan was flawed...by about 12". Time to get out the wire cutters and add a splice to my beautiful new harness. dammit...just had to vent. *humpf*
 
Peter

Peter

Active member
nbb350 said:
Sigh...still plugging away at the electrical system. Last night I had to extend the wiring harnesses of the linear actuators. I laid everything out, made a plan, and followed the plan to the letter. As I sat back to admire my work, I realized that my plan was flawed...by about 12". Time to get out the wire cutters and add a splice to my beautiful new harness. dammit...just had to vent. *humpf*
Click to expand...
Vent away, I just realised I have wired the 14 foot long trunk popper wire in with the 'rear to dash' loom up the right side when I meant to run it across to the rear of the left door and a button, Grrrr.*very frustrated*
 
N

Nic

Active member
I'm with ya. I looked at the wiring under my dash last night as I tried to track down a problem and thought "There has GOT to be a better way to wire this damned thing."
 
nbb350

nbb350

Member
Fun weekend...lots of wiring. First off, I have WAY too many boxes marked "Sterling Parts" in my garage and shop...look what I found stuffed in a bag in a box (connectors for my tail and side marker lights):
20150329_153735_zpsujv18qxc.jpg


Plus, that Highway 22 wiring kit has so much stuff in it, I don't know what's in there until I get to a certain step in the process...like finding out they included the connectors for a GM HEI ignition, even though the diagrams only show coils or ignition modules. Or discovering that I can consolidate the two instrument cluster harnesses into one and have a "spare" connector that would have fit my column wiper switch perfectly!
20150329_153934_zpsg8ma1uj6.jpg


what's another $40 worth of spare parts on the shelf? just a "drop in the bucket" at this point in the project! *humpf*

quick pic of the under-dash wiring:
20150329_150856_zpscdcl0oty.jpg


snaking wire into the back end:
20150329_150814_zpsqs1e7als.jpg


and my "spare wire pile" *laugh*
20150329_150843_zpsmmnrm6qf.jpg
 
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