ThreeTimeTom
Member
Congratulations!!!
Sterling #S009
- Thread starter Brett Proctor
- Start date
Excellent! See, easy as that. 
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Took the car out today to check some things out.
Tested the AC, Checked out if the speedometer is working properly after the speed sensor was changed out and if the car tracks straight with the steering wheel in the neutral position..
AC works better than planned, Speedometer works as it should now, but some adjustments to the front end alignment were needed. Made those adjustments but haven't checked to see it if it made a difference. Maybe later today I'll take the car back out to see if the adjustments made a difference.
Tested the AC, Checked out if the speedometer is working properly after the speed sensor was changed out and if the car tracks straight with the steering wheel in the neutral position..
AC works better than planned, Speedometer works as it should now, but some adjustments to the front end alignment were needed. Made those adjustments but haven't checked to see it if it made a difference. Maybe later today I'll take the car back out to see if the adjustments made a difference.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
One slight issue I had when lowering the pressure.
It lowered the front of the car enough to scrape when going in and out of the driveway.
I tried it.
When these tires need to be replaced, I think I'll go with a higher profile tire.
Got the alignment sorted out today and at this point in time there are no issues with the car. Everything works as it should.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Its official
Finally got plates for the car. As mentioned in a previous post I didn't get the personalized plates I wanted but thats ok. Maybe I'll get them later
Kind of a funny story
A few days ago my kid came over with the grand daughter so she could go swimming.
He mention about going for a ride in the car but it being 110* outside I thought he was joking.
About 30 minutes later he brought it up again and said he was serious.
So we got in the car and as I was closing the canopy I told him he better remove his hat. He got a first hand experience of how much space there isn't in the car.
Any way I turned the AC on and we took off. Down the road a ways I noticed the AC wasn't putting out much air. I thought, great what is it now. Farther down the road my kid mention how cold his legs were getting. Looking at the AC controls the diverter switch that controls the direction of the air from top vents to lower vents had moved and was directing air to the lower vents
Switched it back to upper vents only and all was good.
Finally got plates for the car. As mentioned in a previous post I didn't get the personalized plates I wanted but thats ok. Maybe I'll get them later
Kind of a funny story
A few days ago my kid came over with the grand daughter so she could go swimming.
He mention about going for a ride in the car but it being 110* outside I thought he was joking.
About 30 minutes later he brought it up again and said he was serious.
So we got in the car and as I was closing the canopy I told him he better remove his hat. He got a first hand experience of how much space there isn't in the car.
Any way I turned the AC on and we took off. Down the road a ways I noticed the AC wasn't putting out much air. I thought, great what is it now. Farther down the road my kid mention how cold his legs were getting. Looking at the AC controls the diverter switch that controls the direction of the air from top vents to lower vents had moved and was directing air to the lower vents
Switched it back to upper vents only and all was good.
I’m so jealous of your working AC. That is maybe one of the biggest improvements anyone can do to a Sterling.
Congrats that it is officially legal!!
Congrats that it is officially legal!!
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Putting together a HVAC system in the car took a lot of experimenting, time, and money with a variety of units that I thought would work, Only to find out they didn't.
Didn't want to go with one of those aftermarket kits that hang under the dash. Those are just ugly and connecting the vent lines into the cars dash vent system just would make the car look like no thought was used in installing it. Vent lines hanging all over the place. I wanted something that looked and operated like it was meant and belonged in the car.
And then after I thought something had a chance of working, finding a control panel that would work with the unit and fit in the car was a challenge.
Just nothing really was working
Then Just by pure luck I found the unit I'm using.
Who would have thought to looked for a HVAC unit in the center console of a car. Not me that's for sure.
I saw the controls for the unit in the console and thought "what the heck is that to"
After investigating and taking the console apart (tracing the wires back) I discovered it went to a HVAC unit that was for the back of the car.
It had everything that I was looking for, the unit was small and compact and the controls would fit just about anywhere, plus I could control what direction to route the air. (even a defrost system)
An added bonus was you can control the heat independently from the left side to the right side. Not that it was something I would ever consider, but it had that feature
The challenge was on. How to make it work with the other systems in the car.
First step was to just getting the blower to work. That took time figuring that out.
Thanks guys
Got to go grand daughter just got here
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Not much posting is going on so I thought I'd break up the boredom.
So what have I been up to.
Well just tying up loose ends.
One thing I'm working on is the turn signal system.
Because I used LED lights the turning flasher goes into hyper mode and at the time my solution was to add a resistor to the circuit to stop it from happening.
It works great except that the resistor produces a lot of heat which isn't a problem when just the turn signal is used but when the running lights are on the resistor doesn't get a break.
Its in a spot that isn't affected from the heat but it does bother me so I looked for a solution.
Apparently there is a flasher specifically made for LED turn signals and operates under the low current draw. Problem is they don't make it in the configuration of the relay that my car uses.
My car uses the micro relays
The relay fix for LED turn signals looks like this
So I guess I need to make some kind of an adapter so the LED relay will connect into the micro relay plug and then the turn signals should work as they should without that resistor in the line. (I hope)
So what have I been up to.
Well just tying up loose ends.
One thing I'm working on is the turn signal system.
Because I used LED lights the turning flasher goes into hyper mode and at the time my solution was to add a resistor to the circuit to stop it from happening.
It works great except that the resistor produces a lot of heat which isn't a problem when just the turn signal is used but when the running lights are on the resistor doesn't get a break.
Its in a spot that isn't affected from the heat but it does bother me so I looked for a solution.
Apparently there is a flasher specifically made for LED turn signals and operates under the low current draw. Problem is they don't make it in the configuration of the relay that my car uses.
My car uses the micro relays
The relay fix for LED turn signals looks like this
So I guess I need to make some kind of an adapter so the LED relay will connect into the micro relay plug and then the turn signals should work as they should without that resistor in the line. (I hope)
ThreeTimeTom
Member
Your journey continues. Let us know how you solve this issue.
I am sure all of us who have followed your build would like to see more photos of your exceptional work.
I am sure all of us who have followed your build would like to see more photos of your exceptional work.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
New relays have been ordered
What would you like for pictures??
Just some random shots or do you have something in particular that you want pictures of?
ThreeTimeTom
Member
It would be great to see as many of your personal touches to both the interior, exterior and the engine area.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
This will take a little time.
I'll have to think about all the things I've done and make a list of them, plus have pictures of the changes.
I tried to keep changes to bolt on changes. No butchering and cutting the body up, No ridicules over powering engine implants.
To make body parts that bolt on, building those parts required some effort, time, imagination and money but it was fun. And the input from others telling me what works and what doesn't
I'll have to think about all the things I've done and make a list of them, plus have pictures of the changes.
I tried to keep changes to bolt on changes. No butchering and cutting the body up, No ridicules over powering engine implants.
To make body parts that bolt on, building those parts required some effort, time, imagination and money but it was fun. And the input from others telling me what works and what doesn't
ThreeTimeTom
Member
15 years. Time flies when you are having fun.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
OK Tom what your asking for is no easy task, but I'll attempt to give a break down of the car.
This will be broken down in sections of the car and in different posts to make it easy on me.
First the body.
Color is a Toyota speedway blue
Redesigned hood. I incorporated an air extractor vent to help pull air out from the radiator.
Pop Up Headlights are from a 1996 firebird. The reason they are not centered between the hood and edge of the car is because the manual adjusters for raising and lowering the lights would be a pain to get to if I did it that way.
Air extractor vents over the wheel well. I was waiting for items to come in and just got bored waiting for them to arrive, so just to keep busy I put those in for no real reason.
Front turn signals are from a Cadillac Catera
Lower front redesign. Directs air into the radiator. Does such a good job that at highway speeds the fan doesn't turn on, even when testing in the hot tempts we have here.
Fog lights are from a 2000 Mustang
Rear view mirrors are from a Subaru XT. Saw these and thought they matched the crisp edges of the cars lines
Redesigned the side windows. These were suppose to be tempered glass but the place that made them for me messed up the large section so I reinstalled the Lexan windows that I made for mockup purposes. Windows are power operated. Eventually I may have tempered ones made but for now that will have to wait. Those tempered ones that didn't fit I had to toss (expensive) I had to eat the cost.
Installed a contact board so I didn't have to run ugly wiring into the canopy. Yes when the canopy is open nothing in the canopy works but I'm ok with that
Also as you can see, I redesigned the canopy lifting arms
Fresh air intakes go into the cabin not the engine bay. Blower motor controls the amount of air that enters.
Gas cover is out of a Jaguar. Don't remember the year or model. Operates by power push button or manual release
Filler neck is out of a 2000 (+-) Mustang
Thats enough for now
If you want more I'll continue latter (maybe tomorrow. Depends, I may have the grand daughter)
ThreeTimeTom
Member
Thank you. I’m sure all our members appreciate seeing your work.
Your build is truly exceptional!!!
Your build is truly exceptional!!!
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Continuation of body mods
This back spoiler was inspired by Roger
He was building these and I had some spare time and had the material to make one so I thought I would take a shot at making one.
Engine cover
Redesigned the back
New bottom section, different tail lights (3 function rear bumper lights from a Honda fit) and added a small rear spoiler. Tried other designs but found this looked like it belonged on the car.
Backup rear sonar was also added
To keep some of the nostalgia of when the car was made I installed a retractable radio antenna. (1990 300Z)
Side marker is from a 2000 Volvo S40
Redesigned canopy lifting arms. Made from stainless steel and used a power assist unit from a 2003 Town and Country. (allows easy access with or without power) Not the cleanest install but the install was dragging on and I just wanted it finish so I could move on to other things. So instead of fixing the little things to make it a clean install I just called it done since it was working with no issues.
Redesigned the side pods. Didn't care how the stock pod tucked under the car
17" wheels with 0 offset. Should have gone with a 1" offset (outward) Nobody gave any details on the offset of wheels to use so I went with 0 offset.(had an issue with 0 offset) I added a 1" spacer to the front.
Using no spacer and 0 offset the rims would hit the suspension arms in full lock position
I think thats it for the body mods
This back spoiler was inspired by Roger
He was building these and I had some spare time and had the material to make one so I thought I would take a shot at making one.
Engine cover
Redesigned the back
New bottom section, different tail lights (3 function rear bumper lights from a Honda fit) and added a small rear spoiler. Tried other designs but found this looked like it belonged on the car.
Backup rear sonar was also added
To keep some of the nostalgia of when the car was made I installed a retractable radio antenna. (1990 300Z)
Side marker is from a 2000 Volvo S40
Redesigned canopy lifting arms. Made from stainless steel and used a power assist unit from a 2003 Town and Country. (allows easy access with or without power) Not the cleanest install but the install was dragging on and I just wanted it finish so I could move on to other things. So instead of fixing the little things to make it a clean install I just called it done since it was working with no issues.
Redesigned the side pods. Didn't care how the stock pod tucked under the car
17" wheels with 0 offset. Should have gone with a 1" offset (outward) Nobody gave any details on the offset of wheels to use so I went with 0 offset.(had an issue with 0 offset) I added a 1" spacer to the front.
Using no spacer and 0 offset the rims would hit the suspension arms in full lock position
I think thats it for the body mods
That was a really nice summary of those aspects of your car. Thanks for taking time to do that.
I feel guilty adding to the list of requests but I’d love to know and see a little more about your canopy lift system. I know the most general stuff about it but I think you were mainly working on that during the Dark Ages of this site when it was down for a while so it never really got documented here. I see the reminder up above that you are using the actuator from a liftgate but I’m curious about it’s all mounted and linked up. And hey, if it’s too much work, no worries.
I feel guilty adding to the list of requests but I’d love to know and see a little more about your canopy lift system. I know the most general stuff about it but I think you were mainly working on that during the Dark Ages of this site when it was down for a while so it never really got documented here. I see the reminder up above that you are using the actuator from a liftgate but I’m curious about it’s all mounted and linked up. And hey, if it’s too much work, no worries.