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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Dash, Headlights and Wiring

I accomplished a lot of things this week.  It started with the installation of a new speaker.


I re-painted the speaker grill with Por-15 Chassis Coat Black.  It's satin and turned out very nice.


The clock was re-installed using 2 special clips.  They hold the clock and insure proper grounding.


I purchased a new glove box (upper left).  All the metal components were media blasted and painted with Por15.  The glove box door is unique to 1963 and ours is original but it's condition is horrible.  It can't be saved, at least not by me.  I'll be watching for a better one.  


Our 1963 door has missing pieces, holes drilled at the top, cracks and scratches everywhere.


I installed the glove box and frame then remembered...


I have a 64 (or later) door that didn't sell at the Portland Swap Meet.  I reconditioned it with Por15 and installed it temporarily.  It's not a 63, it has a couple dents, but it will do for now.


Not too bad.


I installed the windshield washer spray heads and used Rivet Nuts to fasten the wiper grills.


I coupled the Flaming River steering column to the steering box with a beautiful polished stainless steel universal joint.  The spline counts will vary by year.  Mine is a 3/4" 36  X 3/4" 36.  It took me too tries to get it right.


Here is a better picture of the blinker and tilt levers I modified to make look like  original.


The headlight wiring harness was finally installed.  I had to remove the grill and bumpers for access.    In this picture you can see the running lights are now working. 


 Viewed from below are the two headlight bucket motors.  They are installed and wired.


Also installed are the two horns.  GM horns in the 60's were identical between most models.  The difference is the bracket and orientation of the horn.  An original set of working horns for a 1963 fuelie would set you back about $1500, but you can't find them.  Mine are from a Skylark.  The horns sound like a 63 Corvette, they're orientated properly, but the mounts are slightly different.  I am good with it.



I also installed the headlights.  Here they are tucked up under the nose.


Here they are in the open position.  Ty had spent a lot of time refurbishing these so they were simple to install.  They still get bezels but they're not yet painted.


So, after all of this work, do you know what time it is?  Check out these videos.











2 comments:

  1. This is fun watching this come together. The speaker cover looks much better. Can't wait for Cool Desert Nights. Do you have one of those big posters with before and after thing, people will just be amaised.

    Max

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  2. Max, yes I will have one of those posters at Cool Desert Nights. I will also display the trophies for Best Work in Progress and I will also display my book. It is a hard back book of this blog that I had printed about half way through the build. The book has always been a great talking point. You should try to make it back for CDN this year.

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