project 1951 Pontiac Chieftain

[PhilA]

What about powering the gauges & senders off one of the many cheap Chinese adjustable regulator modules to convert down to 6v?

I was thinking about it but I have to pull it to bits to replace the oil pressure gauge.. if I have to do that then I'll just convert it to electric because any old gauge is likely to have the same fault, the senders have been changed anyway and I can't find the correct Pontiac one easily and the fuel tank sender is U/S. So, convert the lot to modern senders and negate the pain while retaining the look and feel of the originals.

 

(Says you, three speedometers later!)

 

Phil

[PhilA]

Was that heating system a special order for colder states or standard? Looking with envy at what you've posted the whole car has features that would be associated with much more recent cars in the UK.

Special order. As was the demister heater and fan unit. And the dipping rear view mirror, and the traffic light viewer, indicators, radio and deluxe interior package (nicer material, two tone door cards with the silver trim). 8 cylinder engine with automatic gearbox was also optional extras, exterior side trim too.

 

Someone checked quite a lot of boxes when they ordered this car.

 

Phil

[SiC]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282867391119

Or (depending on room)

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F253672811529

 

And an Arduino/PIC/etc.

 

You know you want to!

[hairnet]

 8 cylinder engine with automatic gearbox was also optional extras, exterior side trim too.

 

Someone checked quite a lot of boxes when they ordered this car.

 

Phil

what normally? 6 in line - what size?

[PhilA]

what normally? 6 in line - what size?

3.9 straight six. It's basically this engine missing two cylinders.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

New oil can. It's nice.

 

 

Took the spats off the car to clean the rear wheels. Looks quite different without them.

 

 

Lots of crap on the driveway.

 

 

Worth it, quite a satisfying result.

 

 

Phil

[PhilA]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282867391119

Or (depending on room)

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F253672811529

And an Arduino/PIC/etc.

You know you want to!

I would but I already ordered the voice coil gauges. I'm aiming for moderate simplicity on this car.

 

The most I had considered practically is a interior theatre light conversion (stays on for a while after the doors are closed, then fades off).

 

 

Phil

[Asimo]

I had a 6v Beetle with a seperate 12v battery just for the starter.

The 12v battery only needed an overnight charge every few weeks; starting was so quick with the extra starter volts. The engine was an oil burner, absolutely knackered and an impossible bastard to start on the 6v battery.

The starter motor had a MUCH easier life with double volts.

[PhilA]

Yeah, this one has no trouble at all. It's rare to have to hold the starter on for more than a second, usually a quick flick and it's running.

 

Electric fuel pump has a lot to do with that also.

 

 

Phil

[PhilA]

New gauges have shipped from that there India this morning via FedEx.

 

Apparently they'll be here before October.

 

Quite impressive really. Especially so for $29 delivered; I guess I'll see if it was folly or financial sense to have bought them when they get here and I pull them to bits.

[PhilA]

Also went in to investigate the spiderweb in the front of the car (will need to spray for bugs now, looks like a brown widow web, and I do not need one of those up inside the dashboard) and found the fourth green lens circle for the gearshift indicator under the front seat. It must have fallen out when I undid the mechanism. I'll put that back in when I fix the bulb.

 

Phil

[DodgeRover]

New gauges have shipped from that there India this morning via FedEx.

 

Apparently they'll be here before October.

 

Quite impressive really. Especially so for $29 delivered; I guess I'll see if it was folly or financial sense to have bought them when they get here and I pull them to bits.

Did you tell them what sensor ranges they needed to work for? I messaged about at set of specials and they were confident they could do them at the same price, the gauges from India are common on tractors apparently and I haven't heard any moaning.

[PhilA]

Yup, all standard VDO ranges (VW I think).

 

I bought the gauges based on the premise I'm changing the sensors.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

Is it time yet?

 

 

Pulled the clock apart because it was filthy.

 

 

It's a Jaeger movement inside and putting a battery on it makes it tick. I should be able to run this one through a resistor.

 

 

It's also freaking awesome when it's lit up.

 

 

Looks much nicer back in the dash, too.

 

 

Phil

[hairnet]

Is it time yet?

 

20180914_171413.jpg

 

Pulled the clock apart because it was filthy.

 

20180914_171441.jpg

 

It's a Jaeger movement inside and putting a battery on it makes it tick. I should be able to run this one through a resistor.

 

20180914_181110.jpg

 

It's also freaking awesome when it's lit up.

 

20180914_181837.jpg

 

Looks much nicer back in the dash, too.

 

 

Phil

jimmy buffett

[Tamworthbay]

Also went in to investigate the spiderweb in the front of the car (will need to spray for bugs now, looks like a brown widow web, and I do not need one of those up inside the dashboard) and found the fourth green lens circle for the gearshift indicator under the front seat. It must have fallen out when I undid the mechanism. I'll put that back in when I fix the bulb.

Phil

My brother lives in the states and has told me about a few of the precautions he has had to take because of spiders, even when doing stuff like getting a new fridge when he was in Tucson, what a different world. Over here if you get a web you wipe it off with your hand or give a blast with WD40 if you are wuss.

[PhilA]

Yup. As a rule, you don't reach into any space you've not thoroughly inspected. Adult brown widow web will make your fingers sting too if you grab it.

 

An angry one will put you in the hospital at best or a coffin if it gets you properly.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

Just thinking on appropriate circuits to use to drive the clock. I think I'll transistorize the contact points.

 

Before any of you complain, this is as much a safety feature as a convenience; if the points jam, these clocks seem to have a habit of going up in smoke.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

 

Decided to nix the electronic points deal; this circuit will kinda protect the clock from drawing too much current.

 

I've cleaned and lubricated it, adjusted the points and it's quietly ticking away on my desk.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

Went outside to put a bit more oil on some of the cables and mechanisms. Ended up seeing if the paint would hold a shine up front.

 

 

Not too bad. I think I do need a machine polisher though, that there was hard work just by itself...

 

 

Phil

[Noel Tidybeard]

mmmmmmm shiney

[purplebargeken]

It all looks so frickin' awesome.

[PhilA]

 

Can you find it? (Camera focused on the wires not the critter)

 

 

Happy dance! (Also please note accessorizing shirt sent by my mother as a gift, which is a better color match than the paint repair on the rear door).

 

 

Gotcha, ya bastard.

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: Also be scared at the wiring. Though, be impressed by the standard accessory fuse box. I have the lid for it, too!

 

Phil

[somewhatfoolish]

That wiring is giving me teh fearz; the only way it could be scarier is if the insulation was made of whatever they make firework fuses from dipped in wax.

[Guest Hooli]

Wiring looks fine* to me

[purplebargeken]

Eeeeek! For spider and fuse box.

[PhilA]

I am going to check again after breakfast there are no more- those ones are usually solitary and fight any intruders.

 

I mostly need to make sure there aren't any egg thingies hanging up in the wiring. Now I know where the thing was stalking from the egg things won't be far away if there are any. I think that one got inside recently though.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

I may also pull the hood release cable out. It's jammed in an amusing* fashion, and the end has come off.

 

Therefore oiling it hasn't helped any (unlike the ventilation flaps ones surprisingly) so I may just pull the whole thing out, straighten the bent bits then fight for hours trying to get it to go back inside the spring outer.

 

Probably to find then it's too short

 

 

Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

Phil

[PhilA]

Tried to pull hood release with pliers. No joy. Continuing to oil it up.

 

Gauges are making good progress, they cleared customs in Tennessee this morning.

 

I guess I need to try and figure out how the dash comes out...

 

There also appears to be a defecit of spider inside the cabin. I am happy. Oiled up the screws that hold the heater box together, going to try pull that apart at some point to see how it works and why it was disconnected from the plumbing.

 

 

Phil

[DodgeRover]

There also appears to be a defecit of spider inside the cabin. I am happy.

 

Phil

Is this because the snakes ate all the spiders?