She Followed Me Home, Honest
07-29-14, 03:50 PM
#1251
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07-29-14, 08:18 PM
#1252
Yes, it is, although I find it embarrassing and slightly pathetic to admit it.
How I utterly and completely failed to make the first two attempts work is a mystery because after all, the wipers are about as rudimentary a circuit as the car will have.
Although I built a completely new harness (again), there was nothing different from the first two tries that would explain today's success.
Oh well, on to bigger and better things.
I housesit again this weekend (S.'s family be camping fools!) and the three day stint should easily see the chassis harness finished.
Actually, one day should pretty much do it but we know how that goes.
Unlike the chassis harness, which I basically made up as I went along, we're prepping a schematic for the engine harness as we once again jettison all the stock components for upgraded replacements. Sigfrid is handling that.
S. broke down and ordered a white faced NC gauge cluster, which he's loved since we put one in the FD. Beside filling a hole in the dash it's pretty much useless to me though. Assuming we get the corresponding sensors, the water temp and oil pressure gauges will function but the fuel level, speedo and tach will not.
I'm not sure what I'll do with that.
How I utterly and completely failed to make the first two attempts work is a mystery because after all, the wipers are about as rudimentary a circuit as the car will have.
Although I built a completely new harness (again), there was nothing different from the first two tries that would explain today's success.
Oh well, on to bigger and better things.
I housesit again this weekend (S.'s family be camping fools!) and the three day stint should easily see the chassis harness finished.
Actually, one day should pretty much do it but we know how that goes.
Unlike the chassis harness, which I basically made up as I went along, we're prepping a schematic for the engine harness as we once again jettison all the stock components for upgraded replacements. Sigfrid is handling that.
S. broke down and ordered a white faced NC gauge cluster, which he's loved since we put one in the FD. Beside filling a hole in the dash it's pretty much useless to me though. Assuming we get the corresponding sensors, the water temp and oil pressure gauges will function but the fuel level, speedo and tach will not.
I'm not sure what I'll do with that.
07-30-14, 09:43 AM
#1253
Denver's weather took a rare turn to cold/wet today (highs in the 60's), which doesn't affect me since I'm just hanging till Friday but did lead me to think of our timetable.
Given our working conditions (a small unheated garage), we are quite dependent on ambient temp and I figure we have about 90 days of "reasonable" weather left to work on any temp restricted jobs.
Stuff like fixing and respraying the front body panels, installing dynomat and interior plastic...all best done in warm temps. Purely mechanical work/assembly can be done anytime (ignoring the personal discomfort) but you can't paint in the snow.
Ninety days sounds like a lot but keep in mind that Sigfrid only gets one day a weekend to spend with the project, so at best, that's 12 working days from him. I can work whenever I want but the commute time and gas expenses mount up and are a limiting factor.
Point being, when approaching a project like this weather needs to be considered and factored into the schedule.
Given our working conditions (a small unheated garage), we are quite dependent on ambient temp and I figure we have about 90 days of "reasonable" weather left to work on any temp restricted jobs.
Stuff like fixing and respraying the front body panels, installing dynomat and interior plastic...all best done in warm temps. Purely mechanical work/assembly can be done anytime (ignoring the personal discomfort) but you can't paint in the snow.
Ninety days sounds like a lot but keep in mind that Sigfrid only gets one day a weekend to spend with the project, so at best, that's 12 working days from him. I can work whenever I want but the commute time and gas expenses mount up and are a limiting factor.
Point being, when approaching a project like this weather needs to be considered and factored into the schedule.
08-01-14, 07:55 AM
#1254
OK, this is weird.
I'll be leaving for Sigfrid's soon and just went out to load some stuff in my car and...there's a big white trash bag sitting next to my car.
Inside are a complete set of S4 tail lights...housings, harness, gaskets, the whole shebang.
No note or explanation.
I have no idea.
I'll be leaving for Sigfrid's soon and just went out to load some stuff in my car and...there's a big white trash bag sitting next to my car.
Inside are a complete set of S4 tail lights...housings, harness, gaskets, the whole shebang.
No note or explanation.
I have no idea.
08-01-14, 05:48 PM
#1256
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ok, this is weird.
I'll be leaving for sigfrid's soon and just went out to load some stuff in my car and...there's a big white trash bag sitting next to my car.
Inside are a complete set of s4 tail lights...housings, harness, gaskets, the whole shebang.
No note or explanation.
I have no idea.
I'll be leaving for sigfrid's soon and just went out to load some stuff in my car and...there's a big white trash bag sitting next to my car.
Inside are a complete set of s4 tail lights...housings, harness, gaskets, the whole shebang.
No note or explanation.
I have no idea.
08-02-14, 11:49 PM
#1257
I am amused and gratified by the utter improbability of the orphaned tail lights and am thinking of what to do with them.
Something will occur.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (which is not so much like the Ponderosa, being a crappy little garage), the chassis wiring is substantially finished.
It fought every step of the way, I had to chase down more gremlins and weirdness than I'd thought possible but I'm pretty much down to panel lighting now.
Surprisingly, I made some boneheaded assumptions that didn't work out but only one "mistake".
Tomorrow morning I'll swap two wires and that will be good.
The new wiper motor is great but the original linkage and pivots are junk and I'm determined to make that right before our final paint. If I get my way, we'll be going to a single wiper arm and if successful, that will require some bodywork on the valence panel.
Sigfrid has ordered two more gallons of dip and we'll probably paint in September.
I figure one, maybe two days to remove the harness, finish off the little wiring left and loom it.
Unfortunately, before that can happen I have to get started on the engine harness because although there aren't many, it does connect to the chassis harness at a few points and I'm not exactly sure what they are yet.
So there's that.
After fixing my error in the morning, I'm going to treat myself and install the rockers.
My definition of "fun" these days is something/anything but electrical.
I might even take some pictures if I'm feeling frisky.
Something will occur.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (which is not so much like the Ponderosa, being a crappy little garage), the chassis wiring is substantially finished.
It fought every step of the way, I had to chase down more gremlins and weirdness than I'd thought possible but I'm pretty much down to panel lighting now.
Surprisingly, I made some boneheaded assumptions that didn't work out but only one "mistake".
Tomorrow morning I'll swap two wires and that will be good.
The new wiper motor is great but the original linkage and pivots are junk and I'm determined to make that right before our final paint. If I get my way, we'll be going to a single wiper arm and if successful, that will require some bodywork on the valence panel.
Sigfrid has ordered two more gallons of dip and we'll probably paint in September.
I figure one, maybe two days to remove the harness, finish off the little wiring left and loom it.
Unfortunately, before that can happen I have to get started on the engine harness because although there aren't many, it does connect to the chassis harness at a few points and I'm not exactly sure what they are yet.
So there's that.
After fixing my error in the morning, I'm going to treat myself and install the rockers.
My definition of "fun" these days is something/anything but electrical.
I might even take some pictures if I'm feeling frisky.
08-03-14, 10:42 PM
#1258
OK, ready for some wiring carnage pics?
It'll look better all detangled and wrapped (there is actually a logic to the apparent mayhem) but for now it's enough that it all works.
Well, mostly.
I have a one page punchlist, some additions, some changes, some finishing of already started circuits (looking at you, panel lighting!).
I ran out of wiring energy tbh, and just had to stop.
Cleaned out the car and put some stuff back in:
Almost feels like a real car now.
Before I forget, here's one of the new supertrick headlights:
Look carefully at the bottom and you see the LED running/signal lamps.
They seem to work pretty well.
I rolled her out of the garage to clean up the mess and took the opportunity to wash her off.
Surprising how filthy a car gets just queening away in a garage.
Mustering what little energy I had left, I began fitting the rockers.
It'll take a rigorous fitting process to finish but you can get the idea what I'm going for:
Since she's continually closeted, it's rare I get the distance/perspective to really see what she's turning into...I like it.
Definitely developing an attitude.
Still hate the wheels.
Gotta find something for behind the rear wheels...something like the G35 spats that fit the FC so well.
And figure out some sort of grill arrangement.
We work again next Saturday, I'm not sure on what.
Kinda burned out, so kinda don't care right now.
It'll look better all detangled and wrapped (there is actually a logic to the apparent mayhem) but for now it's enough that it all works.
Well, mostly.
I have a one page punchlist, some additions, some changes, some finishing of already started circuits (looking at you, panel lighting!).
I ran out of wiring energy tbh, and just had to stop.
Cleaned out the car and put some stuff back in:
Almost feels like a real car now.
Before I forget, here's one of the new supertrick headlights:
Look carefully at the bottom and you see the LED running/signal lamps.
They seem to work pretty well.
I rolled her out of the garage to clean up the mess and took the opportunity to wash her off.
Surprising how filthy a car gets just queening away in a garage.
Mustering what little energy I had left, I began fitting the rockers.
It'll take a rigorous fitting process to finish but you can get the idea what I'm going for:
Since she's continually closeted, it's rare I get the distance/perspective to really see what she's turning into...I like it.
Definitely developing an attitude.
Still hate the wheels.
Gotta find something for behind the rear wheels...something like the G35 spats that fit the FC so well.
And figure out some sort of grill arrangement.
We work again next Saturday, I'm not sure on what.
Kinda burned out, so kinda don't care right now.
08-04-14, 09:13 PM
#1260
Red Pill Dealer
iTrader: (10)
I like the wheels. I will say no more.
08-04-14, 09:21 PM
#1261
Permit me to vent.
I have been an idiot.
This whole time I've been trying to engineer a single wiper blade solution, the answer has been staring me right in the face.
Literally.
Stopped at a traffic light behind a Ford Focus and the driver activated the wash/wipe on the rear glass.
It sweeps about 150-160° with the blade attached directly to the motor, so no linkage at all.
I'm thinking they use limit switches and reverse polarity or something but that should have been the system I started with instead of trying to modify a standard setup.
Oh well, too late now.
Way too much time/effort spent to get where I am and it would be counterproductive to start over on a system (which completely works already) that doesn't contribute to running the car.
Sigfrid wasn't thrilled about the potential bodywork involved either.
*sigh*
That said, the linkage and pivots need replacing as it's just too sloppy and inefficient to work well.
Fortunately, all that is post-motor and wouldn't touch the wiring already in place.
One bit of good news I forgot to mention.
Notice in the dash pics that the heater controls were in place.
None of the control cables were attached but the electrical was, and I got to test the HVAC (kinda) for the first time.
That Miata blower fan is a monster.
We haven't even fitted the ductwork properly yet, there's a good 3/4" gap between the center plenum outlet and the main dash duct but even so, on HI speed the output from the center vents will ruffle your hair.
Some serious CFM there.
Shouldn't have any problems moving air around our tiny cabin.
As much trouble as I've had with some relatively minor details (wipers!), it's pretty remarkable that grafting in an entirely alien HVAC system went so smoothly.
Small mercies.
I have been an idiot.
This whole time I've been trying to engineer a single wiper blade solution, the answer has been staring me right in the face.
Literally.
Stopped at a traffic light behind a Ford Focus and the driver activated the wash/wipe on the rear glass.
It sweeps about 150-160° with the blade attached directly to the motor, so no linkage at all.
I'm thinking they use limit switches and reverse polarity or something but that should have been the system I started with instead of trying to modify a standard setup.
Oh well, too late now.
Way too much time/effort spent to get where I am and it would be counterproductive to start over on a system (which completely works already) that doesn't contribute to running the car.
Sigfrid wasn't thrilled about the potential bodywork involved either.
*sigh*
That said, the linkage and pivots need replacing as it's just too sloppy and inefficient to work well.
Fortunately, all that is post-motor and wouldn't touch the wiring already in place.
One bit of good news I forgot to mention.
Notice in the dash pics that the heater controls were in place.
None of the control cables were attached but the electrical was, and I got to test the HVAC (kinda) for the first time.
That Miata blower fan is a monster.
We haven't even fitted the ductwork properly yet, there's a good 3/4" gap between the center plenum outlet and the main dash duct but even so, on HI speed the output from the center vents will ruffle your hair.
Some serious CFM there.
Shouldn't have any problems moving air around our tiny cabin.
As much trouble as I've had with some relatively minor details (wipers!), it's pretty remarkable that grafting in an entirely alien HVAC system went so smoothly.
Small mercies.
08-04-14, 10:43 PM
#1262
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i used to not like the wheels, but the skirts, and the all black make em work!
is that miata blower fittable into the FC do you think?
is that miata blower fittable into the FC do you think?
08-04-14, 11:56 PM
#1263
It's been nearly two years since I last installed my FC HVAC, so my recollection is a bit hazy but I'd say yes, it probably could.
Of course, the mounting bracketry cast in the housing would probably be all wrong but that wouldn't slow you down much.
It's also possible that only the fan itself could be swapped, which would be ideal (assuming you have a FC housing).
Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same damn fan.
The electrical (including the connectors/wire coding) looks identical as well...probably plug-n-play.
Of course, the mounting bracketry cast in the housing would probably be all wrong but that wouldn't slow you down much.
It's also possible that only the fan itself could be swapped, which would be ideal (assuming you have a FC housing).
Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same damn fan.
The electrical (including the connectors/wire coding) looks identical as well...probably plug-n-play.
08-06-14, 09:28 PM
#1264
Please, say anything you'd like, I can't argue with subjective matters like this.
I do not, and probably never will, care for that style wheel on any car but Sigfrid likes 'em fine and so do others.
We are all special snowflakes whose opinions matter.
My ideal wheel (based on looks alone) is either the Mustang Bullit or a steelie with Moon discs. I ought to get meercat's imaginary friend, Robbin, to pretend fab me up a set.
The Z has such awkward offset and bolt spacing that finding wheels is quite difficult.
Swapping hubs is not the (relatively) trivial matter like on the FC because we have rear drum brakes and who does that anymore?
I do not, and probably never will, care for that style wheel on any car but Sigfrid likes 'em fine and so do others.
We are all special snowflakes whose opinions matter.
My ideal wheel (based on looks alone) is either the Mustang Bullit or a steelie with Moon discs. I ought to get meercat's imaginary friend, Robbin, to pretend fab me up a set.
The Z has such awkward offset and bolt spacing that finding wheels is quite difficult.
Swapping hubs is not the (relatively) trivial matter like on the FC because we have rear drum brakes and who does that anymore?
08-06-14, 09:48 PM
#1265
Red Pill Dealer
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We had this conversation before. I know what I think would be awesome looking but I'm sorta redneckish sometimes.
08-07-14, 01:50 PM
#1267
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the wheels on the car look too modern, for the Z, but with the all black, and the side skirts and mirrors and other little things, the car is more modern so the wheels work better.
on a normal Z, you just can't go wrong with the panasport, mini light, wantanabe style...
on a normal Z, you just can't go wrong with the panasport, mini light, wantanabe style...
08-07-14, 05:52 PM
#1268
Red Pill Dealer
iTrader: (10)
Hurricanes man! Like I said before, black 'em and polish lip and top of the fins. I remember so many back in the day running them in their natural full aluminum trim.
I knew a few guy that did the re-drill and hub ring to make the chevies fit but I don't know how they dealt with the offset other than flares.
I knew a few guy that did the re-drill and hub ring to make the chevies fit but I don't know how they dealt with the offset other than flares.
08-08-14, 08:53 AM
#1269
We discussed wheels yesterday and agreed that any changes will wait for Stage 2 (whenever that happens...) because the project involves so much else (hub/brake swap, etc.).
J9, I had Panasports on my 240Z and they were my first choice here as well but they are expensive and come in limited sizes.
Tony, are Hurricanes directional? I hate when wheels look "backwards" on one side of the car.
After working alone so much lately it was weird teaming up again yesterday, the whole dynamic changes. Sigfrid gets so little time on the car that when he does manage to carve some space out of his schedule, he's a veritable Gallic Energizer Bunny.
This totally worked in our favor as we tackled some purely mechanical jobs that have been ignored for a while.
When we first stripped the car it was obvious that most of the engine bay bracketry was superfluous but we opted to keep it all until we knew for certain. Many smaller pieces have already been deleted but there were two gigantic assemblies still barnacled onto the front frame rails that were finally ready to go. They originally held the front running lights and the grill, neither of which we're using.
Of course, being '70s Datsun, these brackets were heavy duty enough to serve as engine mounts and tied into the front structure in many planes. It took about an hour per side with some creative cutoff wheel work to carve them away and finally free up the space we need.
The front bumper was the major design element of the front end and having deleted it, the canvas was totally blank. We decided that the driving lights would be a key element and mounted them first:
She looks pretty badass now with the hood back on:
And here's the engine bay, for no particular reason other than I think it looks cool:
We also dropped the front suspension and cut one coil off the springs.
I've never cut springs before but it's a fairly common thing with Z's apparently and is the quick/dirty way of getting the car's nose out of the air.
It worked fine, the stance is much improved and looks reasonable now.
We may cut the rears too, but will wait till she's full of gas and the interior is in to see where she sits.
The last big project of the day was to reshape the shift lever.
This involved a big vise, Sigfrid's giant propane blowtorch and the floorjack handle as a lever and went perfectly.
I don't know why we didn't get a pic of the final product but I'll do it next time.
Actually, I do know...the whole "short shift" assembly (which came partially installed with the car) was just horribly fucked up and needs some serious attention to make right, so everything is still in pieces.
Boring, not especially photogenic, pieces.
So, that was the big stuff but of course, along the way lots of little stuff got addressed as well, it's just not worth picturing alone. Things like finally finding/installing a rubber boot on the starter positive cable, swapping the passenger headlight HI/LO beam wires (which I had crossed) and redoing the ignition wires at the distributor cap. When Sigfrid finally got around to finishing the plug wires (which I described as a "milestone" a few post ago) he didn't know the distributor ran counter-clockwise, so the firing order was absolutely wrong.
Had to remove the whole wire harness and rejigger the wires to make it work, but it's all copacetic now.
It's nice to look upon her and realize that more work has been completed than remains to be done, we're definitely on the downslope now.
J9, I had Panasports on my 240Z and they were my first choice here as well but they are expensive and come in limited sizes.
Tony, are Hurricanes directional? I hate when wheels look "backwards" on one side of the car.
After working alone so much lately it was weird teaming up again yesterday, the whole dynamic changes. Sigfrid gets so little time on the car that when he does manage to carve some space out of his schedule, he's a veritable Gallic Energizer Bunny.
This totally worked in our favor as we tackled some purely mechanical jobs that have been ignored for a while.
When we first stripped the car it was obvious that most of the engine bay bracketry was superfluous but we opted to keep it all until we knew for certain. Many smaller pieces have already been deleted but there were two gigantic assemblies still barnacled onto the front frame rails that were finally ready to go. They originally held the front running lights and the grill, neither of which we're using.
Of course, being '70s Datsun, these brackets were heavy duty enough to serve as engine mounts and tied into the front structure in many planes. It took about an hour per side with some creative cutoff wheel work to carve them away and finally free up the space we need.
The front bumper was the major design element of the front end and having deleted it, the canvas was totally blank. We decided that the driving lights would be a key element and mounted them first:
She looks pretty badass now with the hood back on:
And here's the engine bay, for no particular reason other than I think it looks cool:
We also dropped the front suspension and cut one coil off the springs.
I've never cut springs before but it's a fairly common thing with Z's apparently and is the quick/dirty way of getting the car's nose out of the air.
It worked fine, the stance is much improved and looks reasonable now.
We may cut the rears too, but will wait till she's full of gas and the interior is in to see where she sits.
The last big project of the day was to reshape the shift lever.
This involved a big vise, Sigfrid's giant propane blowtorch and the floorjack handle as a lever and went perfectly.
I don't know why we didn't get a pic of the final product but I'll do it next time.
Actually, I do know...the whole "short shift" assembly (which came partially installed with the car) was just horribly fucked up and needs some serious attention to make right, so everything is still in pieces.
Boring, not especially photogenic, pieces.
So, that was the big stuff but of course, along the way lots of little stuff got addressed as well, it's just not worth picturing alone. Things like finally finding/installing a rubber boot on the starter positive cable, swapping the passenger headlight HI/LO beam wires (which I had crossed) and redoing the ignition wires at the distributor cap. When Sigfrid finally got around to finishing the plug wires (which I described as a "milestone" a few post ago) he didn't know the distributor ran counter-clockwise, so the firing order was absolutely wrong.
Had to remove the whole wire harness and rejigger the wires to make it work, but it's all copacetic now.
It's nice to look upon her and realize that more work has been completed than remains to be done, we're definitely on the downslope now.
08-08-14, 05:28 PM
#1272
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leave the hood off!
08-08-14, 07:07 PM
#1273
Red Pill Dealer
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These are fore a 280z.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280Z-Four-Western-Hurricane-Cyclone-wheels-rims-1977-280-Z-/111430192058?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Wheels&hash=item19f1c1cbba&vxp=mtr
Whoops! pic don't workie. try link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280Z-Four-Western-Hurricane-Cyclone-wheels-rims-1977-280-Z-/111430192058?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Wheels&hash=item19f1c1cbba&vxp=mtr
Whoops! pic don't workie. try link.
08-08-14, 07:26 PM
#1274
Funny you should mention the hood.
Late yesterday afternoon, FedEx showed up with the Platidip order.
They apparently sell some magic "fuckup fix" solvent and S. bought a quart to go over the front end (which, you may recall, suffered greatly when he tried to paint it a month or so ago).
As I was leaving he was trying it out.
I knew what would happen and sho nuff, it did.
No way he was going to let the damage from the fall go untreated, that view down the long hood and powerbulge is too iconic not to perfect.
Tony, yes, those are very "period correct" wheels for the Z.
I (briefly) had a set on my 240.
I just don't care for the visual and they're too small.
Late yesterday afternoon, FedEx showed up with the Platidip order.
They apparently sell some magic "fuckup fix" solvent and S. bought a quart to go over the front end (which, you may recall, suffered greatly when he tried to paint it a month or so ago).
As I was leaving he was trying it out.
I knew what would happen and sho nuff, it did.
No way he was going to let the damage from the fall go untreated, that view down the long hood and powerbulge is too iconic not to perfect.
Tony, yes, those are very "period correct" wheels for the Z.
I (briefly) had a set on my 240.
I just don't care for the visual and they're too small.
08-08-14, 08:22 PM
#1275
Red Pill Dealer
iTrader: (10)
Same answer as before. That's why I said I would say no more. I only remember seeing them in original plain aluminum (back in the day) but, I totally think a black paint and then polish on the face would be awesome. Especially with the black theme. Yeah, I think the biggest they were ever made was 15". You might have to go to the Chevies for that.
Too each their own.
Too each their own.