68' Valiant 4 door
- Thread starter kursplat
- Start date
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quick update, 'cause it's too dang hot to work outside...managed to get some odds and ends done. new leafs and shocks are in, the offset hangers are going to wait for the 8 3/4, i'm not moving perches twice... most of the wiring is done including the fuse block and headlight relays. i got the relay kit from slantsixdan so long ago, i didn't even have this car 
just a few things before i can get it back on the street again. install the grill and bumpers, clean up the cluster and install the gauges. finally decided on how i want to mount them, hopefully it won't involve too much surgery
just a few things before i can get it back on the street again. install the grill and bumpers, clean up the cluster and install the gauges. finally decided on how i want to mount them, hopefully it won't involve too much surgery 
R4Sedan
Larry
your car is coming along great keep it up.
thanks. the cluster is in amazing shape. no chrome flaking or scratches. only thing it needs is to get some dust off the inside of the lenses and clean the electrical connections since i'm exiled in the house
cluster build date
Valiant69er
Well-Known Member
Great looking project. Has the vintage air been a pretty straight forward install? I want to put one in my Valiant as well.
not bad so far. i didn't buy the whole kit from Vintage, with the hoses and vents, just the Gen IV evaporator, controls and compressor. i wanted to get the unit and condenser installed before i decide how to run the lines. instead of hoses everywhere i want to do hard lines with more of a factory look to get a cleaner install than my 74 ended up with
also going to try and plumb the outlets to the stock under dash vent i picked up. so far the only thing i don't like is the use of self tapping screws into the cowl area to help support it. i don't have a pic, but beside the fire wall bracket, i fabbed another one that i welded to the inside of the cowl behind the glove box area. hoping next week to get the rest of it installed
Valiant69er
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Good information. Excited to see how you run your hoses and connections. Again, nice build.
ahhh, baby steps. cluster's back together. had to re-build the hazard switch. i received a spare with the car from Darter6. that one looked better but still didn't work.
the contacts were corroded but otherwise it was in good shape. cleaned everything up so it should work well now. the chrome polished up nice too
also got the shifter cable done. found out my Winters Shifter and Lokar kickdown cable wanted to occupy the same plane.
i ended up cutting the arm off the lever and welding back on the top side of the bracket
thought i might need to clearance the floor but there was plenty of room, for once
the contacts were corroded but otherwise it was in good shape. cleaned everything up so it should work well now. the chrome polished up nice too
also got the shifter cable done. found out my Winters Shifter and Lokar kickdown cable wanted to occupy the same plane.
i ended up cutting the arm off the lever and welding back on the top side of the bracketthought i might need to clearance the floor but there was plenty of room, for once
also been working on how to mount the other gauges i want. i went back and forth over trying one of the after market ones i've seen here. a lot of people love them and they make for a quick solution. problem is, i like the stock cluster and i just want to augment it. fortunately i was going to have a lot of empty space in the center of the dash. Vintage Air controller is pretty small, and i'm not putting a radio in. i even had the body shop fill the antenna hole in the fender
so instead of hacking up the plastic dash insert i decided to try and make one myself.
bigest problem is going to be getting the angle of the gauge cups right but i think i've got that worked out.
i also hate looking down for the tach and oil pressure gauges.
don't know if i'm happy with it. i'll need to see how it is when i get the seat back in it.
bigest problem is going to be getting the angle of the gauge cups right but i think i've got that worked out.
i also hate looking down for the tach and oil pressure gauges.
don't know if i'm happy with it. i'll need to see how it is when i get the seat back in it.
mygasser
Well-Known Member
Nice job 
Would it be easier to have the gauges in the lower half for better visibility and the air con controls etc in the top half?
Neil.
Would it be easier to have the gauges in the lower half for better visibility and the air con controls etc in the top half?
Neil.
mygasser
Well-Known Member
That'll work, I'm just a lazy bugger so i'd mount them in the lower half so I didn't have to make all the angled cups
ha, i've seen your 68' build thread. lazy you aren'tThat'll work, I'm just a lazy bugger so i'd mount them in the lower half so I didn't have to make all the angled cups
cluster and gauge cups are in. i'll be glad to get this part of the wiring done. sprayed the bracket with wrinkle paint. i hadn't used it in around 30 years but i think it came out pretty well. may have to do a couple other parts too
finally had some time to work on gauge pod i have in my head. and pics work better than words...
lots of practice doing tacks on the thin stuff. next up is to fill in the voids between the (mostly) round gauge tubes and the face plate. any suggestions on what would work best? i figure some type of 2 part epoxy
lots of practice doing tacks on the thin stuff. next up is to fill in the voids between the (mostly) round gauge tubes and the face plate. any suggestions on what would work best? i figure some type of 2 part epoxy
JB Weld works well and you can sand and paint it.It kinda flows so You will want to keep it upright till it hardens. Wrinkle black will look great on that.
Just wanted to share a few photos with you. Got my 63 road worthy.
Calling it "Used Parts" Haven't got it insured and plated yet. But soon.
Just wanted to share a few photos with you. Got my 63 road worthy.
Calling it "Used Parts" Haven't got it insured and plated yet. But soon.
good info on the JB weld, i haven't used it in years and didn't even think about it. wrinkle black was the plan. i'd say something about great minds thinking alike, but don't want to drag you down to my level
the Belvedere looks good. that a \6 ?
at least you're keeping my thread alive. i'm the one not doing my partSorry about the high jack. Carry on ....
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