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Topic: Chuck's '83 TBird (Read 70641 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #256
I got back under the car this morning and was able to suss out the rest of the tail pipe fitting.







Yup, it's tight, especially at the rear part of the over-axle part. The axle mount for the DS upper link winds up contacting the pipe at any more than 1" of compression over ride height.
I should be able to make things clear if I dimple or squeeze the pipe in that section. Not much more I can do, really. I'll probably also dimple the pipe right there as it goes around the panhard bracket.

I plan on changing ler and tailpipe hangers away from the old double-eyelet type of isolators, to cut down on movement.

I think I'll do something like THIS for the ler, and one of the rear-mounted types for the tailpipe, like what they used on the 99+ Mustangs. That should help control things much better.

I'm planning on adding in 3 more v-band connections (both sides of ler and for tailpipe section) to get away from the slip-fit stuff.

Next steps are to get the v-bands and the hangers and get everything to the ler locked in place. Then I can go back and final fit (tack weld) the bits together to connect to the tailpipe. Then weld it, dimple it, recheck fit. After that, it'll be off to coating.


Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #257
Since I'm having to wait for more parts to move ahead on the exhaust, I decided to work on wrapping up the last bit of work on the lighting upgrade.

I needed to run the switch trigger for the fog relay, which meant getting into the car and contorting myself under the dash.

Seeing as this car was never equipped with fogs, the factory power from the headlight switch, through fuse #7 wasn't there. I didn't plan well enough to work this into my new wiring, so I was left with a decision.

Stock set-up for the fogs means that they are only able to be turned on when the headlights are on. I really didn't care about that, nor did I want to hack into new or original wiring for my power source.

Seeing as I had 4 un-used circuits available in my new fuse box, I just put the lead back in for one of the 10A circuits, and ran that into the cabin with the trigger wire.


I just need to wire up the connector and mount the switch.



I thought there was a dedicated spot for the fog switch, but it looks like it just screws into the plastic on the right side of the DS knee bolster.

I ran out of time to finish the wiring up (Spent too much time fishing the wires into the cabin), so that'll happen in the next day or so.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

 

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #258
Back to it for about an hour today.

Went ahead and added a connector to the pigtail for the fog switch.



Not really needed, but I also added an extra lead off of the fused input, just in case I wanted to add something else small to that circuit. It's a 10A circuit, that's only acting as a trigger for a relay.

I got the switch mounted (Sorry for the grainy pics. Kind of dark in the car]



Tucked it in on the lower right side, near the center console.

Just to see how things worked, I connected the battery and tested things out.

Fogs didn't come on. I could hear the relay, but no lights. Pulling the cover off of a light reminded me that I never put bulbs in there... :toothless: Looks like I need to add some H2's to my next parts order.

The other issue is that the HI beams are blowing their 20A (mini) fuse whenever I turn them on. Not using anything crazy for the bulbs, but I may need to step of the fuse to a 25A, as it might be the start that's the issue. Everything else works OK.

Lighting is just about wrapped up.

Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #259




The other issue is that the HI beams are blowing their 20A (mini) fuse whenever I turn them on. Not using anything crazy for the bulbs, but I may need to step of the fuse to a 25A, as it might be the start that's the issue. Everything else works OK.

Lighting is just about wrapped up.


You would be better off doing the relay mod to run the headlights. I did and it's relatively easy.
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing:

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #260
You would be better off doing the relay mod to run the headlights. I did and it's relatively easy.

If you look back on the thread, you'll see that's exactly what I did. Everything is contained in those new boxes. The LO's, HI's, and Fogs all have their own circuit and relay.

I think the HI's pull more of a load than the stockers did, at least initially. The stock headlamp switch is only acting to trigger the relays. No load is going through it now.

If I remember, the wiring that came with these new lights I got from Eric didn't have any fusing in them and just used the stock set-up and added relays. I didn't use any of those connections. I have a whole new distribution box for that stuff.

Looking at details on the MINI vs the ATO fuses, I think the MINIs are a little more susceptible to a higher start current than the ATOs (Less delay). Going to try a slightly higher amperage fuse to get past that.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #261
Looking great Chuck! I like that harness, great idea.

Aren't the headlamps on a circuit breaker from the factory? Is that something the new fuse box has accommodations for?

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #262
Eric. Nope, the headlights come off of one of the fusible links (Which I've replaced with MAXI fuses) and run straight through the light switch. The HI beams come off of their own, separate 20A fuse and go through the switch on the column.

The only thing I've done here is replace the HI beam fusing with a MINI fuse. Both (Old and new) are 20A, but the stock stuff is the larger ATO type.

I just put the white bulbs back in, and didn't use your blues. I need to double-check what the rating was on those. Perhaps they're a bit aggressive.


Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #263
Very nice work Chuck, I wish I felt more  comfortable with wiring.  LOL  :confused:
Mike

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #264
Very nice work Chuck, I wish I felt more  comfortable with wiring.  LOL  :confused:

The only way to get more comfortable is to just read/research/do. ;)
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #265
Welp, there's the problem...



There are 4 of those trying to work on a 20A circuit.

Guess I didn't REALLY pay attention when I was putting those together.

I dug up a 25A fuse, and they all came on, but I'm not really sure it's a good idea to leave all 4 of those in there.

I tried out the "blue" bulbs, and the light is just more "white" than yellow, so I guess that's OK. Going to run the 60/55W for the LOs and the 100/80W for the HI's. This config should be good with the 20A fusing.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #266
You would be better off doing the relay mod to run the headlights. I did and it's relatively easy.

If you look back on the thread, you'll see that's exactly what I did.
My bad. I must have missed that.
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing:

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #267
Those are some bright ass bulbs dude  :grinno: .
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.


Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #269
Would be great if the system could handle it. :)
Still much brighter with the relay mod.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo