[79 Phoenix]

Took it for a first drive today! Ran good, all 3 gears work great! I forgot how slow manual steering was...almost seems dangerous by today's standards. Also forgot how long the throws were on shifters.

Of course there are bugs to work out. Here are some of the good and not so good:

Horn doesn't work. Relay clicks but no horn
GEN light is on...Not sure why. Harness is new
Gas gauge doesn't work AGAIN!
Need to fine tune throttle linkage
Forgot to test the wipers

BUT...

AM radio works (very scratchy)--first time since 1992!
2 of the headlight bulbs still work
Heater works--core and blower are new
Brakes work great--all new

[Shiny]

That must be exciting. You accomplished a lot in a short time!

Congrats!

[79 Phoenix]

Thanks! It's been a lot of work and a lot more to go. I want to get a few smaller bugs resolved to make it safer to drive and then get it to exhaust shop. It's pretty loud right now! Then eventually back to the body work and interior.

Currently steering box is 6 1/2 turns lock to lock... I'm seriously considering a quick ratio reman steering box 4 turns lock to lock.

[79 Phoenix]

Replaced all 4 headlights, installed new rear valence and side mirrors. The passenger mirror is frozen so I'm not sure it will be of any use except for cosmetics. The driver mirror will move but won't stay in position...must be an issue with the adjustment cable.

Also installed a rebuilt fast ratio steering box. Getting the pitman arm off the old original box was ...difficult having been on there for over 50 years! Haven't had it on the road yet but seems excellent. It was supposed to be 4 turns lock to lock but by the steering wheel it's 3 turns. Should be a huge improvement!

Next will be tackling some electrical issues. Horn doesn't work, GEN light stays on, backup lights and turn signals don't seem to work. I think the GEN light is related to the HEI conversion harness I got but I need to call M&S tech Monday
and hopefully they can get me straightened out on that. Turn signals and backup lights may also be related to that???

Also, gas gauge doesn't work. At this point my best guess is it has to do with the plug connection in the trunk.

Also will be working on the front valence as time allows in the weeks ahead... It's rough, rusty, bent, dented, etc. and needs a lot of work but I believe it is savable.

[79 Phoenix]

Haven't made much progress yet on the GEN light issue. Spoke with M&H tech support and said to check out the bulkhead connection. So, I took that all apart and found no issues. Put it back together (not fun) but no change. This alternator was on the engine when I bought it although a different bracket. Maybe it was a one-wire alternator?? That would explain the GEN light staying on even though it's charging fine. But it wouldn't have the side plug would it? Or maybe it's a ground issue but not sure which ground. We'll see.

I did get the volt gauge hooked up and the lights for the aftermarket gauges working in the key "ON" position. I also got the bulbs in the front parking lights... 4 -way flashers work, brake lights work headlights and taillights work and key buzzer works!

Backup lights did work but now they don't. It may be adjustment which I will try. But given that the backup light switch is at least 35 years old will replace regardless along with turn signal flasher.

Windshield wipers don't work. Horn still needs fixed...maybe a ground issue.... and then there's the gas gauge...

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Sometimes it's fun getting everything back in order on a vehicle.
But some parts are always a pain in the rump !

Keep up the good work man .

[Shiny]

That's a LOT of progress!

What rear valence did you use?

Did you get the front valence straight? Sounds like you got the turn lamps working so you must have made some progress on the valence.

[79 Phoenix]

Thanks Baron! I just try to take one step at a time trying to be careful so I don't have to do things over. I try to start with the easiest and narrow things down so I can focus fully on the hardest.

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Shiny

That's a LOT of progress!

What rear valence did you use?

Did you get the front valence straight? Sounds like you got the turn lamps working so you must have made some progress on the valence.

Thanks Shiny--I used the metal one I got from AMES. It fits good and looks right--almost perfect. I didn't do anything with the front valence yet... My parking light bulbs are just hanging on wire ties right now.

A friend of mine owned a body shop back in the 70's and said he could probably help me with that (I hope so). I need to first strip the metal down and do some rust repair and then get it to him. It's pretty messed up and twisted especially on passenger side but I think I (we) can get it at least acceptable. First I want to sort through these electrical issues and then get the car to the exhaust shop. --Kim

[79 Phoenix]

Backup lights fixed! It was an adjustment issue with the switch. Ordered a flasher for the turn signals. Still no resolution on the GEN light issue. Investigation continues today. (Gauge lights not as bright as they appear in picture)

[Holeshot71]

Years ago I had a Lemans that had lights on the dash that shouldn’t have been on along with the gas gauge not working etc. I Jumped the metal part of the cluster to ground using a jumper wire with alligator clips and the lights went out and everything started working correctly. Added a permanent ground wire and all was good..

[george kujanski]

What regulator do you have? Is it the mechanical one that's used with a 10D alternator?

George

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Holeshot71

Years ago I had a Lemans that had lights on the dash that shouldn’t have been on along with the gas gauge not working etc. I Jumped the metal part of the cluster to ground using a jumper wire with alligator clips and the lights went out and everything started working correctly. Added a permanent ground wire and all was good..

Holeshot--Excellent idea! As soon as I can I will try that. Thanks!

[79 Phoenix]

Originally Posted by george kujanski

What regulator do you have? Is it the mechanical one that's used with a 10D alternator?

George

George--Alternator has an internal voltage regulator. Not sure beyond that. But here is one of the numbers on it... 83 2-12VNEG. There is another number that has been partially removed by a machined area in the casting. Not sure how to explain that. Maybe have a picture later.

[79 Phoenix]

The alternator number is actually 110247865A1. However, I pulled the plug back out of the alternator and back in a few times. After the last time, GEN light went out as it should after engine started! Apparently plug wasn't seated properly??
But I started and re-started the engine several times and system works as it should--light goes out after starting and alternator charges as it should!

Also, more good news ---the fuel gauge turns out to be just a fuse--who would have thought... While I was messing with the plug after I installed tank must have shorted it out. Anyway, gauge works and seems accurate at a little more than 3/4 full with 16 gallons in the tank!

Also, the horn problem turns out to be the horn itself. I did try a new horn relay which I already had but no difference. I found that though I had 12V at horn plug, no sound. So, I have ordered a new horn.

Also adjusted the dome light switch so it goes out when driver door shuts.

Once I install the new horn and turn signal flasher the last remaining issue should be the windshield wipers

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Great news on the war front - winning the battles.

If it's a single horn system , those usually are not very good noise makers.
I upgraded my Dodge Van to dual horns from RockAuto (Hi - Low) and it really honks now.
They look pretty authentic and were fairly inexpensive. fwiw

[79 Phoenix]

As I had hoped, the flasher unit and new horns made both turn signals and horn now operational! I replaced the shot original low note horn with a pair of high/low horns and they sound good and loud. The new wire harness was set up for two horns.

Only one of the horn buttons on the steering wheel work so I will attempt to fix that when I get to the interior and dashboard.

Only other thing that doesn't work (that I know of) is the wipers. Unless it turns out to be the switch or something simple, I will probably just let that go for now.

Next step will be exhaust. I will set up an appointment when I get back from FL in about two weeks.

[Shiny]

You are getting it done! Glad your efforts are paying off and your wire demons are getting exorcised!

[79 Phoenix]

Thanks Shiny! Yeah, it's nice to see this coming together. I'm anxious to drive it more but do want to get the exhaust installed first. It's shaping up to be a reliable cruiser. It will probably be similar to what my 2 bbl 350 GT-37 was back in the late 70's. But who knows, maybe it will have a little more oomph than I expect. Main thing is that it runs well.

I'm thinking that after I get the passenger qtr panel installed at a body shop, that I will learn some more skills to get the body pretty close to paint-ready. I did that on my Phoenix and it turned out good, but I want this to look even a little better than that does. Plus, being black, every ripple will show, so I want to do as nice a job as possible on the body work. We'll see!

.

[79 Phoenix]

Met with the exhaust shop today. Got the GT-37 up on the lift and planned out the exhaust system. They will try a couple different mufflers to see which I think sounds best, We'll see... Exhaust will be installed next Tuesday!!

Drove the car about 20 miles today. Steering is so much better with the faster ratio but I will still need to get used to the effort to turn especially at low speed. It's going to build more strength in my arms! But It's not quite as hard as 50 years ago when the power steering pump failed on my 65 Chevelle... I just removed the belt and drove it that way for about 6 months.

Engine really runs nice! It definitely has a mild cam in it...has a little lope to it. Pretty good power... easy to squeal tires pulling away from stop signs. It's going to be fun to drive after I get a little more used to it. I also need to train myself to remember it's a 3 speed not a 4 speed!