Thread: Stude M5 build

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I think I'd backtrack and unwire the alarm and locks, labeling all of the connections, and see if your problem goes away. Sounds like a mismatch of components, like a hidden ground or sneak circuit in your alarm system.

I did a lot of wiring the last few days. I wired up the Vintage air relays too. Had it all looking organized. Agree something must be grounded. God I hate trouble shooting wiring! My fear is I fried some random thing that will be hard to find.

I worked through the wiring problem, I think it was an undersized wire going to the LS power fuse block getting kinked and causing a high resistance. I replaced the power wires going there with a couple beefy ones and it's good now. Got my Vintage Air system all wired in and the controls and vents in place, just have to charge it up.
Installed the shorter front suspension bumpers too and along with the shocks it's riding better. I think if I raised it up some more it would ride even better, but I do like the current stance so I'll wait and see.

Finally tracked down my AC leaks, had to buy a sniffer tool to do it. It was one hose fitting that attached to the condenser and one quick connect fitting on my AC manifold hose. The thrill of victory turned to the agony of defeat on the test drive when my water pump sprung a leak. The replacement appeared to leak too (made in USA Melling) so I have another on order.
While it's down I decided to cut down the rear lowering blocks to raise the rear about 3/8" since it had dropped with the hydro shocks. Used the table saw with a guide and multiple thin passes, turned out nice. I have a 1/4 inch lowering block leftover if anyone need one LOL.

So happy, went for a long drive with no coolant leaking, AC doing it's thing. Put on a Gates water pump since the made in USA Melling leaked on me. AC pump makes a little noise, seems like my GM ones in the past did too.
Discovered I had only put in two hand tight bolts to hold on the clutch fan, yikes! That could have been ugly.
The ride height looks perfect to me now, glad I did lowering block mod.

I've wanted the optional chrome radio speaker grill but they are hard to find and expensive so I decided to build one myself. I made it from 1/4 inch aluminum and cut it out on my wood bandsaw. Then many hours of sanding to get them to shape. It was tricky to weld together, welding delicate stuff is not so easy with aluminum. It came out pretty much like I'd hoped.

Looks great!!

I agree, looks like that grille was time consuming but the results are worth it

Wish I had welding skills, you did a beautiful job!

Thanks, truthfully I'm not a great welder but I can get by. This was way too much work but it was something challenging to do and I could work on it in my garage with the swamp cooler going when it's too hot to do much else. I can get some things done outside until maybe noon at the most then it's not tolerable.

I agree with everyone that speaker grill looks really good!

“…..This was way too much work but it was something challenging to do……”

I know the feeling. For me one of the nice things about building a “keeper” for yourself is that if you have the skills you can trade your time and do those things that would be cost prohibitive if you had to pay someone to do it (or in your case buy one and refurbish it).

I’ve been spending some time looking over your AC pictures, nice work. I like the layout of your vents and switches. I’ve been gathering the pieces to put the system in my Valiant lately and will probably start installing the under-dash portion I the next few weeks.


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Thanks Mike. The Vintage air is a nice system. It was fun having the Mastercool tool to make my own lines. I have Yogi's catalog and there are tons of choices of aftermarket vents and controls. Of coarse some of them are crazy expensive.

Oh Darn it v8nutz! You just had to go and make me look up Mastercool tools.

One of the things that's been in the back of my mind was where I'd have the AC lines made up at now that the place I used to use has closed. The local NAPA store still does them but they're usually slow and depending who does it they don't necessarily have a 100% success rate.

The crimpers I looked at are about what it would cost to have the hoses made up. I'd probably do, but am a little hesitant as this will be the last build for me. Oh well something else to think about.


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Originally Posted by Mike P

The crimpers I looked at are about what it would cost to have the hoses made up. I'd probably do it, but am a little hesitant as this will be the last build for me. Oh well something else to think about.

Cade'll use them on HIS next build, Mike, and the one after that and the one after that......

Yeeaaah Roger the thought crossed my mind too. If I do pull the trigger on the crimper, I'll make sure he get some practice with them before he inherits them.



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