37 Ford build--IE: old Header issues thread /37 Ford/5.0/GT40P heads

[35fordcoupe]

If you look again at the GMC truck link that Rich posted a couple pages back there is a diagram with the spots on the head light switch numbered. My new switch has the #7 prong (old one did not), but looking closer at the harness plug my parking light wire is crimped in with the tail light wire into the same spot. Essentially I have the mod in that GMC truck link.

I guess in order to reverse it so the parking lights turn off with the head lights I need to cut the parking light wire out and crimp it into the #7 spot, separating it from the tail lights.

[34_40]

I never looked at the link hence my ignorance of the switch. But as I'm typing this out, I'll agree with you in that you can first use a testlight / voltmeter on that #7 connection and test run it before you actually cut the wire..

[35fordcoupe]

I'm not sure I know exactly how you mean, but there is no wire in the harness at all going to #7 on the switch.

[Don Shillady]

Although the Francis switch may be different from the Speedway switch, the only sanity I found was to remove the switch and put one lead of a resistance reading on the +12V input post and then test the resistance at the other posts when you move the switch position. If the switch is in the circuit you may be deceived due to other "loops" in the circuit so you need to have the switch in your hand OUT of the circuit when you make the resistance readings. I tried so many combinations that I ruined one of the headlights and had to buy a pair to replace one, ouch! Now I am in deep consternation for removing my Gennie shifter and replacing it with a Lokar. My floorboard is now a mess with a larger hole and I hope to cover the disaster with a new plywood board! Along the way I learned/found some of the cone bolts in my 700R4 tail stock are 3/8" SAE crammed into the holes of what were supposed to be 10 mm x 1.5 pitch metric. I don't know if I stupidly put them in or they came that way from "Eat My Shift" but apparently GM used metric bolts from 1981 on so I am replacing the four mount bolts with the metric bolts. I have learned to really appreciate the nut/bolt selection at Ace Hardware! One boss stripped but since the bolt was shorter than the boss the correct metric bolts will have access to about 3/8" of the correct thread at the very end of the longer bolts. Live and learn but I want that rear cone to survive driveline vibration! I found a "how to" install a "tail mount" Lokar on the Internet for a '41 Willys trans swap but in my opinion putting the shifter only on the two upper cone mounting bolts is asking for problems and I am glad I have the full multi-point shifter kit but it sure makes a mess of new holes in my roadster floor. Hopefully plywood can cover a multitude of sins/cuts!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

[34_40]

I'm not sure I know exactly how you mean, but there is no wire in the harness at all going to #7 on the switch.

I was meaning that if you put a testlight or volt meter on that connection and see if it did indeed power up when the switch was in the running (park) mode and then did it go out when you pulled the switch to headlight mode.. That's all. No more, no less.

[Don Shillady]

Maybe this is my real home page even though my '29 replica has a SBC engine. Thanks to 34-40 for setting up a thread for me related to early speedsters. I did contact a person up near the Va/WVA/Md border area who has a Model A speedster and I sent him pictures of my build but he has not answered, maybe he is busy? As I said elsewhere I am like Rodney Dangerfield with a 'glass body replica '29 Ford with Ford badge but a SBC engine, just "no respect" but still a lot of nostalgic fun for me! Its not a real metal Ford and has a SBC engine but the restorer on my street (Dick Ivey) still likes my replica! Anyway this message is to announce the Re-birth of a '76 Corvette engine which "we" got started today (9/19/2012 at 2:35 PM). It started right away and we set the idle at 700 rpm (yes the Tach works!) where it has a mean rumble in spite of having a very mild cam but mainly due to the the turbo mufflers. Some of my earliest receipts are dated in 2005 so it has been a long time abuilding and I am posting here mainly to get the attention of IC2 who surpassed me long ago but I did get it working finally! I had a LOT of expert help from Mr. Chester Houghtaling who has an engine shop just up the street from me and he helped set the distributor up since I had to use a rebuilt points distributor with a Pertronix magnetic breaker kit because the position of the engine and the firewall is such that there is plenty of space for a large diameter distributor but the ledge in the firewall just barely allows the 3 7/8" diameter distributor and several modern distributors just would not go in the engine. Anyway we used a rebuilt (Advance Auto) points distributor with a Pertronix internal magnetic points kit and the outside of the cap required wires for a 327 SBC but anyway it fired up OK. I had some leaks of transmission fluid and some oil around the filter which I will tighten tomorrow. Anyway it really was amazing to me that the engine started so easily and then has a slight rump sound at 700 rpm. The cam is just slightly hotter than the old 300 HP stock cam but I am just hoping to cruise with this car so if it is only a 270 HP engine that is OK with me. I can recommend Mr. Houghtaling strongly for calm, confidant, thoughtful work and he has built a number of engines for competition as well as rebuilt engines for pedestrian transportation. He even has a dyno in his shop and it is amazing it took me so long to find him when he is only about 1/4 mile up from me on the same road! His shop is back in the woods on the opposite side of the road from me and my garage is some 400 feet back in the woods as well but I should have found him sooner! Perhaps some folks here have used his expertise for race engines built by "Progressive Performance", Ashland Va, but it is embarrasing for me to find him so close by and he showed up to my garage, got my distributor problem solved and the engine running in 5.5 hours of clock time!!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder

[34_40]

Well I was all excited when I saw this thread had a new posting in it thinking Randy had finally made some progress and was sharing pictures....

But NO! It's Don S. and he's got his motor running for the first time. That's always a special day for certain. Congrats.

[randyr]

Well I was all excited when I saw this thread had a new posting in it thinking Randy had finally made some progress and was sharing pictures....

But NO! It's Don S. and he's got his motor running for the first time. That's always a special day for certain. Congrats.

Sorry, Mike! I've been sidetracked with still getting things ready for the EFI 5.0/AOD swap into my F100. Hopefully I can get it all figured out before the old 352FE lays down on me......I have a thread about it over on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts site. Engine swap - '92 Mustang 5.0HO/AOD into '66 F100 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums Over there I'm "37 Fordguy" which is probably what I should be here but, duh, I didn't think about at the time. I joined here first. It's all good. I'm happy to be here no matter what my user name is!

Thought about doing a thread over here, too but just haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm still collecting parts and learning how to adapt the wiring harness, etc. Hopefully, it will be a nice improvement on mpgs over the 8.5 mpg I'm getting now!

[34_40]

Just miss your posts is all, like you said above. It's all good! Hope your truck rehab goes well and maybe I'll check out your "other" thread..

[randyr]

Just miss your posts is all, like you said above. It's all good! Hope your truck rehab goes well and maybe I'll check out your "other" thread..

Thanks, Mike! I would love to be posting progress on it daily!!! That would be awesome! But.....now, I'd settle for a little progress monthly! Oh well, it will happen....

I'm on here daily, though, and subscribe to several threads so I'm constantly inspired.....and depressed at the same time....

[34_40]

Thanks, Mike! I would love to be posting progress on it daily!!! That would be awesome! But.....now, I'd settle for a little progress monthly! Oh well, it will happen....

I'm on here daily, though, and subscribe to several threads so I'm constantly inspired.....and depressed at the same time....

Did you happen to see my car show pics from last weekend? I found a few trucks that I thought you might enjoy...

Anyway, good to "see" you on here, and good luck with the pickup.

[35fordcoupe]

Good to see you're working on something Randy . I didn't know about the 5.0 and AOD. That should be a nice improvement for a daily truck, but that brings me to my next question - what are ya going to drive while it's down? I don't think the '37 is up to it

[randyr]

Good to see you're working on something Randy . I didn't know about the 5.0 and AOD. That should be a nice improvement for a daily truck, but that brings me to my next question - what are ya going to drive while it's down? I don't think the '37 is up to it

Hey thanks, Robert!! I don't recall seeing any recent posts of your progress either....

Actually, my plan is to try to have the swap so planned that I can pull it off over a long weekend. Going to pre-mount the computer, fuel pump system, modify wiring harness, etc before I ever pull the 352 out. I'm stoked to get it done! The 37 is going to be getting jealous if I don't give her some lovin' soon!

[Don Shillady]

Sorry to be the interloper (again) but in the past this thread has tolerated my occasional "out-ot-the-blue" insertions. This time I was just trying to reach IC2 who has been a frequent contributor here and let him know that I finally got my engine running with some help from a guy who has a shop just up the street from me (Progressive Performance, Ashland Va.). I also appreciate 34-40's help on setting up a Speedster thread for me but the problem remains that I still need a very brief tutorial on how to start a new thread on this revised system.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder

[randyr]

Sorry to be the interloper (again) but in the past this thread has tolerated my occasional "out-ot-the-blue" insertions. This time I was just trying to reach IC2 who has been a frequent contributor here and let him know that I finally got my engine running with some help from a guy who has a shop just up the street from me (Progressive Performance, Ashland Va.). I also appreciate 34-40's help on setting up a Speedster thread for me but the problem remains that I still need a very brief tutorial on how to start a new thread on this revised system.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder

Hey Don, as the original starter of this thread, I say you're welcome to post here anytime you want! I'm sure Dave (IC2) is still around, he's just not posting very often.
Anyway, let me see if I can help you with starting a new thread.
-On the home page click the "forum" tab.
-Choose the forum topic you want to post in, i.e. Hot Rod Lounge, Shop, Hot Rod Talk, etc. Click on your choice.
-When that page opens there should be a stand alone button towards the top left "New Thread". Click that then you're ready to begin.

Obviously, make sure the title of your thread is descriptive of it contents so the viewers and searchers can get some idea of what to expect. Then just have fun!
We always love having you join us on this thread but can certainly understand how your content might get "lost" in these 104 pages! Yikes!

Anyway, hope that helps and let me know if you need any help.
All the best,
Randy