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

[randyr]

I stand corrected - but with the caveat that this solenoid is the device that engages the starter pinion only rather than the centrifugal overriding clutch device that Ford used for many years. The firewall solenoid is the basic controlling device for the starting and ignition system. Regardless , Randy, you will still need a firewall solenoid. If it is a Ford Racing starter, it comes with a simple harness, and which I believe the eBay guy is alluding to - and look at his address - regardless of his statement, is it really new or a rebuild.

Thanks Dave. It seems to be agreed by all concerned that no matter what, I still need that starter-solenoid-relay-controlling device-thingy somewhere on the car...LOL! Whew, I'm glad we got that settled!

As for that particular starter link I sent you, I think they are new but made in China. I don't know that I'll go with them, I was just using them as the example. Sometimes you get what you pay for.....other times you can't pay for what you get....

Anyway, I have a welder coming this morning to fix the cracks in my x-member. The engine should be completed by end of next week. I'll get busy on changing the firewall in the mean time.

Thanks again for all the help!
Stay warm.
Randy

[Irelands child]

Thanks Dave. It seems to be agreed by all concerned that no matter what, I still need that starter-solenoid-relay-controlling device-thingy somewhere on the car...LOL! Whew, I'm glad we got that settled!

As for that particular starter link I sent you, I think they are new but made in China. I don't know that I'll go with them, I was just using them as the example. Sometimes you get what you pay for.....other times you can't pay for what you get....

Anyway, I have a welder coming this morning to fix the cracks in my x-member. The engine should be completed by end of next week. I'll get busy on changing the firewall in the mean time.

Thanks again for all the help!
Stay warm.
Randy

Randy,
I guess that Sanderson still has a bit of a quality problem -

If possible, take some photos and post them - probably on a fresh thread or, better yet, start a journal(I wish I had, but delayed joining the digital camera revolution until SLR's got reasonably priced). Possibly would be a help to others that for whatever reason, choose to keep the original frame on their '30s vintage street rod.

Take your time with the firewall - not sure whether the '37 is fully welded in but think it is, but you will probably have some minor body repairs around the edge as well. Might consider photo documenting this as well - again, should be interesting to others that will be trying it.

I just finished cleaning out the driveway with my baby diesel tractor and snow blower - we ended up with 12-14 inches of wind blown, 20 degree weather, snow. Next weekend, we will be in your part of the world - to see how the Left Coast "suffers" in the winter time - business trip.

[randyr]

Randy,
I guess that Sanderson still has a bit of a quality problem -

If possible, take some photos and post them - probably on a fresh thread or, better yet, start a journal(I wish I had, but delayed joining the digital camera revolution until SLR's got reasonably priced). Possibly would be a help to others that for whatever reason, choose to keep the original frame on their '30s vintage street rod.

Take your time with the firewall - not sure whether the '37 is fully welded in but think it is, but you will probably have some minor body repairs around the edge as well. Might consider photo documenting this as well - again, should be interesting to others that will be trying it.

I just finished cleaning out the driveway with my baby diesel tractor and snow blower - we ended up with 12-14 inches of wind blown, 20 degree weather, snow. Next weekend, we will be in your part of the world - to see how the Left Coast "suffers" in the winter time - business trip.

Actually, the firewall is spotwelded in the 37 with some solid welds around the toe board area. The instructions say to drill them out, dress the edges with a hammer & dolly, then clamp the new one in place. After everything is in place, use the sheetmetal screws supplied in every other hole to hold it in place while spot welding. I figure I can custom fit the whole thing, floorboard and all before ever cranking up a welder. I like that.
I will try to keep a photo record of it. I think the bigger challenge will be to try to sort out all those freakin wires! My dad did much of the wiring while I was in school and some of his methods didn't take into account that he would die someday and I could no longer ask him what he did! Needless to say, he did not use anybody's EZ wiring kit. Thus a few years of a splice here, a splice there and a wire color change or two and it becomes the kinda thing that people have been known to lose a lot of hair over.....fortunately, I still have plenty of hair.....lol...I should just get a kit and start over....yikes

Sorry, for the confusion over the other Dave.....don't know what I was thinking.....and then, I guess "Henry" is actually Jack and not Charles or Henry.....but hey, what the hell do I know??!! You're right tho, who has time to post that freakin much???? I thought we're posting a lot to run this one up into the 50's......some good info has come out of it though and I really appreciate it!

Now, as for "suffering on the Left Coast...." where do you plan to suffer?? Don't forget to bring your heaviest light sweater cause God knows, you never know when you might get hit with one of our cold wintery blasts!!

I'll shut up now....some of the other cars guys may get tired of our chit chat about the weather and stuff....LOL....personally, I think it's kinda fun!

Later,
Randy

[Irelands child]

Actually, the firewall is spotwelded in the 37 with some solid welds around the toe board area. say, he did not use anybody's EZ wiring kit. Thus a few years of a splice here, a splice there and a wire color change or two and it becomes the kinda thing that people have been known to lose a lot of hair over.....fortunately, I still have plenty of hair.....lol...I should just get a kit and start over....yikes

Sorry, for the confusion over the other Dave.....don't know what I was thinking.....and then, I guess "Henry" is actually Jack and not Charles or Henry.....but hey, what the hell do I know??!! You're right tho, who has time to post that freakin much???? I thought we're posting a lot to run this one up into the 50's......some good info has come out of it though and I really appreciate it!

Now, as for "suffering on the Left Coast...." where do you plan to suffer?? Don't forget to bring your heaviest light sweater cause God knows, you never know when you might get hit with one of our cold wintery blasts!!

I'll shut up now....some of the other cars guys may get tired of our chit chat about the weather and stuff....LOL....personally, I think it's kinda fun!

Later,
Randy

Randy,
It's about what I thought as far as firewall 'attachment'. Probably don't need to be too careful with the old one if it is in really bad shape - but someone is always looking for an original.

If you are considering a wiring harness, take a look at American Auto Wire. The wires are not pre terminated which allows you plenty of routing latitude and keeps the wire bundle manageable without a snarled mess. Several these pre terminated others are very good though.

We will be in the N Hollywood area just behind the Burbank airport - yeah, I know, ugly part of town.

I think most of the guys have been ignoring us for the most part in our gab fest. But that's the nice thing about these forums.

Later

[randyr]

[QUOTE=Irelands child]Randy,
It's about what I thought as far as firewall 'attachment'. Probably don't need to be too careful with the old one if it is in really bad shape - but someone is always looking for an original.


Well, I'm guessing there won't be too many standing in line for this one.....LOL! It's embarassingly pitiful! Can't wait to get a shiney new one in there.

[Irelands child]

[QUOTE=randyr]

Randy,


Well, I'm guessing there won't be too many standing in line for this one.....LOL! It's embarassingly pitiful! Can't wait to get a shiney new one in there.

Ouch - Nasty!!

Yep, you need a wiring harness (IMHO)

[thesals]

whats wrong with that one?? all the wires are there and work??? just clean it up a bit! if theres things missing or frayed and dont work and all, then i'd go ahead and replace it..... to me it looked like there were tooo many wires under the hood... maybe you can eliminate some of it

[randyr]

Randy,

If you are considering a wiring harness, take a look at American Auto Wire. The wires are not pre terminated which allows you plenty of routing latitude and keeps the wire bundle manageable without a snarled mess. Several these pre terminated others are very good though.


Later

Hey Dave,
Got a personal phone call from the American Autowire people this morning regarding my email inquiry of what they thought would be best for my car. He highly recommended the Highway 22 modular system. It sounds pretty impressive but it's definitely pricey at $429. Sometimes you get what you pay for with the cheaper units.....anyway, you think it's really worth the extra money?.....just trying to figure this stuff out.....thanks.

[Irelands child]

Hey Dave,
Got a personal phone call from the American Autowire people this morning regarding my email inquiry of what they thought would be best for my car. He highly recommended the Highway 22 modular system. It sounds pretty impressive but it's definitely pricey at $429. Sometimes you get what you pay for with the cheaper units.....anyway, you think it's really worth the extra money?.....just trying to figure this stuff out.....thanks.

Randy
Ya caught me eating lunch -

I have the predecessor to that kit and it is, for the roadster, way too much but may be just right for your car. You wont "fill" it up, but if you end up running air, power windows and doors and a few other accessories, you will have some expansion room without adding sub panels. Mine was about that price as well.

Just for the fun of it, I priced out a Ron Francis kit a while back and it came to over $600 for a comparable system - he charges extra for a lot of what American supplies with the kit. American and Ron Francis are at the big NSRA and Goodguy shows and will answer your questions and both have good customer service. Painless just blew me off at a show more than once and I have been told(don't know first hand), some customer service problems. They also seem to have ~one gauge lighter wire but that may be due to a different type of insulation. Regardless, it is, by others, a well respected product that I am not crazy about

I STILL (IMO only) dislike preterminated panels - but it looks like American now has a couple.

[Irelands child]

[QUOTE=Irelands child]Randy


This is what it looks like. There are a few more pieces like battery cables, wiring for the trunk lift, door solenoids and fan control but for the most part, this is it - and it's a lot of stuff.

[randyr]

Randy
Ya caught me eating lunch -

I have the predecessor to that kit and it is, for the roadster, way too much but may be just right for your car. You wont "fill" it up, but if you end up running air, power windows and doors and a few other accessories, you will have some expansion room without adding sub panels. Mine was about that price as well.

Just for the fun of it, I priced out a Ron Francis kit a while back and it came to over $600 for a comparable system - he charges extra for a lot of what American supplies with the kit. American and Ron Francis are at the big NSRA and Goodguy shows and will answer your questions and both have good customer service. Painless just blew me off at a show more than once and I have been told(don't know first hand), some customer service problems. They also seem to have ~one gauge lighter wire but that may be due to a different type of insulation. Regardless, it is, by others, a well respected product that I am not crazy about

I STILL (IMO only) dislike preterminated panels - but it looks like American now has a couple.

I had original asked the guy about the Power Plus 18 circuit unit, which is like $309. He said for $100 more there was no comparison for my kind of car. He explained the whole modular thing and separate packaging and instructions for each section, etc. My car already has power windows, it had AC & cruise before I ripped them out to eventually get better ones. It will eventually have shaved door handles with remote entry, etc. I would also like to upgrade the guages....I'm still running originals for the most part. So, basically, my goal is to upgrade my wire system to make it user friendly, installer friendly (I'm the installer), neat, organized and trouble free. I'm not sure what you mean by preterminated panels.....

I was talking to another fellow with a kit from EZ Wiring, $185, he said it worked well but the instructions were less than adequate.....I just want to make sure I'm not spending an extra $200+ for mostly packaging & instructions. If I'm going to spend that kinda money, I want their to be some major differences, you know?
Here I go rambling again.....you still in Burbank or back home now?