Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[J. Robinson]

This last pic is of the finished wiring on the dash panel. It is now ready to go into the car. The big thick (10 ga) red wire in the coil of wires at lower left is the power wire from the battery to the ignition switch. The 12 ga yellow wire will power the accessory side of the fuse panel when the key is "ON". The 12 ga red wire is power to the headlights (I like to keep it separate from the ignition switch power) and the 14 ga black wire (substituted for 14 ga dark green) will be power from the fuse panel to the taillight side of the light switch.

On the right side, in addition to the wires that were there in the last picture, there is the 16 ga brown wire that will go to the taillights and the 12 ga light blue wire that goes from the light switch to the dimmer switch. Also in that coil of wires at the top right are the green and yellow rear turn signal/brake light wires. They are not connected to the dash panel and will go directly to the steering column, but I bundled them in with the taillight wire.

Before I put the panel in the car I need to mount the brake light switch. When I re-install the steering column, I will attach to it the wires for the front turn signals and the flasher/brake switch inputs. That should be all the wires; I'll just need to connect them to all the components and the wiring will be done.

[J. Robinson]

The brake light switch I'm using is the common GM style. This particular one is for a mid-70s Camaro without cruise control, but GM has used this same part for many years and so have I. The '87 Chevy S-10 pedal assembly that I am using originally had a switch like this, but I had to remove it (and the bracket that held it) to make room for the cowl-mounted steering box. All that's required is a simple bracket to hold the switch where it will be actuated by movement of the brake pedal.

I fabricated the switch bracket from a piece of 3/16" x 1 1/4" flat stock. It is held in place by one of the steering box mounting bolts. Since the switch is in a new location, I had to attach something to the pedal to actuate the switch. There were already a couple of factory-drilled holes in the pedal's arm, so I just cut a small piece of thinwall angle iron (old bedrail material), drilled a hole, and bolted it in place.

Of course, they're out of order, but here are the pics:

[dlotraf33]

Looks like you should be ready for a test ride soon. That switch looks faamillyar ( said in Peter Sellers as Dr Foo Man Chu). I used the same switch in both the 48 and 28. Probably alot of other good choices, in my case it's the switch in my 66 Chevy, so I knew what to get at the local Auto Zone.

[J. Robinson]

Oops! Sorry, double post...

[34_40]

Simple and effective! Love it!

[J. Robinson]

Yep. I've been using this same model of brakelight switch in a bunch of cars since 1975. Also, whenever I need motor mounts for a small block Chevy, I always ask for '69 Camaro mounts. I guess we're creatures of habit. When ya find something that works, why change?

[J. Robinson]

One more thing to do... While I still have the dash out of the way it would be an opportune time to mount the accelerator pedal. I received this nice pedal as a gift; I just need to make a mount for it. I started with a piece of 1/8" x 2" flat stock, cut and bent to the contour of the side of the trans tunnel. Next, I cut a piece of old bedrail angle iron to form the upright. Since getting a wrench to the backside of the upright would be difficult, I welded nuts to the backside if the bolt holes.

[J. Robinson]

Here is the finished mount with the pedal and the whole thing installed in the car.

[J. Robinson]

Well, the wiring is done except for the horn and horn relay (I don't have them yet), but there's really nothing to show because the wiring is all out of sight under the dash. Now I just need to get the carburetor fixed or replaced so the engine will idle and install a new clutch hose. Then it will be test-drive time!

[J. Robinson]

I DROVE IT!! The weather cooperated today and I finally got to take my much-anticipated first test drive. I fired it up, moved it out of the garage under its own power, and went down the street. I circled the same block and drove down the same side street that I did on my coupe's first test run back in 2005. My wife clicked a couple of pictures as I came back toward our house.

I need to adjust the brakelight switch (brakelights stayed on after the second stop) and set the toe-in, but it was a very smooth first ride. I wrestled with and swore at the cowl steering when I was building it, but it steers really nice. This thing is going to be loads of fun!

[johnboy]

YEEHA!
Good one!

I'll wager that the grin still stretches from ear to ear!

Pleased for ya!

[stovens]

Congrats way to go Jim. I took a picture of a track style T this weekend that I'll post up for you. Similar color scheme to what your thinking about.

[Dave Severson]

Looks great Jim!!!! That first ride makes all the grief and aggravation a guy encounters during a build just disappear!!!!!

[ScooterCO]

Does my heart good to see you drive it!
Congratulations on a great quality build.

[stovens]

Hey Jim here are two that you might like, different years, but along the same lines.