Getting wired up...Part 2

Had a quick few moments to put a few electrical components and parts on the car this weekend. It was nothing spectacular but exciting nonetheless!

The first thing I did was to install the fuse box, solenoid, and flasher unit on the inside passenger fender well. Then after adjusting the harness to align it correctly, the voltage regulator/control box was installed next on the firewall. (Notice the original cool looking black clip cover on the control box. It almost puts happy tears in my eyes!)

Once the engine compartment wiring was all laid out and the headlights and turn signals were hooked up, I moved inside to install the steering rack support unit. The wire harness was then threaded through the support.

After finally getting the harness all strung out in its proper place, I needed to take a break. This wiring diagram became my best friend for a couple hours.

 I decided to install Old Biddy’s original hood latch that I found buried deep in the annals of a forgotten box in my cellar. I restored it first and then installed it. (I have no picture of it as I was too excited and impatient while doing it.) Why was I excited? First because I actually found it! Second because installing the latch was the only thing holding me up from doing this!!

The grille is not perfect and will need some restoration later on, but it is just fine for now! If someone has a better grille please let me know. I also need a complete rear bumper. At least Old Biddy has a nearly complete “face” now, although she is still missing her headlights and bumperettes.

This week is another busy week. Whenever I have a spare moment I will do something on the car as always.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Getting wired up...Part 1

Since the harness was missing its grommets, Josh sent me three new ones. They arrived last Thursday. Thanks so much, Josh!!

Before doing anything, Scotchgard was sprayed on the harness fabric. John read this tip in British Marque News and told me about it. I thought I would give it a try. It will hopefully help to preserve the look and durability of the cloth wire covering…at least it will not harm it.

Then the new grommets were slid into their proper position. Not a fun job!!

The harness was pushed and pulled from the interior passenger compartment through to the engine bay…

…and the grommets were installed.

The rear harness was weaved from the trunk, over the wheel well and into the sill on the passenger side.

And it was connected to the front harness.

The rear lights and fuel pump were the first connections made. I know the wires have to go through the hole in the body wall, but I just hooked them up like this so that it would make it easier to snake the harness through to the body. I will fix it! Yeah, and I will clean the dust out of the trunk, too, while I am at it!

It is going to be a busy couple of work weeks coming up. I am now waiting for a clutch assembly from Minimania...they told me it is coming from England this week.  Once that arrives there will be more engine updates. I hope to get the rest of the harness laid out in the car and have a few components (voltage regulator, fuse box, selenoid, flasher unit, etc...) hooked up by this weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

The wire harness looms over me.

It took four and a half months, but the brand new wire harness (loom) finally arrived! It is beautiful…and it smells good, too!

The first task was to inspect it and compare it to the original. I laid them out side by side on the cellar floor. The old one is in bad shape with many wires chopped up, and some were “repaired” at some time.

I only had three minor issues with the new one. The clip connector cover to the voltage stabilizer from the generator/dynamo had a different cover than the original.

Not a big deal at all. I just took the original one off, cleaned it and then replaced it onto the new clip. These connector covers are no longer being reproduced. They should be since they are used on almost all vintage British cars (that I know of anyway.)

Next, I found that the new lamp/bulbs connectors to the “idiot” lights and the speedometer were different than the original. The old bulbs and sockets, the screw-based #987 for the speedometer, and #281  for the small “idiots,” were replaced with new plastic sockets. I e-mailed Josh at British Wiring to see what the modern replacements were since the original bulbs did not fit. He told me that the larger bulbs are now #194 and the smaller are #34. We will go with those because I do not feel like chopping up a brand new harness (that was fairly expensive!) to put old sockets on it.

The last issue was that the two rubber grommets that cushion the harness in the firewall and interior body panel were missing. Josh informed me that there should have been grommets put on the new one so they either forgot at the factory, or that size is not made any more. It should still be available because 1100s were very common in Britain. I think they are a #508 grommet.

Once I get the grommets and bulbs (again, little parts are holding me up!), I can begin to install the harness. I cannot wait to put in the other electrical components such as the fuse box, and the solenoid, etc…

I am very pleased with the harness! Special thanks to Josh at British Wiring, who has been through the muck with me, and the folks in England, who made it…ever...so...slowly. The old harness was just nasty and unusable. So glad that I got the new one!

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Finally a two door sports sedan again!!

All summer long I have been searching for the proper screws to install the doors on Old Biddy. The original ones were rusted solid to the other car body and all twelve had to be drilled out in order to take the doors off. Locating Part # RMZ 512 (described as 5/16”-24 x ¾” oval head, Phillips or posi-drive, with pointed ends) was difficult. None of the major British parts suppliers carry that correct size anymore, but DMP fasteners came through for me. Check my last post for the picture.

Once they arrived, I did a quick test fit just to make sure they worked. I was a bit leary because they did not have the pointed end which acts as a “catch/guide” for threading the screw onto the floating adjustment plate in the body. But they seemed to work just fine.

I called my friend, John, over to help me install the doors. We first rested the door on a wooden crate and cushioned it with foam to help support it. No use injuring our backs. Then surrounded the opening with blue masking tape to protect the paint.

As expected, we had problems lining up the screws to the floating plates.

John went home and made a tool from a 5/16"-24 bolt. He ground the end to a point and put it on the end of an Allen wrench. It worked great!

The first door, the driver's side, went on nicely but it is a bit crooked. Shims will have to be made for the bottom hinge to align the fit properly. The second door, the passenger side, went on easier and it aligned better. I still have to tap out two holes so the screws can tighten the hinge to the body on that side. Yeay! Old Biddy, the two door sports sedan is finally sporting her two doors!

And look what the Brown truck delivered Wednesday!! FINALLY!

It will take about another hour to finish with the doors, and it is onto the wiring harness. I am looking forward to it! It will be me, an MG 1100 wiring schematic, two wiring harnesses to trace and compare, and a cold beverage...life will be good!
What a good week! When it rains it pours…literally. We have had nearly 15 inches of rain here in the past two weeks.
Thanks for visiting.

Toddy

Big things DO come in small packages! Door Panel repair Part 2.

Big doings this week, as I will try to explain.

First two very important small parts arrived, the door panel clips (25 total) arrived from Victoria British…

…and the door bolt screws arrived from DMP fasteners in Chatsworth, California. Yes I know they do not have the proper pointed ends, but they are new and not rusty and nobody will unscrew them to look! I hope not anyway.

Since I received the door panel clips, I went right to work putting the passenger side door panel together. Just like the first one, I fit the Masonite panel to the door (with the clips on first this time), so I could mark the holes for the window crank and the door handle. I drilled the holes and checked to see if they fit. They do!

Then I fit the vinyl to the panel. This one will need a little more attention than the first. The vinyl is more wrinkly and lumpy.

I had to trim this panel quite a bit as you can see by the red marker line.

After cutting the Masonite, the vinyl was fit on. This one gave me a bit more trouble than the first. Some of the staples in the red pad strip did not line up so I used my needle nose pliers and straightened them out.

Finally stapling it on with what seemed like ten million staples. Since the staples were a touch too long, I cut up a cardboard cereal box into thin strips to act as a spacer. It worked great and I should have done this on the other one, too, but it is too late now!

It all worked out well and after my whole summer went by, both panels are finally finished (minus the handles and door pockets, which will be installed after the doors are hung and these are attached to the doors.)

And now for some eye candy. I had to drop stuff off at Chris's last night. Here is the rebuilt transmission about 75% complete. My goodness it is sure pretty!

And remember the stinky, icky, oily sludge that was stuck in the bottom? Well, look at it now!

Next, now that the screws came, I will hang the doors on Old Biddy. I will have to call on my good friend John to help me as it is a two person job.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy