I'll start taking orders after this thing is done
My plan is to have the padded top removable to access wiring from the top. The actual dash panel will be fixed. I have always disliked working on my dash since it is so crowded back there.

That is very nice!

SoFlaFiat wrote:I'll start taking orders after this thing is done
My plan is to have the padded top removable to access wiring from the top. The actual dash panel will be fixed. I have always disliked working on my dash since it is so crowded back there.

That is a awesome idea, I may have drop my car off to u next,after beek is done

Nice job with the dash. I'm nothing like brave enough to attempt that - but the top hatches is a GREAT idea... (you've obviously put it all back together and then remembed the speedo cable?? )

<hijack>

Oh... back to hijacking... I got the bumperettes fitted to the shock mounts today and on the car...



Not too bad...



And enough sticks out in front so that there's at least an illusion of a safety enhancement...



</hijack>

I think that's it that I'm going to be doing to mine for a while now. Time to enjoy the summer...

Alan - you're an inspiration for my next spider

Glad you guys like the shape and plan! I've been at the wiring harness all day and if nothing else I can say it will be great when it's done!! Laying on my back with my head in the footwell...

Jim, I'll go up to Beek's and drive your car down here when he's done... For the right price! Gotta think shipping costs!

Andy, that looks great and if my car looked like yours, I'd lay off and enjoy the summer too!! I also still think the dash rework is less daunting than upholstering seats and that's not saying anything about rusty seat pans that must have needed work!! One of the pictures shows the VW lights very well and they do fit nicely in the stock hole. I'm betting lots of people are and have been looking for a bolt on option like that.

Bolt on with a bit of dremel action

For those PMing me....

- lights are VW Gold Mk3 Euro Spec (eBay, 25$-50$)
- bumperettes are Porsche rear bumperettes from a 02 boxster (eBay, 50$-80$)

I think we'll just keep the mutual appreciation club going. I'm in awe of anyone who can make a living doing this stuff - I calculated how much my seats were worth if I used my hourly charge rate.... Needless to say I now understand how to suggest my car is worth 30k+!

Quick q on yours - are you going to hide away the wiring to keep the engine bay as clean as possible?

A

Talking about hiding wiring, it's a good thing I mocked up the dash as I found out I had mounted my fuse box too low. I had to move it up and forward. I may still end up adding to the upholstered section on the bottom...



Andy, back when I welded up the supports on my inner front fenders, I added wire chases with the intention of running all my front end wiring up the outside of the engine bay. This worked out on the passengers side as I have my park, directional and fog lights outside the engine bay. The drivers side on the other hand didn't make sense as I needed to run the relay block for the four headlights. So, the pictures that I have posted show all the wiring which will be in the engine bay. There is some but I am trying to keep it as clean as possible. I have the fog lights, cooling fan, fuel pump and horn on relays but these are all behind the firewall.

Why not have the relay block under the dash?

A

I was worried about the distance between relay and light. If I move the relay block behind the firewall, which I would like better, I will have an 8' +/- run to the passengers side headlights. I'm using 14 gauge tinned marine wire, just since I have it...
Would I need to go up to 12?
Opinions?
Andy, I assume you are running relays for all your headlights. Are the relays mounted in the cabin? No issues?
You're just trying to trick me into dimmer headlights so I don't outshine you!!

What is that red handle for....looks like those are brake lines or fuel lines going into it? Please tell me its a line lock feature for burnouts.....
http://youtu.be/O3nbwCjZKk8

My relays are in the engine bay - I am going to move them when I tidy up the electrics though.

I'm probably going to put a panel in to handle them, and run a separate series of cables for the headlinghts. As for gauge - I would think 14 is just fine - I haven't really thought about it yet as I haven't embarked upon the re-run (and I normally think through these things about 10 minutes after I begin... )

In terms of outshining... I really love the 5.25 apertures you've put in, they're going to look so nice... Not sure that they'll compete with 4x 7", 150W though.... especially when I finally get the "raking" HIDs in place (I've found a nice BMW replacement kit now that has all the self levelling motors built into the projector unit, and that should fit inside the headlight bowl)... although this is definately a project for next winter.

14 AWG should be fine. 14 AWG is about 3 ohms per 1000 feet; 12 AWG is about 2 ohms per 1000 feet.

If you are going 8 feet that equates to 0.024 ohms for the 14 AWG. If you drew 10 amps on the headlights that would be a voltage drop of 0.24 volts for 14 AWG (versus about 0.16 volts for 12 AWG). Your connectors and relays are probably creating more resistance and voltage drop than that.

The 14 AWG should be fine for any current draw less than about 15 amps. 14 AWG is what is generally used in houses with 15 amp breakers at 120 volts.

Kev,
Yep, that's it!! I'm into burning up tires.... No really, it's a brake proportioning valve, a manual one that came with the car, and a good conversation piece to boot..

Andy,
I know I'll never really shine like you!

AJ,
Great tech advise!

That's it, I'm moving the relays into the cabin...Crap, now I have to weld up the holes in my air box!

The drop down panel in the passenger footwell feels like a good location for it.... If you still have it after your new dash.

SoFlaFiat wrote:Kev,
Yep, that's it!! I'm into burning up tires.... No really, it's a brake proportioning valve, a manual one that came with the car, and a good conversation piece to boot..

I assumed you just wanted to build this car to blowup engine parts so that you could get it back into the garage to have a perpetual build going...lol

That is a very cool proportioning valve..i've never seen one like that. I'm going to have to do a little research.