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I may have done some of the damage removing it, but regardless the speedo gear doesn't look like it would have lasted much longer. With the high tooth count making them so thin the supplier does say they have a reduced lifespan.


Made up a replacement.

Can you install a sensor in it's place instead? And an electronic speedo? I am sure I have seen somewhere a mob that made electronic conversions for various old cars that look the part.

The TKO box has both, previously I had the sensor connected to the ECU while still using the factory speedo. New one is hopefully on the way...

Continued butchering of the rocker covers, coil brackets are now permanently mounted.


Wiring is progressing slowly. ECU in place.


Started on coil connectors.


Still some work to do here, but everything is basically mapped out.

Keep getting side-tracked on small projects, but nice to tidy some things up while its all apart. The fuel rail inlet is quite tight against the heater hoses so I wanted to change it to an angled fitting. I have no idea why 3/8" NPT fittings no longer seem to have a 3/8" hose tail? (Black fitting is the one removed)


It is however excessively thick so there's room to machine...


And with the ugly blue knocked off, that will work.

Another side-track project, trying to clean up the heater hoses. They were both running down the passenger side rocker cover along with the tap, but now that the distributor is mostly gone there's room for the tap sideways across the back.

Got hold of some stainless bends and tubing, and machined up some fittings for joining and hose tails.


Welded up and added some mounting tabs.


These now run down either side of the manifold and are a lot less in the way of the rocker covers and injectors.


Manifold still has to come off for a re-paint, I'll make up some ends to leak test them before final fitting.

Nice solution on the heater hoses.

I do like the heater hose solution as well ...

Can I suggest extending the one that crosses over the front around behind the other hose, then 90 towards the front of the car, then 90 down into it's location so you only have a short straight piece of rubber hose, would really finish it off.

-Enjoy

Thanks guys.

I agree the crossing hoses look a bit odd at the front but there's not enough space for more bends and a straight hose coupler. Next time the water pump comes off I'll probably thread tap the other connection for the smaller bypass hose fitting, then they can be swapped over which should allow tidying it up somewhat.

Bought some of these.


I want them to be as integrated as possible, but ideally I'd like to avoid cutting up an original SS dash. So far the plan is to put the instrument cluster away for safe keeping and build a new structure to house the gauges, along with some surrounds that adapt it to the standard recesses. A bit like this.


Will be using locating rings to position the surrounds over the gauges. As per usual I couldn't find any aluminium the right size, not so bad now I have a furnace. The first couple used some old extrusions of unknown origin which cast fine but were a nightmare to machine, need to be more selective in future. This one's an old water pump housing.


After much machining on the lathe and a little on the mill.


As usual it took a few goes to get the correct shape on the 3D printing, but I'm pretty happy with these.


The surrounds are a very snug fit into the locating rings, which have a recess that sits around the gauge bezel. When the replacement thread tap arrives the holes will be tapped for some M3 screws. The gauges will be mounted in a place of aluminium or something like that, and attach to the back of the fascia as the original instrument cluster did. The locating rings will screw to it also.


Depth to the gauge face is supposed to be about the same as the originals.


Mock up. The speedo surround is a funny colour because I've started sanding it smooth. There's just enough depth in the original holes for the little flange at the front to sit flush.


Those with good eyes might also notice there are a couple of small protrusions in the quad gauge surround. These will house coloured LEDs for the brake warning and check engine lights.