Re: [FWDLK] wiring - Steering

["Mel Lester Jr." <meljr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Scott,

I have used various Painless Wiring kits on three of my vehicles and
highly endorse them:

On my 89 Shelby Dakota ET Bracket racer, I am using their race car kit,
which is much more reliable than trying to use the standard firewall
connectors with the greater electric loads and vibrations (e.g. two foot
wheel stands) these vehicles must endure.

I also used a race car kit on my Triumph Spitfire when I converted it to
12V NEGATIVE ground and drove out the spirit of darkness (Lucas electrical
components -- "The reason the English drink warm beer is that they own
Lucas refrigerators").  By the way, future plans for the Spit are to
replace the drivetrain with a Dakota 2.5 four upgraded with a Mopar
Performance Super 60 turbo kit and a Dakota five speed backed up by a
spare Viper IRS I have lying around in the shop.

On my Austin Healey, which is actually a kit from Classic Roadsters in
Fargo ND, I used the GM kit you are contemplating as it has a tilt
steering column out of a Chevette.  It works great with the Mopar Performance
(Auto Meter) instuments and the slightly warmed over Chrysler 440
motorhome powerplant (should run low 9's, but won't pass NHRA tech without
a funny car roll cage instead of the 5 point, Cobra style bar).  The only
real adjustment I had to make was to order a Chrysler compatible sender
with the fuel cell.

My current project is a pro street 56 Savoy 2DR post.  It has a front frame
graft, torsion bars and big block K-Member from a 70 Plymouth B body with a
383 and LoadFlite sitting on their respective mounts.  I will probably use
another GM tilt column and the full meal deal Painless Wiring kit with it
also. For the cost, you can't beat 'em -- just install it and forget it.

-mel (in somewhat sunny Oregon)

Mel Lester Jr.       meljr@xxxxxxxxxxxx       http://www.connet80.com/~meljr

Plymouths:
56 Suburban Deluxe 2DR SW  (2) 56 Savoy 2DR Sedans  56 Suburban Custom 4DR SW
56 Savoy 4DR Sedan         63 Sport Fury Convert.   63 Fury 2DR HT (440)
63 Fury 4DR HT Race Car    65 Belvedere II Convert.
Dodges:
73 Dart 340 Sport Pro St.  74 B300 CarryVan         76 D100 Adventurer SE PU
76 D100 Warlock PU         79 D150 Custom PU        89 Shelby Dakota Race Truck
93 Viper RT/10             98 Dodge Intrepid ES
Others:
63 Austin Healey 3000      71 Triumph Spitfire      81 Fiat 2000 Spider
84 Chevrolet Caprice wagon  00 Honda Shadow ACE Tourer 1100

On Wed, 4 Apr 2001, Scott H wrote:

> Looks like the first try did not come through.
> I have been thinking about the next stage of my 1956 Dodge project.
> I need to re-do the wiring and want to add a fuse box. I have seen a lot of
> companies that make wiring harnesses for GM based street rods and customs.
> These generally plug right into a GM steering column.
> I have not had an opportunity to disassemble the power steering box/column
> for the Dodge.  Is there a short splined shaft that attaches the ps box to
> the column or is there one long stering shaft from the box up to the
> steering wheel?
> I am thinking that if there is a short splined shaft, like a modern car, I
> could use a GM steering column and an off the shelf "custom" wiring harness.
>   I know that IDIDIT makes all kinds of steering column couplers so that
> would be easy and the wiring would then be pretty east and relatively ch$$p.
> Scott
>
>
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