Story so far series 1 resto

[lancianut666]

Hi all, bit more progress made today. I have managed to get a few wires terminated on the cleaned up fusebox.

[simonandjuliet]

Great progress !

First , second and third series Appias all being done at the same time - interesting to see the differences and similarities between them

[lancianut666]

I also managed to get the rusty spiral conduit to the front lights replaced with some natty tubing and glands. I first continued the wrapping of the looms and when the pipes were in (after removing the ends of the old spiral pipes and widening the hole a wee bit) I could feed the mini looms through. The gland  threads fit the hole in the back of the headlamp bowl so should be an easy job to get the headlamps wired in.

[lancianut666]

a few more pics

[chugga boom]

I like the conduits, where do you get them from??

[lancianut666]

Hi the conduits come from an Aladdins cave of goodies aka Vehicle Wiring Products Ltd    http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/sleeving/sleeving.php

Managed a bit more today but have ran out of cable , more is on the way. The next job is to mod the dashboard so the series 2 ignition switch will fit.
the fusebox is looking a bit better and under the dash we are getting some new cabling in.

[lancianut666]

Hi all
bit more progress today as the new wire came

[lancianut666]

had a play about with the horn as the button in the wheel didn't move and I couldn't get a circuit through to the fuse box and horns. I stripped all the cover off and dipped the button in some hot water and it popped out. A quick clean and a bit of grease on the little spring and it was clicking away merrily. so back on the car and guess what?  you already know the answer a disconnection between the horn push and the fusebox.

[lancianut666]

word of warning the plastic on the appia emblem is made of what I don't know but melts pdq when you spray carb cleaner on it. update on the horn when I was taking out some cables from the junction box the feed to the horn and the headlamp relay where bridged out, seems like the elves found the wire was broken when the world was a much younger place and bodged it so I guess when you flashed the lights the horn beeped. to get to the wire looks like the steering column will have to come out oh dear. might have to be a dash button for now.

[fay66]

word of warning the plastic on the appia emblem is made of what I don't know but melts pdq when you spray carb cleaner on it. update on the horn when I was taking out some cables from the junction box the feed to the horn and the headlamp relay where bridged out, seems like the elves found the wire was broken when the world was a much younger place and bodged it so I guess when you flashed the lights the horn beeped. to get to the wire looks like the steering column will have to come out oh dear. might have to be a dash button for now.

Not familiar with Appias  but what was the original horn operation? my Fulvia Series 1 2c Berlina sounds the same with the 'horn' push button in the centre of the steering wheel being the headlamp flasher, while the horns are operated by a large chrome ring also on the steering wheel.
Dash button sounds good but I remember back in the days when I had Minis that my horns were wired up to a spring loaded switch on an extended arm which made it easier to reach.

Brian
8227

[lancianut666]

Hi
seems the centre button is the horn , the diagrams I have show contacts springs ,brushes etc all to do with the horn no mention of flashing the lights. It is a steering wheel off job with a tube down the inside of the column carrying the cables for the light switch and horn?
Anyway got a bit more done today, light switch, wiper switch and ignition switch all in.

[simonandjuliet]

Interesting to see the wiring coming along. I have that to do still. If you want to change the steering wheel centre, I have a spare (new) hornpush.

[lancianut666]

Hi all
thanks Simon for the offer of the new wheel button, i will see what can be done with the old one first. Onto the wiring again , decided to abandon the loom going to the rear lights etc and put a new one through the car so I sawed the old one off under the dash (see pic) it is looking alot more modern under the dash now with just a few more switches to wire in and I can wrap the loom and tidy it all up. i am missing the flasher return switch under the bonnet so will just lay the cables in ready. Guess what? I've ran out of cable again and I still have a few long runs to do to the back of the car. Still toying with the idea of replacing the back lights with something more modern and a lot safer. I will put the extra cables in anyway so no probs if I decide to upgrade the rear lights. Any requests for the new wire colour? i will order it tonight or tomorrow. I estimate to have used nearly 50m of cable already.
Clarkey

[simonandjuliet]

I would be tempted to keep the original lights, make sure the reflectors and lenses are all clean so work to their maximum effect

[DavidLaver]

I'll have to dig out photos but my B20 got rubberlite little round things in the back window to give high level brake lights and amber indicators.  To me both safer than original or replacement while keeping the outside of the car standard - or in my case to get the rear lights back to standard.

They were a bit like this - amber and red.

http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?sg=1&pgCode=010&sgName=Electrical&pgName=Lighting&agCode=0040&agName=Side+and+Flasher+Lamps&pCode=010.153

I also added little chrome rectangular lights under the bumper for reversing and rear fog.

http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?sg=1&pgCode=010&sgName=Electrical&pgName=Lighting&agCode=0062&agName=Reverse%2FRear+Fog+Lamps&pCode=010.452

http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?sg=1&pgCode=010&sgName=Electrical&pgName=Lighting&agCode=0062&agName=Reverse%2FRear+Fog+Lamps&pCode=010.451

...and a heated rear window, two speed wipers and electric washers with four jets and a big tank.  My first priority was wiring and with those mods I had in mind a late return journey in bad weather.  Going places is always great fun, its getting home again that can grind and being able to see and being confident of being seen (even at a B20's pace!!) takes a lot of the strain out of it. 

I had a pair of door mirrors as well, but that's a London thing with all our weird five lane wide one way junctions and roundabouts where stopping to have a really good look is more dangerous than keeping your foot down and going for the gap.

David