Story so far series 1 resto

[lancianut666]

In reply to Simon I think the original lights just don't cut it in modern traffic. might be I can keep the wiring intact and refit the old lights for special occasions. Something on the lines of what David refers to will be where I would like to get to. The thought of someone running into the back of the old thing is not worth thinking about. Found another pic from today

[lancianut666]

Hi all.
got bogged down in the horns/steering wheel disaster zone but after 5hrs on and off me and the elves have managed to get the circuit down to the horns connected. First job was to test the horns no surprise when neither gave so much as a cheep so they were opened up and the contacts cleaned. see pics methinks they need painting they are a bit scruffy. problem is I have no mounting brackets so they will have to wait a bit longer

[lancianut666]

After a quick rebuild I wired up the horns to a battery and they worked just need a tune up. On to the horn button conundrum I decided to take the wheel off and check out the brass brush just behind the steering wheel. Got excited when I found the spring had rusted off about three turns at the bottom so a clean up and  all back together after a quick circuit test was positive but alas the horn button still did not complete the circuit. Check out the mystery part inside the steering column. The hole on the left in the column is where the spring and brush sit you can make out the iron oxide in there

[lancianut666]

So back to the horn push assembly i wire brushed all the steel components and sanded up the brass bits , still no joy so I turned the assembly upside down so the contact pin would sit on a different part of the brass ring on the steering wheel where the brush runs but on the otherside. At last that cured it and now when we press the horn push button a contact is made right through to the horns wiring.

[lancianut666]

the pick shows the bit of spring that had rusted off, the mystery object was out of the end of the gearstick (oops how did that get in there)

[DavidLaver]

"I must dig out some photos of those Aurelia lights" - but easier still I saw the car at Brooklands on Saturday and took some more.  Jason and Louise are as glad of and as happy with them as I was.  You really have to know to look for them.  From memory the brackets are tucked inside the rear screen trim so completely reversible.

David

[DavidLaver]

You really have to look for the lights IN THE BACK WINDOW.  The ones on the bumper mounts do stick out a bit UNLESS THE BUMPER IS FITTED which is a photo I will have to dig out...

For completeness here's the switch panel where the radio would go with an ammeter and water temp.  I think the four pull switches do reverse, rear fog, rear screen and the cooling fan over-ride.  Would the lights originally be where the fire extinguisher button now sits?  I can't think what would have gone where that toggle now does the lights - dash light dimmer?  The battery cut out is on a little black panel under the dash I think to the right of the wheel.  The stalk bottom right I think is an extra indicator switch they can reach with a harness on which wasn't an issue for me with legs a foot shorter.  Wipe and wash might be an extra panel below the dash as well.

NEXT time I'll take a few more photos.

David

[lancianut666]

Looks good! I think I will lay some extra wires in the loom to the back of the car in case I go down this route. Thanks David. Meanwhile back at the ranch I have recruited my youngest son to help out he is opening out the ignition switch hole so we can put the series 2 one in. I managed to tidy up the wiring by wrapping the looms with PVC stretchy tape.
Clarkey & Son

[lancianut666]

Gave the horns a quick tidy up and next I will make a couple of brackets and get them in and wired up. The wiring is starting to look like a proper loom a few more wires and a tidy up of the fuse box and I can connect the battery and have a test. Not sure what to do about the interior light it will be a lot of work to take out the headlining Hmm... dashboard interior lights at each end? comments welcome

[DavidLaver]

If he uses that sort of thing a lot this would be a treat:

http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Health___Safety/Respirators/respirators.html

I have the older version of the JSP with a battery pack on the belt which I preferred then (a decade ago) to the then Trend offering.  If buying again I'd want to try both before committing.  A decorator friend tried mine and bought one as did a farmer.  Lovely and cool in summer.  The one limitation (other than the price...) is needing ear plugs instead of headphones if doing something really noisy as well as dusty.  Has gone out on loan to friends floor sanding etc.

David

[lancianut666]

He wears a face mask when we do sanding etc and goggles and a boiler suit

[lancianut666]

Thoughts on the loom past the dashboard to the back centre on a plug and socket so I can fit the loom after any welding/bodywork

[DavidLaver]

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/connectors/multiconnectors.php

[DavidLaver]

As to the idea itself it sounds very sensible indeed.  The downside is a bit more work and the risk of another failure point but I'd do the same.  Way back when it was John Savage who did my wiring and I think he used multicore to the rear.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/cable/multicorecable.php

David

[peteracs]

Hi Clarkey

As suggested on the StratosEC site to another member in ref to your comment- "I managed to tidy up the wiring by wrapping the looms with PVC stretchy tape."

He suggested

"Do not use normal insulation tape, use loom tape. The Insulation tape eventually becomes a sticky mess."

I too have used insulation tape, but plan to replace with loom tape. Just waiting for some to arrive from Ebay seller.

If what you have used is loom tape, then all well and good. I guess that insulation tape does not like extremes of temp too much.

Peter