Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Pushrod · Active Member

Started on the Vintage Air

Lost in the 60s · President

DUDE................you be waaaaaaaaay deep in CAC....

The A/C will be a welcome upgrade.

Tim H · Mega Poster

That is one job I really would not want to do. But it would certainly be worth having done.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Hey dash out guys, when you put them back in three important things to remember. Grounds, grounds, grounds, and oh ya, grounds.

John D · 2K+ Club

Pushrod's going with an "insert" that replaces the sweep speedo cluster - and allows aftermarket round gauges. Instead of running new wires out through the firewall, we decided to rearrange the factory harness a bit.

- Unwrapped it, and ID'd the wires to each idiot light (OP, Temp, R turn, L turn, Hi Beam, Brake, etc.)
- Clipped these off at the backs of the idiot light housings, and pulled them back through the "spaghetti" to a central point above the cluster.
- Clipped off/abandoned the un-needed (multiple) ignition & dash light feeds at the factory cluster splice. Saved 1 each to feed the new instruments.
- Added a new wire all the way to an un-used port on the bulkhead connector for a tachometer feed. Installed the correct "Packard" connectors, and created a factory clean pass-through out to the engine compartment. Did basically the same for an electric choke feed.
- Added the (previously underdash/add-on) wiring for the cruise control into the factory harness loom. Made the necessary "taps" into the wiring (soldering & shrink tube) inside the harness on the wires, instead of tapping in at the device connectors with crimp terminals.
- Incorporated the necessary feeds for the Vintage Air ECU in the harness.
- Re-wrapped the harness.

Now he can just install the gauge-specific sending units, and re-use the factory feed wires through the bulkhead connector... basically converted a sweep-dash harness into a custom SS-dash harness.

Now I'm just waiting for the car to get somewhat re-assembled so we can do a "poof test" before it's buttoned down tight.

bowtie · Secretary

Yeah, I think I had 3 grounds? Just be careful putting it all back in. I did it myself and it was a bear. If you happen to have some threaded rod, you can run that into the brackets to give the ends a place to slide onto and some support while you hold the center and bolt that part in.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

There's starting to be a lot of Vintage Air equipped Chevelles in the club... does this mean we're all getting old, or just turning into wussies.

Yeah, I'm one of them.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Derek69SS wrote:
There's starting to be a lot of Vintage Air equipped Chevelles in the club... does this mean we're all getting old, or just turning into wussies.

Yeah, I'm one of them.

Yes to both! When I see Kevin driving around in his Elky with the windows rolled up and looking nice and refreshed when we get where we are going, then my wife and I roll out looking like we just took a shower, I'm looking forward to AC in the Chevelle this summer!

I'm going with Classic Auto Air instead of Vintage Air in order to keep the stock dash controls. I installed a CAA kit in one of our many Chevelles a few years ago, and it's a great kit and a relatively easy install. Maybe a little less than the VA kit, but basically the same stuff. I will have to pay $150 more for the parts that are needed for an original AC car though (i.e. block off plate to cover where the AC box used to be).

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Stan. Is your car an AC car originally?

SShink · 3K+ Club

Chris R wrote:
Stan. Is your car an AC car originally?

Yes. From the post below "I will have to pay $150 more for the parts that are needed for an original AC car though (i.e. block off plate to cover where the AC box used to be."

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Derek69SS wrote:
There's starting to be a lot of Vintage Air equipped Chevelles in the club... does this mean we're all getting old, or just turning into wussies.

Yes.

Lost in the 60s · President

There's no denying we're all getting older and I've gotten spoiled with D/D's that have air....

Don't see any A/C in my cars for some time. Heck, I'd just like to get all mine roadworthy.

Lost in the 60s · President

John D wrote:
Pushrod's going with an "insert" that replaces the sweep speedo cluster - and allows aftermarket round gauges. Instead of running new wires out through the firewall, we decided to rearrange the factory harness a bit.

- Unwrapped it, and ID'd the wires to each idiot light (OP, Temp, R turn, L turn, Hi Beam, Brake, etc.)
- Clipped these off at the backs of the idiot light housings, and pulled them back through the "spaghetti" to a central point above the cluster.
- Clipped off/abandoned the un-needed (multiple) ignition & dash light feeds at the factory cluster splice. Saved 1 each to feed the new instruments.
- Added a new wire all the way to an un-used port on the bulkhead connector for a tachometer feed. Installed the correct "Packard" connectors, and created a factory clean pass-through out to the engine compartment. Did basically the same for an electric choke feed.
- Added the (previously underdash/add-on) wiring for the cruise control into the factory harness loom. Made the necessary "taps" into the wiring (soldering & shrink tube) inside the harness on the wires, instead of tapping in at the device connectors with crimp terminals.
- Incorporated the necessary feeds for the Vintage Air ECU in the harness.
- Re-wrapped the harness.
Now he can just install the gauge-specific sending units, and re-use the factory feed wires through the bulkhead connector... basically converted a sweep-dash harness into a custom SS-dash harness.

Now I'm just waiting for the car to get somewhat re-assembled so we can do a "poof test" before it's buttoned down tight.
I wish I was as good with wiring. I can do basic troubleshooting and repairs but to take an existing harness and turn it into something completely different is beyond me....

SShink · 3K+ Club

John, looks like you are getting your schematic reading and electron fix this way since your Elky is in cold storage!

John D · 2K+ Club

That little project was definitely a "we" endeavor - it wasn't only my talents - Craig was in there the entire time. It worked well, as he would confirm the wire in question on the schematic, I'd start pulling it out, and he'd work at the other end. A 2nd set of hands while re-wrapping was a plus. It took the better part of all day from start to finish to do the conversion. We also had the advantage of a 2nd (complete) sweep dash harness to lay side-by-side, and use as a sacrifice for wire and connectors.

bowtie · Secretary

Is that a Covan's unit?

John D · 2K+ Club

John, looks like you are getting your schematic reading and electron fix this way since your Elky is in cold storage!

True... but the way that the summer is booking up with tire-abuse events I should really think about some jobs on Blackie that are pending...

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Craig should consider the killer analog Dakota dash gauges coming out.

John D · 2K+ Club

DD doesn't offer a VHX cluster for '71/'72, and the retro-fit stuff is 6"... too big.

Pushrod · Active Member

Hey guys just got back on I was working out of town for a few days, John and I had alot of fun doing the "re-purposed" harness and it turned out KILLER!! John taught me almost everything I know about 12vdc, but he still had some tricks up his sleeve. thanks again John for spending the better part of a saturday helping me. The dash panel is a billet alum. piece from Metrom, classic dash ( formerly Covans) does sell them but you can buy them direct.

Oh by the way, I think I am turning into a wousey, the heat has nothing to do with it I just think Im getting ol............huh? what now?

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Pushrod wrote:
Oh by the way, I think I am turning into a wousey, the heat has nothing to do with it I just think Im getting ol............huh? what now?

I can tell you everythng you need to know about that.

But whats going on here? It's going to hot out there soon and I need John for a project.

Pushrod · Active Member

Another Saturday thrash session... (BTW, John D works cheap. Feed him lunch and have a cold one around and he's happy ..)

I'm putting in a sound system as well, and needed a way to get wires into the doors. I picked up a set of boots from U-Pull after the meeting. It wound up easier to pull the doors than to attempt doing it "on the car".

Got the AC unit bolted on, and hoses run out to the engine. Chris R stopped by just when a 3rd set of hands was needed. (He also fixed my sticky passenger door handle!)

Then the new & reworked dash!

-- Edited by Pushrod on Sunday 26th of February 2012 10:52:27 AM

John D · 2K+ Club

Hey... I resemble that remark. I'm getting - it's fun to tinker with stuff and spend other people's money!

All the work Pushrod did with the trial fittings and prep REALLY paid off! The unit just clunked right into position. He's also having the windshield replaced, and was wise enough to NOT have it reinstalled yet. I don't know how you'd get the defrost vents and the hoses routed with the glass in place - it would be a bytch!!

-- Edited by John D on Sunday 26th of February 2012 11:03:09 AM

Lost in the 60s · President

I REALLY like the gauge conversion for the sweep dash !!! Looks great !

If the lower left door hinge needs rebuilding, NOW is the time...

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lookin' good Craig!

Looks like I gotta get to moving on mine if I'm going to keep up with you. It's nice to see carpet on the floor instead of the tar paper I've been staring at in mine...

Tim H · Mega Poster

Those gauges sure look nice.

Pushrod · Active Member

Damn Mitch, your right on with the hinge deal, unfortunatly thats one thing I didnt foresee and didnt have the parts.

Lost in the 60s · President

Pushrod wrote:
Damn Mitch, your right on with the hinge deal, unfortunatly thats one thing I didnt foresee and didnt have the parts.
Auto City Classics may have the kit in stock and could get it to you in a couple days......I suppose you already put the door back on.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

They had the doors back on by the time I got there around 11AM last saturday.

Lost in the 60s · President

Chris R wrote:
They had the doors back on by the time I got there around 11AM last saturday.
Eh, order a kit and when it gets there, hold the back of the door up with the floor jack. Might be tight for getting the bolts out of the body, but I think it's doable.