FatNasty's 1984 Grand Marquis GS

[FatNasty]

Hmm, it must be the Explorer Cam... You running the stock EFI fuel pump?

Stock fuel pump. I plan on upgrading once it goes out.

[MrMarquis]

So does this mean no more hybrid instrument cluster? Or are you going to try to incorporate something digital into the new instrument panel as well?

I'd love to see how you put in the new gauges, I've been thinking about wanting a different setup as well.

[FatNasty]

So does this mean no more hybrid instrument cluster? Or are you going to try to incorporate something digital into the new instrument panel as well?

I'd love to see how you put in the new gauges, I've been thinking about wanting a different setup as well.

Yep, no more hybrid cluster. I like it but I like autometer stuff better. No addition work on the gauges so far, school and work keeps me pretty busy.

I've gotten a bunch more wiring done though. All the fusible links are out and the wires are ready to go in the fuse box. Headlights are now (finally) on relays in the fuse box. All those wires and any other wires that were going towards the battery are are now run through the radiator support then tucked in the fender. Cut out some unnecessary wires in the body harness on the drivers side fender well. Also got started trimming all the fat in the engine wiring harness, and figuring out the few things I'll need to re-pin. cut out the smog wiring, a/c wiring, cutout relay, etc., and internal cruise wiring. Got a box full of wires removed so far. Was able to ditch several connectors that are kind of redundant in the 90-91 harness. Been a long day of unwrapping electrical tape and scouring through EVTM's. Gonna have to add the fuel flow pin to the ecm plug... I hate doing that, its a pita.

[87gtVIC]

Looking super clean on the p.side inner fender.

[gadget73]

Its annoying de-pinning harnesses but they look so much better to not be loaded up with useless wiring once you're done. I did a lot of that on Scott's 92 GMQ when we did the motor swap, and I removed a pretty significant amount of BS from that 88 cop car with the 351 too.

[85crownHPP]

Dangit... i keep forgetting to check my fuse values for you. Do you still need them?

[johnunit]

Its annoying de-pinning harnesses but they look so much better to not be loaded up with useless wiring once you're done. I did a lot of that on Scott's 92 GMQ when we did the motor swap, and I removed a pretty significant amount of BS from that 88 cop car with the 351 too.

I might hit you up at some point to see what I can squeeze out of you regarding useless wiring after a VV-4barrel swap.

[gadget73]

Huge amounts of that can go on an MCU car. I think I was left with the Duraspark wiring, one wire to the idiot light sensors on the motor, and a small harness for the alternator and choke heater. Its mildly annoying since the MCU BS is bundled in with stuff you actually have to keep, but its not terrible.

[johnunit]

that's what I figured is a lot of stuff can go, it's just figuring out what won't narf with the emissions stuff and how to integrate it all.

/hijack

those fenders are looking super-neat. Inspirational, even.

[85crownHPP]

Dangit Mark... indeed your wire tidying is making me feel like a slacker.

[FatNasty]

Dangit... i keep forgetting to check my fuse values for you. Do you still need them?

Actually, yes, if you get a chance so I can compare to what I was planning.

Well wiring, wiring, and more wiring. over 100 soldered splices. Tons of wires removed, lots were shortened or extended. Lots of re-pinning as well. Lots of wire looming and heat shrinking. Getting close to done (at least with the wiring under the hood). Then its a bit more cleaning and re-installing a few pieces and i can drive it again. Then I'll have to finish designing my gauge layout and put those in.

I've been trying to make the engine bay as clean as i can, wiring was the big thing, but i've been focusing on getting rid of the bits of random color or parts that stand out a lot too. Took the yellowish color blower motor out, prepped, primed, and painted that black. Looks a ton better now.
I've been thinking a lot about redesigning the evaporator housing to make it less shitty looking, but thats a project that will be a ways out.

Did have a question though, the heat shield stuff on the evaporator housing below the heater hoses, is that just to keep the a/c as cold as possible, or is it needed to keep the plastic there from melting? The shield on my car is dirty, torn, and ugly. I'd love to get rid of it if I can. Not really any pics worth posting at the moment....

[FatNasty]

Forgot to mention, Im not completely sure, but I think the o2 sensor wiring was never quite right after my EFI upgrade, but I know it's correct now. I'm hoping that was part of my shitty mpg's. Also made another discovery that my fuel filter has been on backwards since i've owned the car. I had replaced it once a couple years ago and just put it in the way the old one was, which was wrong, never really payed much attention to it. Discovered when i went to replace the other day, the new one would only fit the correct way, which was opposite from before. My dumb ass had just never paid enough attention to the arrow.

[gadget73]

I think the insulation is more of a heat shield to keep the box from melting rather than to keep the AC cold.

[FatNasty]

I think the insulation is more of a heat shield to keep the box from melting rather than to keep the AC cold.

Ah, well I'll have to find some new stuff to put on then.


Tried my hardest to finish the underhood stuff tonight, but I ran out of energy. Just have to finish re-installing the alternator cable and fuse, and some wiring to the dizzy area. Then I'll plug in one fuse at a time into the new box and test each circuit so I'll know which one is messed up if there is a problem. Then I'll be taking a test drive to check the new brake system. After that, gauges and a re-designed center console.

[johnunit]

Some aluminum heat sheilding or heat-insulating sound deadener should work to replace the reflective stuff on the HVAC.