Builds Won a '74 40 on a coin toss... (3 Viewers)

[ginmtb]

It has been forever since I posted here. Haven't really done anything to the Cruiser lately other than drive it. Wet weather has limited that though. I did discover the impact of cold on rubber hoses though as one of my radiator hoses leaked. Checked all my hose clamps and made sure they were all nice and tight. No leaks since.

I did take the chairs from the '75 to an auto upholstery place and he did a great job matching the headrest to the beige vinyl. So when the weather warms up and I can do some painting, I'm going to clean up the frames and paint them and then install these in the '74. Will work perfectly since there are no vinyl door panels on the '74. Then I'll put the dark grey ones in the '75 since it has dark grey door panels.

No progress on the '75 other than bringing some boxes home to sort through. Gotta see what parts I need to get from @Racer65...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Headrests look great - good to see you back Mike!!

 

[ginmtb]

So @Racer65 decided to stop by my place for some testing. I think you all saw the post in his Unobtanium post but I'll post here too. Plus I have a bonus photo too...

Matching cargo mat!

And well decided to get some of his LED headlights too. Will install soon!

 

[Honger]

Oh to live closer to @Racer65 ... =)

Looking good bro!

 

[ginmtb]

New LEDs!!! Super easy install, 1/2 banana! Well other than one of my adjustment screws came loose so I had to rig up a solution.

Thanks @Racer65 !!!

 

[Racer65]

You'll want to go out and play tonight

 

[ginmtb]

You'll want to go out and play tonight

A crazy storm rolled in and it rained like crazy and hailed. So no taking the Cruiser out tonight. Plus, I need to work on the angle of the headlights. Just by eyeballing it one is pointed down more than another. So I'll do the 25' wall test in the near future...

 

[Racer65]

A crazy storm rolled in and it rained like crazy and hailed. So no taking the Cruiser out tonight.

Wow, things have been nice and sunny down here in Super Bowl land...

 

[ginmtb]

So I've had the winch mounted for quite some time however I haven't hooked it up yet. Thanks to @Kayaker I'm ready to take on the task! He sent me a bunch of photos and a description of how he ran his winch (same model and controls). Hopefully this weekend if I can shake whatever bug I caught.

Here is the switch I finally fixed - I had sheared off the copper bolts so filed down some aluminum ones to fit. I just need to put on the anti-corrosion gunk in the event I need to take the nuts off. Hopefully won't have to but you never know...

 

[ginmtb]

Man, I'm in deep... Just picked up my THIRD Cruiser!!!

 

[TheHardWay]

That's it, I'm calling you out - Cruiser Junkie!

 

[ginmtb]

Here are some shots of the detail on the Cruiser. Looks like they pieced together several different model years - ambulance doors (cheater style so if you run it topless it has the saloon doors), long rear seats, very early 70's fender emblems, bench front seat, later model mounted side mirrors, later model outside doors but early model inside doors, F air cleaner, bottom mount windshield wipers. At least they went with a bezel that can't be installed upside down. Okay yes I've lost it...

 

[AussieHJCruza]

It's got a 3B...

 

[TheHardWay]

I can see you in your garage - full size parts scattered everywhere - what should I work on next? A brief period of indecision - you look around again and the little red diecast gets your attention - again... you pick it up and a smile comes over your face... vroom vroom - yeah, I know what I'll do next. Life just got a little simpler for awhile..

 

[ginmtb]

Making some headway on the winch installation. Of course the screws to hold the control wires sheared so I had to improvise (drilling that little hole in the photo below was interesting). Just need to connect the control wires and fill the winch with oil and I should be good to go!

 

[Kayaker]

Lookin good. Is that winch cable as light as it is clear?

 

[ginmtb]

Lookin good. Is that winch cable as light as it is clear?

I have a synthetic cable so it is very light but I haven't figured out how to make it invisible... . Actually not 100% certain how I'm going to mount it - it is designed for a steel cable and you simply feed it in a hole and tighten down a set screw. Maybe I can grind down the end of the synthetic cable as it has a crimped end on it.

 

[Kayaker]

Cool, bet that shaves a lot of weight off that winch. What's the working strength of that cable and do you know what the cost difference is for that vs. galvanized steel?

 

[ginmtb]

Cool, bet that shaves a lot of weight off that winch. What's the working strength of that cable and do you know what the cost difference is for that vs. galvanized steel?

Here is the rope I got - it says 12,750# rating. Cost $160 for 92'. I know that I won't be using it much so didn't want to go crazy on the rope. This thing could probably fit hundreds of feet on it. Galvanized is much cheaper but I like the reduced weight (7# including hook) and the benefits of synthetic rope - particularly the one where if it fails there is no stored energy to release violently like there is in steel rope.

Thanks again @Kayaker for all your help with this. I'm thinking this project would still be sitting there if you didn't provide me with the photos you did!

 

[ginmtb]

Got some electrical work done! Thanks to @GA Architect for his help! Used 1/0 welding wire - the length to the starter is longer than it should be, just in case I switch to the much smaller GR starter...