699 replies to this topic

[Potta]

Cheers Datto, that sounds like a great plan.

 

I'll bring your bits back that I borrowed too.

[sibhs]

Hey Craig, any progress?

How'd you go at the Auto Sparky?

 

Marty

[Potta]

Haven't made it back yet mate, no funds to get there.

 

Datto hooked me up with a reverse switch though which was much appreciated.

 

I'll try to fit it and take it back to the auto leccy to wire it up.

 

Don't know when though, got a lot of stuff to sort out around home and footy season is almost upon us so it may be a while before I get there.

 

It always seems there is something more important that has to be done. 

[N/A-PWR]

It always seems there is something more important that has to be done. 

 

Well the GTR is important too hey Craig

[Potta]

So I still haven't got anywhere near as much done as I wanted to.

 

I had 11 days off over Easter and spent maybe an hour on the car.

 

Disappointing but I got to spend a lot of time with my kids so I can't complain too much.

 

Here's what I have been up to.

 

I got a reversing switch from Datto (cheers again mate) and bought it home and left it in a safe place near my desk.

 

It sat there for a few weeks and when I went to use it I found that it wasn't as safe as I thought it was.

 

One of the kid's friends had pulled one of the wires off which had been soldered on so I figured I'd fix it properly and put some new terminals on.

 

1st step - Give it a clean up. Nothing fancy, but not surprisingly it had a nice coating of mud and other unidentified muck on it.

 

Now it doesn't 

 

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I flattened out the old Terminals and then soldered on some new ones.

 

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This involved 2 trips to Jaycar following an hour long search for my soldering iron.

 

I found it, went to Jaycar and bought some terminals, tried to use it but it wouldn't get hot enough, went back to Jaycar and got a new soldering iron, then home and ended up with this.

 

 photo 4.JPG   134.83K   3 downloads

 

Connection is nice and strong, I can't pull them off, and the switch works which is a bonus.

 

I put a dob of wood glue on each terminal to act as a bit of insulation, last thing I want is a short under the car.

 

 photo 5.JPG   121.18K   2 downloads

 

I was going to use some blue gasket maker stuff for insulation but it was a bit hard to spread.

 

 

 

Really close to getting rego now (I think) but can't seem to find the time to do those last few bits.

Edited by Potta, 11 May 2014 - 02:03 AM.

[N/A-PWR]

Good Job on the Switch Craig,

Now put the switch on where it is suppose to be, and will be safe there.

What Job are you doing next on the GTR. Dave I

 

Really close to getting rego now (I think) but can't seem to find the time to do those last few bits.

what soldering Iron did you buy?

[Potta]

Next job is installing the switch Dave.

 

I've been trying to find the wires without pulling the carpet back out but haven't had much luck.

 

I changed the fuse for the heater cause it was a bit rusty looking and that works better now.

 

And having kids and two Toranas and a normal job there was only one choice for which soldering iron to buy, the cheapest one I could find 

 

I think it was $17 but it has a boost button that makes it heat up really fast and it did the job so all good I reckon.

 

 

[N/A-PWR]

Ok, thank's for the Info Craig,

I was thinking the Soldering Iron was to be a bigger one to get the heat in. Dave I

[Potta]

Nah mate, just one that isn't 25 years old and useless did the trick.

[Potta]

If you want more To insulate the wires hot glue works well and you get a nice build up and various colours if needed.

 

Good idea!

 

Thanks Jason.

[Potta]

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Gonna have to get this out again, broke one of the tabs off.

[N/A-PWR]

Now we know what the Iron looks like Mate

oh, and nice desk of goodies too

[Potta]

Yeah that's an extra table, too much crap on my workbench :-)

Got about 17 jobs on the go as per normal

[N/A-PWR]

is that a Torana Rim in the Top Left Picture

Nice Workshop

[Rockoz]

Probably a pain to do but I would have drilled holes in the terminal tabs to go over the copper bits then soldered.

And rather than use normal solder, low temp silver solder will work better.

It still melts with a soldering iron but has a lot more strength.

[N/A-PWR]

great info there Rob,

Silver Solder is good stuff

[Potta]

Probably a pain to do but I would have drilled holes in the terminal tabs to go over the copper bits then soldered.
And rather than use normal solder, low temp silver solder will work better.
It still melts with a soldering iron but has a lot more strength.

Hmm, good idea, might give it a crack when I redo the one I broke.

Last thing I want to have to do is take it off again later to fix it.

is that a Torana Rim in the Top Left Picture
Nice Workshop

Yeah that's a GTR rim on my 4 door

[Rockoz]

Normal 60/40 solder has very little mechanical strength.

Its primary function is electrical conductivity.

With normal vibrations and the leverage affect of the connecting wires, I doubt it will last long.

Drill a hole through the terminal so that it has a close fit with the copper stud.

Pre solder both the terminal and the area on the switch. Thin as possible.

At this stage shaking or blowing the excess solder off is OK.

Getting as much close contact area between the bits is the aim.

Put it together apply the heat and a touch more solder.

 

Been a while since I bought low temp silver solder, but the only place I used to be able to get it was CIG

So guess BOC may be your best bet.

 

I used to use it a lot soldering motors to chassis on slot cars.

Normal solder just couldnt handle it.

[Potta]

Yeah I see where you're coming from Rob, that would be a much more secure fit than just tacking it on.

 

Cheers mate.

[N/A-PWR]

So where are You at now Craig,

 

Before, you were getting Rego, and now you are trying to get Rego hey.

[Potta]

Still fcking around with the reversing switch Dave.

 

Also been a bit restricted with a buggered leg and had heaps of jobs for the wife and bugger all time.

[Potta]

So still haven't done the Reversing lights, its too damn cold.

 

I'll try again on the weekend.

 

Or, I might just try getting it checked at a mechanic rather than the licensing centre and hope they don't notice.

 

Hoping to book a day off soon to sort it out.

 

I've also emailed QLD Transport and some other stuff Department to see if they can give me some info from their records.

 

I'd like to track down my vin and/or engine number so I can try to find out a bit more history about the car.

 

I'm sure its been raced at some point, it has many telltale signs like holes where bonnet pins used to be and of course the flares. The holes in the bonnet have been patched up, and it also has a weird air line setup in the back which I am assuming was for some type of air shocks?

 

If I could find some pics of it racing somewhere in QLD I may consider returning it to race livery, assuming it looks ok.

 

Its all just talk for now though, time and money are both tight so not a lot happening.

 

I would REALLY like to get it on the road before cruising season though.

[Potta]

My Fav pic of the car so far.

 

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[sibhs]

Looks tough Craig, sits well on that rubber.

C'mon, we need you to get this over the line, so you can cruise.

Marty