'70 Sport Custom Rebuild- She's been adopted!

[sargentrs]

Thanks, crazyhorse!

[sargentrs]

I have the original dimpled holes that held the gauge box, in the face of my gauge panel I have to plug/fill up. I'm going to have to power and ground 7 gauges, 3 lights and 2 lighted switches. That's a lot of wires meandering around the back of the gauge panel, don't you think? So here's what I'm thinking... a grounding bar and a busbar (covered) mounted with black countersunk philips head screws. Busbar will be sourced from a switched, fused, 12v power source and ground will be wired to the steering column dash brace. Opinions? Hazards? All input is appreciated!

[Canonman67]

It's a neat idea and could be really clean if done right but you'll still have all the indivual signal feeds coming to the panel so it's still gonna be busy. I soldered a common lighting hot, a common gauge hot and a common ground. Pardon the picture in your build thread but this is how it came out.

I don't think it's too bad.

[sargentrs]

Thanks for the photo, Canonman! Gives me a good visual to plan with.

[tylerb43]

Hey Randy!! Good to see the project is still moving forward!!

On the panel wiring, I think I'd have to vote against the busbar and ground bar idea. ( ) These are low amp needs, and the space and safety considerations just aren't worth it. For reference, here's how I did mine. (shown prior to installing the turn and high beam indicators)



Like Canonman - let me know and I'll remove the pic if you'd rather not have it in your build thread.

Cheers, buddy!

[sargentrs]

Thanks, Tyler! That looks really clean.

Y'all can leave the photos, I'll use them for reference myself. Thanks, again!

[Canonman67]

Man Tyler, looking at yours make me want to redo mine. That's beautifully done.

[Ranchero50]

I did a bus bar on my install but mounted it on the bottom dash brace in the middle. It's been a lifesaver for connecting stuff but has also been a hassle as it's overfull. If you plan ahead, solder and heat shrink the joints and it'll look very neat. That's how I wire farm tractors and the connections hold up really well.

[sargentrs]

Thanks for the tip, Jamie! I always crimp, solder and shrink tube my connections now. I have an aftermarket 21 circuit harness and intend to add a fused accessory panel and a secondary grounding bar in an easily accessible location. I hate hunting for a switched power source and useable ground, poking around under the dash.

[48prerunner]

I took the original f-600 gauge panel box wired my gauges into it, so it just plugs into the stock dash plug. The nice thing if I want to pull the panel i just unhook one plug. You might want to consider a master plug to make gauge panel removal easier.

https://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PP-8

[sargentrs]

Thanks for the tip, 48prerunner! I'm adding an EZ Wiring harness so there's no original wiring going to be in place. But that's a good inexpensive harness I can use to assist in wiring it up.

[cdnwillyg]

Randy just went thru your build thread, great job both on the build and write up. These projects sure can take their time can't they, I think your in the 6th year, that is perseverance my friend.

[sargentrs]

Thanks for the encouragement! Unfortunately, life isn't "bump friendly". Things went really well for the 1st 3 years but she's been sitting pretty much untouched for the last 3. I'm at the point where everything I want to do costs big bucks. Seems like every time I get some money saved up to spend on the truck, something breaks on the house or my daily driver and there go my savings. I'm still motivated and anxious to work on her though! I spend constructive time researching and planning. When the funding becomes available I can make a lot of progress in a short time In the meantime I sit on my mechanics stool that I keep stashed under her, look at things, talk to her and dream.

[basketcase0302]

I too remember a few "lull" years where the truck just sat while I kept it washed ready for the build.
It'll come when it's time I'm sure my friend.

[67mann]

6yrs Stick with it Randy it'll happen Hell I'm going on 10 and now my frickn neck is broke 2018 is going to be the stellar year