Custom Dash For My Fairmont Squire

Tedy he is being modest. He seems to find what is needed for anyone here.

 

I'm good at digging. Hell no, I'm great at digging!

 

Someone give Norman a shovel.

 

He does'nt need one, he's pritty good with his hands

 

Oh Doggie style digging.

 

Norm seems to find things that way, give him a shovel and he would brobly be lost

 

Or in China.

 

Back to the task.

The 1979-1980 AMP switch does only ONE thing. It amplifies the rear speakers. After reading the wiring diagrams and looking at the picture I got from a Four-Eyed Pride thread, I saw that even Ford caught the boo-boo. The 1981 to 1984 switch in the Fox Mustangs was just a two-wire switch, not the old wire octopus from 79-80. The newer switch looks the same, but all the wiring is rerouted at the connectors, not the switch.

From 18 wires to only 2. Post 1984, the new radios had built-in AMP switch, or just came on automatically when you turned it on.

I've got a couple toggle switches (ON/OFF), so I'll bypass the connectors and wire it up by 1984 specs.

 

I'm gonna add some extra grounds under the dash too. Those Instrument Voltage regulators are pricey little puppies $30 for a cheapy aftermarket unit, $70 for a good one, which apparently don't hold up very well (why are my dash gauges off so much - common complaint), so a couple extra ground wires to the steering column otta do it. One to the cluster, one to the buzzer bar, one to the radio. Maybe 8 gauge AWG - 1/8".

 

Well Norman looks like you have your hands full.

 

Yeah, I have to take the bus (a real incentive to get to it ), to pick up a replacement for my old pencil soldering iron and a bigger one for wires. I use the pencil iron for circuits and resistors (less heat on curcuit boards) and I always solder wires - oldschool army training.

Wellers cost a bit more than Asian knockoffs but they last and last.

http://www.cooperhandtools.com/weller/index.cfm

 

I've used a Weller, and frankly, by comparison to the Trigger-Heat by Wall/Lenk, the Wellers suck!

Quick to heat up, lasts freaking forever! I've completely wired several cars with mine, and every connection I make is soldered and covered with heat-shrink.



See it here: http://www.wlenk.com/soldering.html

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

 

Soldering guns shoot out at 10 paces.

 

And not available in Canada... Except on the West Coast. That really sucks. No touchy-feely.

Thanks for the tip.

 

Weller and noname. That's my grand choice. Got Weller - both irons. The cords on the Asian ones look like lamp cords.

I checked out the little 194 dash bulbs. $1.50 each! :banghead3: I've got a container of the darn things. Sheesh!