COE Autocar Build Thread

I decided to go with a master cylinder from a GMC motor home, (similar to an older Chevy pick-up except with a larger reservoir for the rear axles) to this I will add bias valves to each rear axle so I have adjustability.
After I talked to the boys at Southern Rods, (at Frog Follies) I have dimensions for a heater/ac unit that will fill my needs. I built a simple box that covers those dimensions and now can build a dash around it.

I've been known to go ape-s**t with my rivet gun! The panel with all the holes is for switches. I have room for 12, hope that is enough.

The picture doesn't show it well but the whole panel that the glove box is in, is hinged so it can be swung out of the way to access the fuse block and relay bank.

 

My home cast gauge pod array. Although it is all****y aluminum now, it will be painted army green to match the outside of the truck.

 

Sexy is right!!! Wow!!

 

I have attacked my windshield wipers which are a can of worms! The truck originally had air operated wipers which hung down from above the windshield. The air mechanism also hangs down into the windshield area. I like the overhead feature, (have holes in the top skin for them) but not the air operation. I feel that something electrical and more modern would be better. I have a Specialty Power Window wiper kit in my 37 Dodge sedan and am not real happy with them. They seem kind of flimsy and in operation are "herky jerky" and "chattery", plus they have a minimum sweep of 90 degrees and I can only use 80 degrees.
Without a doubt, this truck will get driven in all kinds of weather, so good wipers are important.
Has anyone here made a custom set of wipers out of late model factory parts? And if so what did you use?
I have several sets of wipers from British sports cars, (the style that Specialty Power Windows copied) but I don't think they are strong enough for larger blades and changing the amount of sweep would be difficult.

 

This is a challenge I still will need to tackle... I have always****umed that some expensive wiper kit intended for a pickup would be in my future....

 

Late to the party but, I installed an electric set of wipers from EZ Wiring, www.ezwiring.com How I came across them was through an article in rod and custom magazine, September 2011. The instructions that came with them and the article really helped out, my 48 cab is basically a pu cab. I will tell you that I do not run the arms on the truck, the truck is not designed to go down the highway at 65-70, the arms start thrashing around, they are wrapped up under the seat. They can be set up for various degrees of sweep.

 

I don't see any wipers on EZ's site. How long ago did you get yours?

 

about 2014, long time ago, I guess the only way to find something that may work is a lot of pain in the**** computer time checking out sites and see what may work, good luck

 

I took a bad fall a couple weeks ago, so I haven't been doing anything on the truck lately, but I've got some ideas that might work. I have an old Bronco II out behind the shed that I stole the complete wiper****embly from. I can't get the****embly into the space I have above the windshield, but if I make little driveshafts to fit between the spindles the actual wiper arms attach to and the oscillating****embly, I can set that****embly further back in the top of the cab where there is more height to work with. Confused yet?
It would be easier to put in 2 separate motors, but I had that on a different truck and when the wipers got out of sync, it drove me nuts.

 

Maybe something like this would work.

https://www.macsautoparts.com/compl...arly-37-ford-sedan-ford-coupe-32-17524-1.html

 

That might work, but I'm sure it would need to be modified to fit my truck. At $467 I can hack on junkyard parts with less stress.
Hopefully I can get back at it in a few more days.

 

I didn't see it on the EZ wiring site either, but a google search turn this up at 145.00

https://www.hotrodhotline.com/ez-wiring-wiper-motor-kit#.YYklbFXMLIU

2 speeds but doesn't seem to do delay...

I wonder about the stock corvette donor's wiper motor... Obviously, the monster setup with huge arms from the car will not work but maybe some mods as Steve mentioned... Does a typical 1999 era wiper motor oscillate or just spin and the back and forth motion is all in the mechanical arms?

 

Looking at the picture of the EZ Wire kit, I think it is a rebadged Specialty Power Windows kit. I have that kit in my 37 Dodge sedan and its operation is herky jerky. The original design came from British sports cars of the 50s (which worked well) but when copied by Specialty, tolerances weren't held and the unit is sloppy.
It will work well for HJs needs, but not for mine.
I don't know of a late model (past 30 years) drive unit that oscillates, all turn full revolution and the linkage causes the oscillation. I do have a unit from a Triumph Spitfire, but the sweep is way more than the 80 degrees I need and the wheel boxes don't fit well in my windshield frame.

 

I suggested that I might do the same as the CJ with a single motor on the driver's side and a manual unit on the passenger's... Wasn't received well by my wife.... hmmmm....

 

My wife is my driving coach, her view of the road is important to her. She also suggested that I position the speedometer so she could keep an eye on it. (to help me avoid tickets) Yeah!

 

What a nice way to say "back seat driver"....

 

Originally, I planned to drive my COE to and from FL in the winter, but I suspect that might not happen so my WS wiper requirements are far less imperative than yours. I gotta wonder if 2 individual boat wiper motors might be the way to go... No arms or space issues. Should be stupid simple to install. I could probably control them with the stock corvette switch on the turn signal stalk. They typically have 2 speeds and park but not delay that I've seen.

 

Looks like someone has created an add-on delay piece...

https://www.amazon.com/Marinco-Sing...04097&pd_rd_wg=ZjVGs&pd_rd_i=B07L3L1HVC&psc=1

 

Usually the delay is built into the wiper switch, just a timer circuit that triggers the motor momentarily, then the park feature finishes the cycle. I have a switch with delay built in, so it's just a matter of building a wiper drive that fitts in a very narrow vertical space.
I'm a bit off my feed right now, (have to psyche myself up to face winter in a cold shop) but I'll get back to it soon.

 

Been kind of lazy the past couple of months and haven't bothered to keep the garage warm enough to work in. I managed to get my dash painted (in the basement) and wired and installed the gauges.

I think my idiot lights are a bit bright! That bright flash is 2 red, 2 green, and 1 blue, going to have to tone them down or change them. The brighter gauge (3rd from right) is an off brand pyrometer and I let the smoke out of it, (confused by the wiring diagram that came with it) so it will be changed out with one that matches the other VDOs. I'm thinking about trying to come up with some brighter bulbs in green to make them look nicer. They are a standard 194 bulb.

 

awesome, Steve!! Maybe window tint for the idiot lights?

 

I played around a bit today, I think I can make a lens that covers the whole front of the cup out of a dark smoke acrylic that will solve the problem.

 

Hope you recovered from your fall. Dash looks great.

 

I have recovered, now for some warm weather to thaw out the garage and I'll be back at it!
I passed through your area last week on my way to Las Cruces, NM. Spent the night in Hutchinson.

 

More headway has been made! I have solved my windshield wiper situation and have them temporarily installed. Toyota wiper motor, early Ford Bronco II spindles and arms and some home made linkage to connect it all. No picture as it is hard to take a picture that shows it.
My latest endeavor is the air ride controls in the overhead console. 4 pressure gauges, 3 regulators, 3 dump valves, 2 shut-off valves, 1-3 position control valve and a air horn valve.
Now I have to find a mad scientist to plumb it up!

 

Amazing attention to detail

 

I can't wait to see this creation on the road! I'd really like to see pics of the wiper setup, but I'm guessing it's up in that fancy new overhead box.... Right now thinking about just using 2 boat wiper motors but can't seem to find the smaller 3/8 diameter shafts with 2 speeds and park...

 

My wife can't wait either! In a week and a half, it will be 19 years since I punched the buy-it-now*****on.
I will try to get some pictures of the wiper linkage. (there is no roof skin yet) I plan to plumb all the air stuff from the top before I install the roof. It will be accessible from inside the cab, just a lot easier from above.

 

Here is the best I can do for wiper pictures.
This is looking back/down while standing on the front bumper. the arms are in their parked position in the center of the windshield.

2nd picture is looking up from the inside of cab, blades in parked position
3rd photo is at other end of sweep. I used 5/16 sealed ball rod ends and 5/16 rods for the linkage. Now I need 12" blades to fit my Bronco arms and I'll be set!

 

wow... that's slick as snot! Makes me want to repurpose the Corvette wiper motor and attempt to build something...

19 years? You mean I had another 8 years I could keep working on my truck? Probably will anyway...