Streetable Demon, part 2, ...where it's at... Options

[smacaione]

Where it's at is my garage... Not starting...
I picked up a new battery, because even though the one I have is only 2 1/2 yo, there is no juice. But the biggest problem is the wiring. I keep having the same problem with the brake lights, my horn no longer works, and the one gauge on my dash that did work is dark. I think the driving over Massachusetts roads has loosened the already iffy wiring job.

 wiring_1.jpg ( 1.86MB ) Number of downloads: 54
 wiring_2.jpg ( 1.85MB ) Number of downloads: 41


My buddy came over and we tried to make sense of under the dash. We pulled out several wires that were cut and not attached to anything. After that, we tried to see if we could at least get the brake lights working again. That never happened, but parts of my dash lit up that never worked before. For instance, the "Fasten Seat Belt" light came on. I had no idea that was there. So did my oil light. Even my gas gauge briefly worked.
So, we're hoping to get the new battery in this week and go from there.

[jim77070]

God bless you smaicone. Beyond replacing the batteries in my flashlight and plugging in a trouble light I aviod doing electrical.

Check your engine compartment ground straps for oxidation or broken connections. I believe there is one from battery to engine block, one from rear of engine to firewall and maybe others.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

[moparman1972]

"Beyond replacing the batteries in my flashlight and plugging in a trouble light I aviod doing electrical." This is the way I feel about electrical also.. Good luck straightening that out Sue.. Let us know how it goes.

[flap]

my god woman, who wired that up, edison or marconi? you poor thing. see if you can get some pics a little further up under the dash , like backside of the dash panel and around the sterrin column and the upside of the firewall . overlappin pics so i can do it like a topo map also under the hood , email em if ya want and ill scribble em up with as much direction as i can for repair

you definitely got guts hon - for somthin like that you got to use a systematic approach until you wind up with an actual system

we both got the bandwidth . use it!!!

[racerhog]

Most of that ether had a home, OR has a home.....

It look like to me " Just from the pictures that are there" That Most. " Not All" of those wires use to go to the Heater/AC control and over to the heater/Blower box that has been deleted..

Most of those you can just tape up and put away till your ready to reinstall those items.....

I'm in for what most have said...... Start buy taping up bare wires so they dont short out. Start finding homes for some of those lights and plugs.... Clean the Grounds...... A good test light will go a long way in helping you fix your pride and joy.....

One thing at a time....... Your doing a great job......

[smacaione]

Well, we got FD started yesterday, one thing done. It was good to hear him roar again.

Next step is to tackle the wiring. Thank you Flap and Racerhog for giving me a place to start.

[racerhog]

Any upDate on how FD is doing?

Hope your Geting-R-Done......

[Furios66]

Look at all that room under there to work. They are right. A test light will be your best friend. I dread the day I have to pull my wiring to make a new harness. Mice ate through tons on my car. I guess it is a little like yours there. I ran wires to get me by. I am not a wizard with electrical and find even having the wiring diagram is not always a big help. Just take it little by little and you will get her done. Nice to hear you have it running again

[smacaione]

I never want to wire anything ever again.

After weeks working on the Demon at my buddy's shop, I finally brought FD home. I installed a new master cylinder. No more filling the MC before a drive. The old one was so pitted with rust that the brake fluid just seeped out of it. I wanted to put power brakes in, but because of the headers, there was no clearance. I now have a working horn, which is necessary for getting a sticker in MA. (So is an e-brake which I don't have, but do have a sticker.)
And the wiring is done. Gauges still aren't reading anything. Speedometer still says I'm going 65. Still have no idea how much gas there is in the tank. But my reverse light now work, as do the rest. I need to start looking for some aftermarket gauges.

[James_S]

Hey Smac I feel your pain I had the same problem with my Barracuda on both the Brakes and wiring. Just a suggestion here on Guages I found that Autometer guages are hard to beat mechanical I would use for your speedo. water temp and oil pressure. Electrical for your volts/amps, fuel guage and Tach. I chased elictrical demons for a month and broke down and bought a painless wiring kit in a long weekend solved all my problems after all the wiring in our hot rods is atleast 30 years old or older and was 1 of Mopars weakest links.
A friend of mine has a 70 Demon with a 440 in and he had the same problem with his master cylinder as far as having power brakes he bought some headers from TTI that were for that excact application but they were under chassis headers and a bit pricey... ok ok a lot pricey we went down to the local wrecking yard were we found a 74 dart swinger and robbed the whole front disc breaking system upper A-frames, disc, spindles, master and booster cylinder and apportion valve. He later bought a smaller booster and installed it works great

[smacaione]

I had a week of vacation to do more work on FD. Slowly getting there. Notice the lack of wires falling out from under the dash.

fan shroud
 fan_shroud.jpg ( 1.87MB ) Number of downloads: 18


new air cleaner
 new_air_cleaner.jpg ( 1.77MB ) Number of downloads: 22


new gauges
 new_gauges.jpg ( 1.8MB ) Number of downloads: 16


new non-leaking master cylinder
 new_master_cylinder.jpg ( 1.93MB ) Number of downloads: 21


new thermo
 new_thermo.jpg ( 1.89MB ) Number of downloads: 23


I plan on enjoying FD for a bit. Next project will be to work on the front end- replace upper and lower control arm bushings, upper and lower ball joints, radius arm bushings, outer and inner tie rod... you get the idea...

[racerhog]

I had a week of vacation to do more work on FD. Slowly getting there. Notice the lack of wires falling out from under the dash.

fan shroud
 fan_shroud.jpg ( 1.87MB ) Number of downloads: 18


new air cleaner
 new_air_cleaner.jpg ( 1.77MB ) Number of downloads: 22


new gauges
 new_gauges.jpg ( 1.8MB ) Number of downloads: 16


new non-leaking master cylinder
 new_master_cylinder.jpg ( 1.93MB ) Number of downloads: 21


new thermo
 new_thermo.jpg ( 1.89MB ) Number of downloads: 23


I plan on enjoying FD for a bit. Next project will be to work on the front end- replace upper and lower control arm bushings, upper and lower ball joints, radius arm bushings, outer and inner tie rod... you get the idea...

Great job......Looking good....Headed in the rite direction....

[a100bee]

those are some wild headers, im working on new gauges also. what a PAIN! one step forward and three back. just keep pluggin along, hang in there....

[Furios66]

It is looking great Sue. I like the headers too. They want 900.00 here to make me a custom set. Your car is coming a long great.

[67Mopar]

Non-Leaking Master Cylinder.... I still have to get one of those myself

[smacaione]

Non-Leaking Master Cylinder.... I still have to get one of those myself

You'll be amazed how much money you'll save in brake fluid.

[moparman1972]

And laundry detergent Looking good Sue, keep pluggin

[Furios66]

Sue, where did you get the radiator cap. I like that. Any more up dates on F.D.

[smacaione]

Sue, where did you get the radiator cap. I like that. Any more up dates on F.D.

I ordered the radiator cap through a local Speed Shop. I'd rather give my money to a local mom-and-pop.

I've had to put work on FD on the back burner for now. My truck has needed repairs so I have been putting my time and money into him. The plan is to rebuild the front suspension and steering on the Demon over the winter, once my crappy holiday hours are over.

[flap]

that radiator cap is sexy as hell , good job

[74CudaDave]

Electrical doesn't have to be scary. The instrument panel on mine was "upgraded" to a ralley style by a previous owner and the gauges didn't work at all, nor did the tach. The wiring diagrams on this site were an awesome help to figuring out what goes where. Each wire goes from point A to point B, connect the dots, and you can usually find the break in the circuit or clue to the faulty component. Main thing is, don't get overwhelmed, take it one circuit at a time. When I fired things up and the gauges moved, that's your proof any reasonable idiot can do this stuff. Especially on old iron where you can actually get at the wiring.

This site beats all the others.

[reno340]

my god woman, who wired that up, edison or marconi? you poor thing. see if you can get some pics a little further up under the dash , like backside of the dash panel and around the sterrin column and the upside of the firewall . overlappin pics so i can do it like a topo map also under the hood , email em if ya want and ill scribble em up with as much direction as i can for repair

you definitely got guts hon - for somthin like that you got to use a systematic approach until you wind up with an actual system

we both got the bandwidth . use it!!!

I am doing the same thing on my 1972 Duster340. I took the dash out as my wiring looked as bad as yours. I also took the time to weld up some holes and repaint the dash since I had it out. Anyway, the wiring was so messed up that some things were not even plugged in and left dangling which made it difficult to figure out how to put it in. I got these pics from moparts to help when I finally put it in. I also took a wiring diagram and sorted out what most of the plugs were for. Hopefully this will help you.

Attached File(s)

 Dash_wiring.jpg ( 101.72K ) Number of downloads: 11
 5704956_backsidedash002.jpg ( 111.68K ) Number of downloads: 11

 

[kudaguy]

If your not trying to keep it original I would get a 18 or 21 circut wiring kit from it's a snap or ez wire they are pretty affordable compared to stock kits or painless kits. I did one in my 70 cuda it was the first one I did and it only took me about 8 hours to do but my cars original wiring was alredy removed bya previous owner. I did this about 6 years ago and have never had a problem with it, also the kit uses new spade style fuses insted of tube style which I like. You should be able to find the kit for under $200