Fuel Injected VX Beta Spyder

[mangocrazy]

Glad to see you're fighting the good fight and trying to turn back time. It will be a sight to see (and hear!) when finished. In car audio is always an uphill struggle - everything mitigates against good sound quality, but I'm sure yours will sound crisp and clean. Most audio uses cheap bell wire for interconnects, so you've certainly got that covered. And all the noise damping you've put in the car will pay dividends there.

Know what you mean about powerful speakers and their propensity to attach themselves immovably to any steel in the vicinity...

[HFStuart]

My latest annoyance is the sill trim rubbers (brand new from Italy) have a different profile shape that does not match the end caps like the original. Of course my originals have shrunk and gained overspray and deep scuffs.
      

Eric, I've been off the forum for a bit so late to this but on the side rubbers if you happen to have three they will cut and glue with an almost invisible join using most 'superglue' type adhesives. I was skeptical about gluing rubber under I worked for an industrial gas metering company  - all their O rings are cut and glued to size and working happily in high pressure gas terminals!

[WestonE]

Hi Stuart

Thank you for the idea. Currently I can only find the rough 2 but definitely used to have more. Of course I might have given them away or binned them so the new ones in the wrong profile are staying for now.

Eric

[WestonE]

So my slow painful progress includes an alarm switch and bracket for the boot which was surprisingly tricky. Also the front bumper complete with fog lights is fitted and I have fully labelled my extra fuse boxes before I fit them and start running extra wires around the car.
This saves epic confusion later I hope.

[WestonE]

I have been distracted by working out what I need and getting it to fit Electric Air Conditioning to my Montecarlo with credit due to Darren Cooksey for pioneering this one. I now know more about the difference in old to new AC systems than I really wanted to.

[WestonE]

Today I fitted a NOS Complete Spider Lock Set I bought in a gamble purchase from Italy. For once I am delighted now If I can just find some Lancia logo key blanks I will get some extra keys cut. More wiring got done but nothing worth a photo.

I seam to have got very slow at wiring which has got to change if I am not to die of old age before the car works!

Eric 

[mangocrazy]

I seam to have got very slow at wiring which has got to change if I am not to die of old age before the car works!

Eric 

It's because you are trying to do the best job possible without cutting any corners, I suspect. A quote from Oscar Wilde is appropriate here: 'I am a man of simple tastes; I am always satisfied with the very best'.

Graham 

[WestonE]

Some photos of the new extra fuse boxes now with spiral bind and super seal connectors. This is actually a big step towards really wiring in the extra stuff. You can see the Maxi fuse for the Amplifier and the AMP battery +VE power distribution block. Next I get the runs from the fuse box connections into the cabin and the NS Engine bay loom in. Time wasted on trying to work out why Lancia put a grey wire on the Heater switch Resistor that does not connect to anything in the cabin loom! I think maybe somewhere there is a version with a 3 speed fan switch?

   

[WestonE]

And one more photo

[mangocrazy]

Spotlessly immaculate work as usual, Eric. I cannot imagine my engine bay will ever look as pristine and well-organised as that. Will the new relay/fuse box entirely replace the OE Lancia item? And might I ask where you sourced it from, and whether the transfers to indicate function were supplied with the box or not?

I imagine there was a degree of trepidation when drilling the inner wing for the relay/fuse box mountings...? And is the item below the battery mounting a 12v live distribution point?

[WestonE]

Hi Graham

The item below the Battery Tray is a Mega fuse for the Amplifier in the boot. It will be connected to Battery 12V . The Power distribution box is the 6 way item just in front of the Battery tray mounts. The new fuse boxes get +12V battery live from here as does the Amplifier. This stops the battery clamp looking like a Christmas tree of connections.

I still have the OE Fuse Box (a NOS item without burnt connectors or heat damaged internal wires). It no longer powers the fans.
My new fuse boxes support the FI Coils, Injectors, Drive by Wire Throttle, ECU power, HP Fuel Pump, Cruise Control, Shift Light, Starter Motor (protecting the OE switch), Accusump, ECU Fault light, Wipers top speed, Brake Lights (protect switch & signal ECU), Fans on lights and 2 x spare relay switch power.

For the symbols they come in sheets from either Pole Volt or Vehicle Wiring Products / eBay for labeling switches. I also used a Dymo label gun white on clear tapes.

The Fuse box /Relay boxes are modular click together items. I considered micro relays then realized with the gauge of wires I am using they would be a nightmare to wire.

A lot of head scratching went into where to put the fuse boxes and how to get the wires in and out of the cabin. I definitely hated drilling for the Rivnuts. NB I dip the Rivnuts in Dinitrol before fitting for a bit more peace of mind on rust.
Other people's cars always look cleaner to me because I know where all the mistakes are!

Eric           

[mangocrazy]

Thanks for a comprehensive reply, Eric - much appreciated. From reading your list of relay-protected circuits I can understand why the OE relay/fuse box was inadequate for your needs. I too hate the battery +ve terminal post looking like a Christmas tree and will be doing something similar. I would have agonised at great length over drilling for the rivnuts on the inner wing... Have you ever used Wellnuts? They're similar to rivnuts but are a brass thread sheathed in rubber that squashes down to clamp but also provides a degree of flex and electrical isolation. They're used quite a lot on motorbikes where high frequency vibes are a killer.

[squiglyzigly]

Immaculate work Eric. Pushing the boundaries as always.
It’s always easy to underestimate how much planning goes into work of this level and only see the finished work.
I need to do a job like this on my VX coupe one day but not sure my sanity will survive the ordeal.

Ian

[WestonE]

Painfully slow progress and enough wire to scare the nervous!
[/img]

[WestonE]

I do know the fuse box cover is on upside down! But are the jumper connections and fuses right?
[/img]

[WestonE]

Even more wire in the boot waiting to go in and a front bumper with wired Fog Lights
[/img]

[Clifford]

Looks awesome Eric. Not a word I use often.
Great work.
C

[peteracs]

Hi Eric

You have to be very organised to attempt a wiring loom, especially a custom one. Looking really good, glad you are making progress.

I shall try to be as organised when I start on mine, which will be non standard, but way less custom than yours.

You may have answered this before, but are you using a front bulkhead connector for the loom to separate the engine and cabin looms? If so my question is where have you located the connectors? On the early cars it just goes above the steering column which a right royal pain when trying to do anything with it.

Peter

[chrisc]

Fascinating! the clear indicators look better than I imagined.

With the wiring loom, are you going to have to pull it all again to tape it? did you end up using a pegboard along the way or are you doing it all in the car so to speak? tricky!

[peteracs]

Hi Chris

Yep, tricky is an understatement I would say. In some ways I am looking forward to the challenge, in another not expecting it to be easy or to completed in a short time either.

Looks like Eric is his usual organised self.

Peter