Restoration Literati914 Build, A clipped car rebuild Options

[Literati914]

Also, I was just about to hook up the wires to the tail light housings.. but the crappy original female spades, which were corroded and painted wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to snip ‘em off and replace (I feel much better now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) :

[Literati914]

Been working on my electricals lately and making some ground (no pun intended).

Top tip: to others doing a complete restoration- don’t bother to put any interior in the car, including the shifter lever, until you have all the electrical system confirmed to work first. You will inevitably be on your back, under the dash, with your feet on the rear window, just trying to work it all out! Its probably obvious to others but I learned this the hard way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Anyway- I got most of it under control. I still need to investigate a few items .. fresh air fan not working being an issue I need to look at soon. Here’s my dash lights finally cooperating:

[Literati914]

Hooked up my pilot style driving lights - which I’ll be able to run during the day, with NO headlights on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Literati914]

And of course, with the headlights turned on. Driving lights automatically turn off with high beams as usual.

[slowrodent]

such a beautiful car.... very nice work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[technicalninja]

And of course, with the headlights on. Driving lights automatically turn off with high beams as usual.

Are the auxiliary lights fogs or driving lamps?

Fogs should be slaved to the low beams. You don't need them with high beams.

I'd want real driving lights to be switched only.

Here in Texas, I don't see much need for fogs.

Driving lamps that fire twice as far as the high beams are DAMN useful out in the rural areas.

You can see the hogs and deer so much farther away with driving lights...

[Literati914]

And of course, with the headlights on. Driving lights automatically turn off with high beams as usual.

Are the auxiliary lights fogs or driving lamps?

Fogs should be slaved to the low beams. You don't need them with high beams.

I'd want real driving lights to be switched only.

Here in Texas, I don't see much need for fogs.

Driving lamps that fire twice as far as the high beams are DAMN useful out in the rural areas.

You can see the hogs and deer so much farther away with driving lights...

They are driving lights as far as I know. They do cast the light further down the road than a typical fog... I'm pretty sure they're the Pilot brand light that have been popular replacements for original fogs.

The point for me was having lights during the day time that wasn't headlights, for better visibility by other drivers. No, they are not independent of the light switch but I like the fact that I can run them with the first pull of the light switch.. it means that I get the parking lights too - which is even better for visibility by other drivers IMHO. And of course the fog-light switch is still there and active, so they could be turned off if you wanted. Actually this all how the light switch/wiring for the '70-'71 works - my car being a '72, I guess I got a left over early light switch - which was a surprise to me. BTW, they are slaved with low beam and do not work when hi-beams are on - as you said.

It's true that an actual fog light is not that useful in Texas but I've done so many road trips where I was glad I had some, that I plan to add them to this car too (actual Fogs). I partially installed the relay for a set and ran the wiring already. They'll be mounted on the top face of the front bumper, with covers most of the time. When I get around to it. Hope to take lots of road trips in the 914.

[friethmiller]

Been working on my electricals lately and making some ground (no pun intended).

Top tip: to others doing a complete restoration- don’t bother to put any interior in the car, including the shifter lever, until you have all the electrical system confirmed to work first. You will inevitably be on your back, under the dash, with your feet on the rear window, just trying to work it all out! Its probably obvious to others but I learned this the hard way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Anyway- I got most of it under control. I still need to investigate a few items .. fresh air fan not working being an issue I need to look at soon. Here’s my dash lights finally cooperating:

Looking damn good! And good advice on the interior wiring. I had an issue with my freah air fan. I think it was the intermitted wiper delay that was causing the issue. Check the wiring diagram, of course. Keep up the good work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

[Literati914]

..
Looking damn good! And good advice on the interior wiring. I had an issue with my freah air fan. I think it was the intermitted wiper delay that was causing the issue. Check the wiring diagram, of course. Keep up the good work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

Thanks! I'm dreading the fresh air fan issue because it could mean having to drop the fuel tank, to diagnose, repair (or replace)... This is a decision I'll need to make soon because otherwise I'm basically ready to add fuel and try starting the engine. But I don't want to drop the tank unless there are no other options.

[ClayPerrine]

I always setup the fog lights so they come on with the park lights. That way I can use them for daytime running lights. Anything to make the car more visible is a very good thing.

[Cairo94507]

I completely agree; I always run my car with the LED driving lights and parking lights on. We need all of the awareness we can muster given the size of our cars and the inattentive nature of drivers today. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[FlacaProductions]

Same here with the "DLR" lighting setup.
Pilot lights with daylight LEDs - color-match the 914rubber headlights.

[Literati914]

..Thanks! I'm dreading the fresh air fan issue because it could mean having to drop the fuel tank, to diagnose, repair (or replace)...

I haven't updated in a while, so here's some trials and tribulations I've been dealing with (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . First, yes - I had to end up pulling my fuel tank again in order to get my fresh-air box out and diagnose it's no-worky condition. I actually tried two other fresh-air boxes that I had on hand and none of them worked either - AT FIRST. So I opening each of them up and cleaned everything I could, and lubricated the motor bearings with a thin white oil and voila! now I get all three speeds from all three fresh-air boxes! I re-installed the one original to this car and am now getting ALL three speeds from the dash control - and with a working blue fan light as well (that part took some doing too, it wasn't working at first). Bonus was that I also added the plastic screen at the top of the airbox when I re-installed, like the later cars have to help keep the leaves out.

While the box was out, I took the opportunity to address my very slow windshield wipers. Basically I ended up lubricating the 914 assembly and replacing the wiper-motor with a very nice unit from a '77 Carrera that I had in my possession. This motor is three speed but I hooked the 914's low speed wiring to the middle speed and it's high speed wiring to high. MUCH BETTER now. Also, I'm doing the intermittent wiper (you can see the new wiper motor and intermittent relay in this pic) and electric washer pump thing (more on that later).

[Literati914]

I also put together a built-in and streamlined 3rd brake light. It works as it should but I used an LED strip that contained white lights and is maybe not as powerful as I'd like, so I'll be replacing that when I figure out a good light strip w/ red LEDs to use.