I've been busy the last few days getting the '67 started up, after being idle for the last year and a half. The great news is the engine started right up, runs very nicely and everything works...except the amp gauge.

I have a new engine bay wiring harness, new battery and no matter if I have the engine running or not, the needle stays on 0, it won't move to the (+) side or the (-) side. I don't know if the battery is charging or not. When I put a heavy electrical load on the system like the lighter and blower motor, the needle still doesn't move, and it should be way over on the (-) side. I have power windows, which are disconnected, but I don't see why that would have an effect on the gauge.

I've double checked all the connections and they're good. All the cluster gauges work except this one. It worked fine before, and I can't figure why the needle won't move, either one way or the other. I was thinking of running a couple of small jumper clips to the amp gauge and hooked up to my battery charger at a small 2 amp charge, to see if the needle will move, so I can eliminate the gauge from the equation, which hasn't been removed from the dash or touched since I last drove the car. No fuses are blown, and I've got extra ground clips on the voltage regulator and alternator.

Anyone have any ideas on why the needle won't move? Any leads would be appreciated. Thanks, Patrick :confused:


[Modified by FXT, 7:41 PM 1/2/2003]

 

Ok, I finally got the amp gauge to work, it's that small stuff that gets ya everytime. It just takes a lot of patience and good detective work. One connection I checked again was the two harness plugs that go into the firewall.

Pulled them both out and cleaned the prongs on the old dash harness plug at the fuse box with sandpaper and flushed it good with WD-40. Slipped on the new harness plugs and made sure the prongs were properly lined up and moved the plugs back and forth several times to make sure I had a good connection.

That apparently was the problem. Now I start up the car and the gauge shows a charging mode! :yesnod: What a relief. I even backed the car out into the driveway and the new Centerforce cluch worked smoothly and quietly; that's another thing I was concerned with....that if something can go wrong it will...but this time it was OK. The more time and attention you pay when installing stuff like this always pays off in the long run.

The new correct Packard dated wires from Lectric Limited shown in the picture are hung up high to keep them off the exhaust manifolds for now. It was a very good day. :cheers:
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/classi...pstartup.1.jpg

 

Good work Patrick. I sure wish I was as far along as you. :cry

 

Thanks '67, I'm sure you will do just fine. There is always a tendency when doing a project like yours or mine, to get it together quickly just because Spring is around the corner. You just have to resist the urge and proceed slowly and cautiously, checking your work as you go along, until you are satisfied that everying is OK before moving on.

A mistake is a mistake. There are cheap, simple mistakes like I had and there are costly catastrophic mistakes, like wiping a cam on a new engine during the first startup, because you didn't follow the necessary precautions. I used to do that stuff, but now I don't want to have to do it over a second time just because I was in a rush. :D

 

Amen to that brother.

I hereby announce, publicly, that the 67HEAVEN project will definitely NOT be finished for the spring of 2003. I've fielded lots of questions by phone, eMail and in person about when....when will it be finished?

No question. Based on what I've learned to this point, I won't be finished before January 2004....if then. But, I will get it right.
:steering:

 

Hey, Working on the car just keeps you out of trouble!

:seeya

 

You mean like this? :lol: