rough night for the Biscuit

**jbiscuit** · 07-30-2009, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Burgandy85SS

How far from Solid gold did you get? If you need any help cleanin up or painting anything under the hood let me know.

not far at all. Pulled over at 76th and Layton where I put it out

**jbiscuit** · 07-31-2009, 12:20 PM

update on the progress:

After 10 hours in the garage yesterday, I was able to clean the entire car including the engine bay and get everything detailed. The fire extinguisher residue did tarnish and affect the finish on a lot of bare metal surfaces like the master cylinder, fuel pump, some hood latch hardware, grille rivets etc but nothing serious. Got the old harness out. New harness ordered this morning which is being made to my 1-wire alternator usage and placement in the car. New GM firewall junction, horn relay (which acts a core support junction), battery cables and a new positive battery cable tie. Still have some wiring to sort out on the firewall tonight but its getting there.

Wiring on this car I'm learning very quickly doesn't utilize MUCH of the factory harness. Since my car started life as a 6 cylinder, the original harness was modified over 20 years ago to accommodate the V8. Then factor in the addition of the MSD ignition, no more points, the 1-wire alternator vs. 3, the 68 motor with long water pump which mounts the alternator on the passenger side (opposite of stock 64s) and this sucker is a cluster.

My intent will be to rip out as much wiring now and try and redo a lot of it so its as close to how the factory would have done it including correct wire color and routing. More to come.

**Crawlin** · 07-31-2009, 12:25 PM

custom harness time? or is it being made to stock? can you pick and choose what wires you need added and have it made like that?

**jbiscuit** · 07-31-2009, 12:29 PM

it'll be "custom" to accommodate the location and type of alternator but it will appear and function just like stock. Including harness tape, connectors wire routing and grounds etc. Pretty slick. Whats cool is that in the future when I change motors, I'll have to modify this new harness once the alternator goes to the driver's side but they way the junction is being done at the horn relay, it'll be pretty easy

**william schlosser** · 07-31-2009, 12:34 PM

sorry to hear about the fire. hope everything works out for you. bill

**DR.FORD** · 07-31-2009, 12:38 PM

My dumb ass just read the post-Glad everything is OK!
I thought maybe you were talking about your girlfriends va-J-J by the post heading!!

**jbiscuit** · 07-31-2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by DR.FORD

My dumb ass just read the post-Glad everything is OK!
I thought maybe you were talking about your girlfriends va-J-J by the post heading!!

you owe me a new keyboard for that one since my is now soaked with pepsi

**Rocket Power** · 07-31-2009, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by DR.FORD

I thought maybe you were talking about your girlfriends va-J-J by the post heading!!

**PB86MCSS** · 08-01-2009, 09:13 AM

Sorry to see that, good to see it was stopped in time though....good reminder, for me anyway, to invest in an extinguisher just in case. I've seen too many cars with engine fires

.

**JC70SS** · 08-01-2009, 01:05 PM

Glad everything is ok J!

**Rocket Power** · 08-01-2009, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by PB86MCSS

good reminder, for me anyway, to invest in an extinguisher just in case.

X2
I was talking to my friend today about this and how I want to get one for my 64 for just in case. And before the wiseasses come out, I don't mean just in case it leaves the garage

**DR.FORD** · 08-01-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by yellow wagon

you owe me a new keyboard for that one since my is now soaked with pepsi

**jbiscuit** · 08-07-2009, 11:47 PM

well, may have figured out what caused the fire in the car. The alternator is faulty. Had Dan (Holeshot) try and test it today and the machine quick-failed it. Probably an issue with the internal voltage regulator or a torched diode or something. Since it doesn't smell of "burnt," I'd guess the regulator failed which overloaded the output "BAT" wire in a hurry. Too much amperage = molten wires in a hurry. Seems to make sense as to the cause. Pretty sh1tty considering its a 1-year old alternator. I'll be calling the manufacturer again on monday to give them one more chance to stand behind their product.

**SSDude** · 08-08-2009, 08:28 AM

Good to hear you traced down the cause. No need to melt down a new harness.

Got to wonder if the guys who built it are using cut rate parts to save a nickle?

If they won't make it right with you pick up a NAPA internal regulator we can throw in it.

**jbiscuit** · 08-08-2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by SSDude

Good to hear you traced down the cause. No need to melt down a new harness.

Got to wonder if the guys who built it are using cut rate parts to save a nickle?

If they won't make it right with you pick up a NAPA internal regulator we can throw in it.

I will have several safe guards built into the new wiring. 1) fusible link at the battery from the charging circuit of the alt to cut power from the alternator should the internal regulator fail in the future. High current overload will buzz the fusible link and take out the power generation before it does damage. 2) get rid of the DB Electrical high-amp alternator. They are "known" to build a quality alternator and a quick Google search shows there are a lot of happy campers using them. I just can't take the risk a 2nd time however. They also chose to not stand behind their product in the first 2 conversations with them which was a shock to me considering how "new" the alternator was. Good old reman Remy for me now.

**juicedimpss** · 08-13-2009, 09:17 AM

DAMN!

glad to see its not worse.

**jbiscuit** · 08-13-2009, 08:55 PM

Update

Made a lot of progress on the car tonight. Harness showed up. Man is it nice! Probably nicer than the original if that is possible. All GM connectors, correct color-coded wires and lengths. Really a nice harness. Need to finish up a couple things with the alternator and the positive battery cable but it should be ready to fire tomorrow *cross fingers.

**juicedimpss** · 08-17-2009, 11:27 AM

good to see the car back on the road j.

**jbiscuit** · 08-17-2009, 11:30 AM

^ Thanks ron, though I was shittin my pants the whole ride down. "What is that smell? You smell that?" Jeni thought I was losin my mind. She seems all good now. To GLD and back without a hitch. Though it was hotter than hell Saturday! I had to drive 75 to cool down with my arms and legs hangin out the side windows

**Racer X79** · 08-17-2009, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by yellow wagon

^ Thanks ron, though I was shittin my pants the whole ride down. "What is that smell? You smell that?" Jeni thought I was losin my mind. She seems all good now. To GLD and back without a hitch. Though it was hotter than hell Saturday! I had to drive 75 to cool down with my arms and legs hangin out the side windows

Yea, I saw you down there but I never got over to say hi. The car looked very nice, couldn't even tell what happened. Hell of a good job. I've got the tan Malibu with dog dishes and parked by you at McDonalds a while back. It was Hot....VERY HOT!! Waiting to go into the water box Saturday with the windows closed and helmet on was no fun, and the ride home wasn't much better, lol. Maybe some day I'll put the rubber floor back in.

Again, very nice job.

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