Driving Excitement...85 Trans Am Project. New Plan as of 5/3

[SSEiMan01]

Im confident that when I do go WOT the 1-2 will bark em. I think the 2-3 is too quick, with the Vette servo and shift kit, the 2-3 shift at half throttle feels like a fart. LOL It's actually a very great feeling shift, all the gears are. I'm beginning to remember why I've put up with the problems this car has/had. I do love driving it... Next step, fix the dash lights, which havent worked in years. I'll link a thread from TGO describing the problem to here and ask for your guys' input. I think you all may figure it out faster than they will

[SSEiMan01]

Ok, since TGO forums hasn't led me to a conclusion, I figured I would ask here. Reading this link: http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/elect ... issue.html (Please post here not in that ancient thread on the F-Body forums.)

I am still having this issue. Basically I have no dash lights for the past while on this car. I have replaced every component I can think of for it, to no avail. If you need clarificaiton, I will be happy to explain. I think I'm going to have to tear apart the whole dash (eek) and trace every wire and make sure none have shorted. It gets annoying to hold a flashlight up to see the gauges at night.

Thanks in advance!

[sandrock]

I'd first check the cluster. Find the ground and the lamp feed and check for continuity. If that's good, check the same terminals on the harness side for power. If no power, switch the ground terminal for a true ground somewhere (likely the dash support). If you get power, you have a bad ground in that harness. If still no power, double check for continuity between the ground terminal and the dash support. If it rings out good, focus on the headlight switch dimmer circuit (interior lighting, not high/low beam).

Since it's a constant hot, the flow will be battery (+), fuse, dimmer control (+12v), dimmer out (4ish-12v, depending on dimmer setting), instrumentation, ground. Power going TO the dimmer might be linked to parking lamps, though I doubt it.

[SSEiMan01]

Will do. For what it's worth, I know the lights on this cluster work. It's the cluster from my brother's 84, I broke the 85 cluster that was in there. I'll have to tear it apart and take a look at things and see what I can see. Probably tomorrow morning. Thanks Brad!

[MattStrike]

Might seem silly, but if it's a different style cluster, the pinout for the connectors may be different. I had to re-wire mine to use the new cluster from the same year vehicle.

[Jrs3800]

Will, if I remember I will have to look up the wiring schematics for the 84-85 TA.... Maybe it could be of help...

[SSEiMan01]

That would be great Don!

Matt, to my knowledge any 85mph cluster with this layout is the same pinout. At least the one for 84/85 were, only thing different was the gauge faces and needles. Also, I replaced the cluster after the lights stopped working.

[SSEiMan01]

*blows dust off*

Haven't had time to look into the dash lights. Sadly this car has been sitting since mid summer. I'll be home later in the week and I'll have lots of chances to drive it, and I will, because it was tuned in the fall, now is the weather it runs amazing in.

I do have a question though! I need to install the hood spring. I'm tired of a two person process to open the hood. There is no mounting point on the hood, and I hate to drill it. I wouldn't mind drilling the core support "tray" area where the latch is though. Anybody have any recommendations as to how to affix it in such a place? Again, no mounting point, I need a way to actually hold the thing in place.

This is the underside of the hood, best picture I have. Also the engine bay pics show the "tray" as I call it, not sure if it has an actual name.



EDIT: This:



The part where the latch is would be ideal. Just not sure how to mount it.

[SSEiMan01]

Bueller?

I was thinking of something along the lines of a small pipe strap, wrap it around the spring and use one screw to hold it down...

[sethjamesrimrodt]

I would have to see it in person to help

[SSEiMan01]

Come over next week?

I'll be home, I'll let ya drive it too.

[sethjamesrimrodt]

Tempting! I'll have to see what my work schedule brings.

[SSEiMan01]

I'll be free most of the week, you can see the Cutty while we still have it too!

[00Beast]

I'm unfamiliar with the stock spring setup, got any pics of that?

[SSEiMan01]

Uhhh... Maybe somewhere, but I'll try to dig something up later today.

[00Beast]

Just googled it. THAT spring, the little one by the latch that just pops it up. Got it.

Maybe find/borrow a thread-setting tool (basically a riveted in set of threads) on some part near the latch where it will spring against something, and bolt the spring in using that? Probably the least likely to crack the fiberglass...

[SSEiMan01]

That's an aluminum hood.

I think I know what you're talking about Ed. I may do that, I should look at how my brother did his on his GTA, he has a fiberglass hood.

[wake]

I should look at how my brother did his on his GTA, he has a fiberglass hood.

theres a good idea, that dudes a genius

[SSEiMan01]

Yeah he is... Too bad I never get to see him or the car... I've been his brother my whole life ya know?

[wake]

at least you have new brothers to replace his void myself included