Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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I'm afraid I have to agree with your son on the turn signals. Here in geezerland where we live, about a third of the drivers we encounter are severely nearsighted and have the reflxes of 3-day-old road kill. We need all the advantages we can get.

Ain't it neat how we all learn from each other? I have always used light switches from existing (older) cars becase they have a breaker built in and do not require relays. I like your method, though, becase it allows the use of matching toggle switches. All I need now is to know where I can get some of those relays and how to wire them.

With the high stance of your engine in relation to the cowl, you could (someday) mount a small weatherproof tach on the back of the engine. It would serve a valuable purpose and still look "racy". Whatever, I really like the look and proportions on your roadster and am looking forward to seeing it in person.

I really should have turn signals, I know, but frankly I just want to get this car done. I'm a little tired of the build, especially cramming both cars into this time crunch we've been under. Dan says he has the entire kit to do it, so I guess this weekend we'll be doing that.

JR, these relays are available at any auto parts store, and for those who might not be familiar with what a relay does, it simply let's you install a high draw item, like an electric fan, without having to pass all that current through the switch. It insures that the accessory gets the full current it needs . If, for example, you just ran a wire from the battery to a switch then to the fan there would be a significant current drop through all of that. However, by using a relay you can run heavier gauge wire right to the accessory and smaller wire to the switch and still get full voltage to the accessory.

I drew up this little diagram to show a typical hookup for one. (Don bought me a fancy schmancy scanner/copier/fax thingy, but I don't know how to use it yet........so I had to resort to taking a picture of my drawing )

There is a drawing on the side of most relays that show you how to hook them up, but generally your good 12 volt supply comes in on number 30 pin, and the accessory is connected to the pin directly opposite it, Then you connect your switched power to one of the remaining pins, and a ground to the last one. You can do the switching one of two ways........you can make the switch on the positive or negative side, it doesn't matter.

This explanation is rather simplistic, but should serve to sort of explain how they work. I use them on things like headlights, electric fans, electric fuel pumps, etc.

I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you guys at Daytona too JR. Guess we need to start finalizing where and when.

Don