Varg In Jeep's Clothing

Thanks for posting a pic of the master battery kill switch..... it will make it faster for me when I sneak out there and take it for a “ test ride”........

 

But I didn’t show the hidden neutral safety switch I retained from the Volvo harness....

 

However... you just told me I need to look for one... thanks !

 

Also, that only stops the starter from working and you live on a hill....

 

Grill lights are wired. I ran all the wires, including a ground, through this connector. It’ll make grill and fender removal a snap, and I’ll never have to worry about bad grounds.



I got it all hooked up, and none of the lights worked as they should’ve. The parking lights didn’t come on at all, and the headlights were on when the switch was in the parking and headlight positions. I figured out the parking light issue was just a simple “forgot to tie in the brown wire” oversight, but the headlight issue is going to require a diode. I’m getting power back-feeding through the parking light circuit. Where’s Radio Shack when you need it.

I also realized the other day that I had no provision for a high-beam indicator, so I grabbed a white LED utility light that fits in a 3/4 hole. I’ll pop it into the instrument light hole above the speedometer. To dim the light and make it blue, I dipped it body paint a few times until it reached proper opacity. I’ll shoot some clear on it eventually.



Since I’ve been working on this for about 300 hours with no visible progress, I needed a morale boost, so I threw the fender on. That helped.

 

Had to do a double take.... thought I was back in Philly seeing dead soldiers (empty crack vials) under the Jeep....


As for the back feed, what are you running for a relay again? Factory Volvo stuff?

 

The litter under the Jeep is from my wife’s label maker. That thing has been an absolute lifesaver. I think I shall commandeer it.

I’m using standard 4- and 5-post relays, but I’m using the stock Volvo light switch. It’s a really weird setup that must utilize some complicated relays to make work. A simple diode on the switch’s parking light post will fix my issue.

 

I know this is a dumb question but you have the relay wired correctly right? That could cause a back feed

 

Yeah, I clipped the wire where it needs a diode and the headlights work fine. Everything is right, I just had that oversight on my blueprint sketch. Now I see it plain as day.

 

Cool. I think you should do a quick rip through the woods to make sure all the connections are solid....

 

I recall a quote from a wire industry expert. He said: "the best way to ruin a wire is to put a connector on it".

 

Not much to add visually, but all the rear lights are hooked up, work, and the wires are tidy.

I figured out a way to fix my lighting situation with a relay instead of a diode.

I drilled a port for the trailer wires to exit the body. Also, this is why this stuff takes me months rather than days. My plan for 90% of the time is to run without a spare, with the license plate and light mounted to the tailgate. When I get around to building the swing-out spare tire carrier, I’ll somehow make the license plate mount a quick-release deal that can pop off of the tailgate and pop onto the carrier. This wiring harness has a 3rd brake light too. I dug through my box of connectors and found some 4-pin connectors that matched. I’ll use that for the license plate light on the tailgate, then switch to the pre-wired swing-out carrier for the 3rd brake light and license light.



Also, I saw this festering turd in town today.

 

Rat rods, bringing unsafe heaps of rolling junk to streets near you.

 

I always loathed the state safety inspections in PA, but I do see their purpose.

“Let’s weld the front axle to the frame! What could go wrong?”

 

nice crack in the windshield buddy...

 

And a solid argument AGAINST safety inspections.
That car has 458k on the ticker... I’m not putting a dime into it!

 

ahhh its below your line o sight it passes.

 

That one is below the line of sight.

 

We don’t have inspections or emission testing here. It’s a blessing and a curse. More than 3/4 of the vehicles would be off the road if they started testing again.

 

but you do nice work
now rat rods . I don't have a problem with them
if they are done safely . old junk body on newer frame and running gear
you would be surprised what kind of junk drives on roads around here with antique tags
some people completely abuse the privilege of tag . no state inspection on junk