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PJungnitsch
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« Reply #40 on: November 25, 2007, 08:40:50 pm » |
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A funny thing about making one thing better on an old vehicle is other problem areas then stick out. Some sandpaper and a half used can of exhaust paint I had laying around tidied up the typically beat up B2000 front bumper, and some Krylon Fusion (again, laying around from some other job) did a wonder on the UV damaged grill. A hammer, pry bar and paint brush cleaned up the rear bumper. Then I got thinking about how ugly the stock Mazda steering wheel is. A trip to the pick-a-part turned up a steering wheel and shift knob from a 323, both of which fit right on.
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2hondas1BMW
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« Reply #41 on: November 25, 2007, 08:55:24 pm » |
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Wow! It looks so much better now. Awesome work.  A little bit of elbow grease can do great wonders. If I saw it, I wouldn't have thought it had 400,000 kms on it. |
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Mine: 2004 Acura TSX
Family: 2005 Honda Odyssey EX, 2006 BMW 330i
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mar1990
Auto Obsessed
 Offline
Gender: 
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 513
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« Reply #42 on: November 25, 2007, 09:27:07 pm » |
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Thats the same steering wheel as a CDN version 1990 Miata.
If you think thats ugly, you should see the US versions with the airbag. |
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Arthur Dent
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« Reply #43 on: November 25, 2007, 10:22:27 pm » |
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Excellent upgrades - great budget too! |
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Scaerio
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« Reply #44 on: November 26, 2007, 01:14:52 pm » |
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Congrats on the milestone and your improvements look great! That's a fun old trucklet! |
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-Ken
SAAB: automobile design inspired by Salvador Dali on an absinthe bender.
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PJungnitsch
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« Reply #45 on: November 26, 2007, 04:00:40 pm » |
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Thats the same steering wheel as a CDN version 1990 Miata.
If you think thats ugly, you should see the US versions with the airbag.
That's the nice one, didn't know it was the same as a Miata, neat! The original is very ugly (I think A.D. will vouch for) plus it has the horn buttons on the spokes, which was always a pain. For $15.00 the new wheel was a worthy upgrade. That said, what I really notice when driving is the different shift knob, strangely enough. The 323 one I switched with is hooked forward, and it changes the shift feel substantially for the better. Didn't realize such a thing would make so much difference, but I guess it is a big connection to the vehicle on a manual vehicle. |
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PJungnitsch
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« Reply #46 on: November 26, 2007, 04:11:11 pm » |
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Anyway, working on the vehicle proved to be kind of fun, as well as cheap. And it's not exactly worrysome to drill/take apart/tinker with something this old. Feel like I'm rediscovering a hobby I've left for fifteen years or so. The next vehicle will probably be new so this is a good chance to try out stuff.
An airhorn I had laying around, never got around to installing. Install was pretty easy, the horn sound is much more authoritative now.
Princess auto had a washer kit with tank and pump on sale for ten bucks, so I thought I'd try and see if I could install headlight washers. Have had some nasty night drives in slushy conditions over the years. Seems to work fine, though I needed to get some better washer nozzles from CT.
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safristi
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« Reply #47 on: November 26, 2007, 04:25:25 pm » |
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..can ya get a wrecked Veyron engine to finish the upgrades.....   |
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....
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Seafoam
Auto Obsessed
OfflineVehicle: 06 Black MX-5 GS, 07 red Honda Fit Sport
Gender:
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 877
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« Reply #48 on: November 26, 2007, 08:39:36 pm » |
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Anyway, working on the vehicle proved to be kind of fun, as well as cheap. And it's not exactly worrysome to drill/take apart/tinker with something this old. Feel like I'm rediscovering a hobby I've left for fifteen years or so. The next vehicle will probably be new so this is a good chance to try out stuff.
An airhorn I had laying around, never got around to installing. Install was pretty easy, the horn sound is much more authoritative now.
Princess auto had a washer kit with tank and pump on sale for ten bucks, so I thought I'd try and see if I could install headlight washers. Have had some nasty night drives in slushy conditions over the years. Seems to work fine, though I needed to get some better washer nozzles from CT.
It's kind of funny the mods you are doing to your truck are similar to what miata owners do. They replace steering wheels ,shift knobs for shorter throw, and change the wimpy horn so they can be heard. Maybe that Transmission did end up in the miata after all . My brother in law had a 92 B2000 shortbox . He let me drive it once and the transmission felt very car like from what i can remember. |
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Snowman
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« Reply #49 on: November 26, 2007, 08:48:55 pm » |
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Great work PJ, what is your expectation for the final odometer reading. |
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Accordingly
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« Reply #50 on: November 26, 2007, 10:10:55 pm » |
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I love the resurection...great job. Looks like you're having fun.  |
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dr_spock
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« Reply #51 on: November 26, 2007, 10:33:44 pm » |
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Excellent work.  |
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PJungnitsch
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« Reply #52 on: November 27, 2007, 06:58:33 pm » |
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Great work PJ, what is your expectation for the final odometer reading.
Might not be much more. Lots of rust. Really wished I'd had it rustproofed occasionally throughout it's life. The next vehicle will probably be a car for better mileage, and it would have been handy to have the pickup around to haul stuff. Insurance is next to nothing. |
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safristi
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« Reply #53 on: November 27, 2007, 07:09:21 pm » |
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WDF!!!...after spending $67.88 ALL THAT MONEY yer gonna dump lil MAIZIE @ the Waterton Hotel and walk away Rene...  ?? U cruel bastard...........   |
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....
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PJungnitsch
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« Reply #54 on: November 27, 2007, 07:15:12 pm » |
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To avoid the pain that Wolfe is going through with electrics, I installed an auxiliary fusebox in the engine bay, which uses a relay activated by key power. So lots of power sources, everything nice and tidy, no forest of scotchloks under the dash. Wires are color coded and labeled for good measure.
Found a momentary rocker for the headlight washer control, and while I was at it filled the rest of the instrument panel rocker blanks with some nice surplus switches from Princess Auto. Finally hardwired in my seat heater and while I was fiddling with the electrical added some front fogs.
To make the fog install sanitary I installed them in the old turn signal location, and moved the turn signals up into the marker lights, with amber bulbs. Should be a lot safer than having the signals buried in the bumper.
BTW for anyone working with electrical connectors that racheting connector tool in the marker light photo rocks, much better than the regular crimper. |
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safristi
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« Reply #55 on: November 27, 2007, 07:30:07 pm » |
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....
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2hondas1BMW
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« Reply #56 on: November 27, 2007, 08:13:54 pm » |
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To avoid the pain that Wolfe is going through with electrics, I installed an auxiliary fusebox in the engine bay, which uses a relay activated by key power. So lots of power sources, everything nice and tidy, no forest of scotchloks under the dash. Wires are color coded and labeled for good measure.
Found a momentary rocker for the headlight washer control, and while I was at it filled the rest of the instrument panel rocker blanks with some nice surplus switches from Princess Auto. Finally hardwired in my seat heater and while I was fiddling with the electrical added some front fogs.
To make the fog install sanitary I installed them in the old turn signal location, and moved the turn signals up into the marker lights, with amber bulbs. Should be a lot safer than having the signals buried in the bumper.
BTW for anyone working with electrical connectors that racheting connector tool in the marker light photo rocks, much better than the regular crimper.
Wow, I think this is one of your best mods yet (the lighting). Give us some shots at night! |
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Mine: 2004 Acura TSX
Family: 2005 Honda Odyssey EX, 2006 BMW 330i
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Wolfe
Drunk on Fuel
OfflineVehicle: Mazda Miata
Gender:
Location: Tronno
Posts: 2806
BOO!
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« Reply #57 on: November 28, 2007, 02:38:51 am » |
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To avoid the pain that Wolfe is going through with electrics, I installed an auxiliary fusebox in the engine bay, which uses a relay activated by key power. So lots of power sources, everything nice and tidy, no forest of scotchloks under the dash. Wires are color coded and labeled for good measure.
  Your awesomeness is totally, um... awesome, the next owner of your truck will thank you a thousand times.  BTW what do you use to cover up your fusebox? Two pictures for comparison Yours:  Mine:  |
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To err is human, to blame it on someone else is even more human.  |
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safristi
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« Reply #58 on: November 28, 2007, 09:20:33 am » |
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..HIS is BIGGER...................  .....showtime @ the RIO HARNESSING.... |
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THERE IS NO CURE FOR "LOTUS"......ONLY TREATMENT.....
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GLX97
Learner's Permit
OfflineVehicle: Nissan X-Trail
Gender:
Location: Gatineau, QC
Posts: 5
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« Reply #59 on: November 29, 2007, 01:12:13 pm » |
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This guy can really fixt anything on vehicles! Great job on the truck. Keep it in the family!  |
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