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First "night" run

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:55 am
by HingsingM37
Well gang Saturday night after wiring in my headlamps and installing my front glass, the wife and I took the mighty M to the local cruise in about 10 miles away. A day of rain had scared off what was usually a 150 car event. It cleared off which was good as I have no cab top yet. No mind you I was nervous as hell given that wiring is not my favorite topic.
I had tested the lights engine running for about 10 minutes, however all I could think of was hitting the switch miles from home and getting one of those short circuit explosions from a 60's Irwin Allen show like Lost in Space or Time Tunnel. You older guys know the ones I mean, accompanied by that neat shreaking sound, yea I know, call me mister retro pop-culture :) We pulled in to see about 12 cars total. Now here is where its gets good. Across the way was a Dodge viper being admired. As we made our way into the lot heads turned, it could be my 4 shades of primer, I dunna know :lol: When I backed into my spot a crowd of about ten at the Viper started heading my way. It looked kind of like a mob of Zombies moving in for the kill. Needless to say the M was the hit of the small turnout that night. She performed flawlessly other than me trying to start off in 4th from an intersection due to nerves :oops: and stalling her. The warm glow from the red dash lights made for a romantic ride home with the Mrs.
I got alot done this weekend. I also painted my cab interior.
Pictures a few clicks away in my "David Cial" album.

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:57 am
by Monkey Man
Thanks for sharing the adventure Dave, sounds like a real blast! (not from the wiring LOL)

Regards - MM :-)

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:54 am
by Carter
Congrats David, A first time night drive is, for me at least, the most stressful run that can be made. No sparks, no fires, and you got home :D good job.

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:50 am
by Cal_Gary
Way to go David! Sounds like you had a great time!
Gary

Night rider.....

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:14 am
by Nickathome
David;

Bet it felt good taking the truck out at night. I know when I first went out at night it was a little eerie to say the least. I had only one working dash light at the time and could barely make out the instruments (not that I really needed to see them all that much).

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:38 pm
by tlrs819
Gotta love those red dash lights. I'm glad you didn't hear ''Danger Will Robinson, Danger Will Robinson'' Haha, lost in space was the big thing when I was a kid. I take mine to some cruise-ins too, The old M's pull in more people! Little kids love them, Vets from the 50's - 70's gotta check it out, and the younger crowd wants to check out the cool old ''ARMY JEEP''. How many people asked you what year your ''jeep'' was? A lot of people cant believe it's a dodge at our local cruise ins.

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:42 pm
by k8icu
What I love about M serries wiring is that if the harness is in good shape or new and all the tags are on it etc it is pretty much plug and play. As long as you have good grounds. Not good grounds and you'll chase deamons for ever, but good gounds and it works like a charm. Now if you want some real PITA wiring do a WWII MV!

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:40 pm
by Lifer
Actually, the WWII stuff wasn't all that bad. They only had "essential" electric accessories, after all. If you want to see some real "PITA" wiring, tear into a '98 Chrysler Town & Country with all the available options!

Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:55 pm
by rixm37
Great story David. Sounds like you had alot of fun!!

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:47 pm
by k8icu
Lifer wrote:Actually, the WWII stuff wasn't all that bad. They only had "essential" electric accessories, after all. If you want to see some real "PITA" wiring, tear into a '98 Chrysler Town & Country with all the available options!
"That's mathamatics son, you can argue with me but you can't argue with figures." F. Leghorn.

I can't argue with that lifer.... But in the MV world WWII wire is more of a PITA than M serries. After all in all M serries vehicles 22 is the stop light. and 22-460 is left stop/turn signal...etc. But in WWII on this vehicle it might be red with a green trace and on that vehicle it's black with a white trace and when it hits this junction it turns into blue with yellow trace...blah! I like numbers just plug and play... :)

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:52 am
by HingsingM37
Thanks guys. So far nobody has called it a jeep yet :)

Yesterday marked a milestone as I picked up my last and final load of body pieces (cargo bed) from the blaster. Hard to believe I am in the homestretch :D I dont know what I am going to do without visiting the blaster once a month :lol: , let alone when this truck is done, what to do this winter without a project? Oh thats right, all the home improvement and "honeydos" I have been putting off for the last 4 years 8)

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:53 pm
by k8icu
You do know that you are never really done with a project. There will be little things you'll need to tinker with. Plus as I tell people all the time owning a HMV means you'll spend more time under it than you will driving it. :D