Greetings!
I knew I only had an hour or so tonight to work on Gary's coupe so I did what seemed to me to be the most fun; I opened a box of parts that just came in from The Truck Shop in California. They're my favorite restoration source and I'll continue to use them until California drops off in the ocean. Maybe the whole state won't go in one big slide. Maybe just San Francisco will sink into the depths and leave southern California alone.
In the box of goodies was the electric windshield wiper motor and switch. I looked over the switch and compared it to the stock, ivory-colored item. I thought it would be nice to keep the ivory knobs on the dash, and they match the window crank handles. After taking off the handles from both the stock and replacement switches it was clear that I'd have to make something if I'm going to mate the old and new.
Looking at the wiper knob from the backside I noticed that it wasn't round but polygon shaped. I measured it and decided to use a 5/16" drill to round it out so I could put something inside to make the diameter smaller to match up with the smaller shaft on the new switch.
I had some 5/16" steel rod in the shop so i chucked it up in the lathe and drilled out a 1/8" hole in the center that would fit the small shaft of the new switch, then I cut it off at about 1/2" in length and pressed it into the hole I'd drilled into the original knob. The diameter of the steel rod I'd drilled was what's called an "interference fit" which means that the small tube going into the hole was the same size or even larger than the hole itself. Pressing it in meant that I didn't have to use an adhesive to keep them together. It was working very well.
When I pressed it into the knob and when I was doing the other work on the original knob I used a small wooden disc on the ivory side to buffer it against the vise so it wouldn't be marked or broken when I clamped it down. I also used a slow speed on the drill motor so I wouldn't melt it from the friction heat. So far, so good.
I put it carefully back into the vise, drilled a tiny hole and used a threaded tap to put threads into the side of the knob and into the piece I'd made and pressed in place. Then, I was able to put a small set screw into the side and it kept the old knob from spinning on the switch. I put it together and gave it a twist to make sure it would hold and it worked just fine. From the passenger compartment it's going to look as though nothing had been changed in regard to the wiper switch, and I think that's what Gary would prefer. Unfortunately, he didn't request this modification and perhaps it wasn't necessary (in some opinions), so I don't think I'll include this hour on his invoice.
Looking at the two knobs, there's no question that the original ivory knob is going to be the hot setup instead of the more descriptive, but less appropriate look of the generic replacement. Don't you think?
I'll be away for a few days while I attend the sealing ceremony of my lovely daughter Ariel to her husband Michael in the Boise temple. It's something that Mormons do and we're very excited for them. The two of them live in Virginia where he's a digital tech guy doing some mysterious work for an unknown company. We don't get to see them much because they're so far away. At least we can feel good that if 'Frisco goes under they'll be at a safe distance.
So, have you heard of the caldera under Yellowstone?
Doug
I knew I only had an hour or so tonight to work on Gary's coupe so I did what seemed to me to be the most fun; I opened a box of parts that just came in from The Truck Shop in California. They're my favorite restoration source and I'll continue to use them until California drops off in the ocean. Maybe the whole state won't go in one big slide. Maybe just San Francisco will sink into the depths and leave southern California alone.
In the box of goodies was the electric windshield wiper motor and switch. I looked over the switch and compared it to the stock, ivory-colored item. I thought it would be nice to keep the ivory knobs on the dash, and they match the window crank handles. After taking off the handles from both the stock and replacement switches it was clear that I'd have to make something if I'm going to mate the old and new.
Looking at the wiper knob from the backside I noticed that it wasn't round but polygon shaped. I measured it and decided to use a 5/16" drill to round it out so I could put something inside to make the diameter smaller to match up with the smaller shaft on the new switch.
I had some 5/16" steel rod in the shop so i chucked it up in the lathe and drilled out a 1/8" hole in the center that would fit the small shaft of the new switch, then I cut it off at about 1/2" in length and pressed it into the hole I'd drilled into the original knob. The diameter of the steel rod I'd drilled was what's called an "interference fit" which means that the small tube going into the hole was the same size or even larger than the hole itself. Pressing it in meant that I didn't have to use an adhesive to keep them together. It was working very well.When I pressed it into the knob and when I was doing the other work on the original knob I used a small wooden disc on the ivory side to buffer it against the vise so it wouldn't be marked or broken when I clamped it down. I also used a slow speed on the drill motor so I wouldn't melt it from the friction heat. So far, so good.
The hollowed-out length of 5/16" rod fit perfectly into the new hole in the knob and it was just a matter of inserting it carefully into the vise to press it down inside. I checked it with the new switch and it fit very well, but I needed to put in a set screw to keep it on the shaft and allow Gary to turn it and not have it slip.
Looking at the two knobs, there's no question that the original ivory knob is going to be the hot setup instead of the more descriptive, but less appropriate look of the generic replacement. Don't you think?
I'll be away for a few days while I attend the sealing ceremony of my lovely daughter Ariel to her husband Michael in the Boise temple. It's something that Mormons do and we're very excited for them. The two of them live in Virginia where he's a digital tech guy doing some mysterious work for an unknown company. We don't get to see them much because they're so far away. At least we can feel good that if 'Frisco goes under they'll be at a safe distance.
So, have you heard of the caldera under Yellowstone?
Doug
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