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| Joined: | 04-07-2022 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 139 |
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Some good news today. I got oil pressure in Rusty. I kept putting off trying to get oil pressure for a couple of reasons; There was other stuff to do, but mainly fear that I was not going to get pressure because I had not packed the pump with petroleum jelly (the shop manual does not say whether to do it or not). I pulled the plugs and cranked away. It took about 20 seconds of cranking, but then the needle bounced up. I presume the delay was due to needing to fill the oil cooler and filter. Anyway, seeing that needle move brought joy to my heart.
I have been trouble shooting electrical issues as a way of stalling the quest for oil pressure. My radio would only come on when the key was in the run position - it turns out that my wiring resulted in the constant +12 wire for the radio presets not supplying a steady voltage, and the radio will not operate until both the main power and the preset power are present. I hooked the preset power into the cigarette lighter power, and the problem was resolved.
I have been taking some pains to totally restore the car, and this includes the much dreaded 1974 seat belt interlock. I have no intention of using it, but I did want it working. It turns out that the logic box was bad, so the ignition switch did not work unless the box was bypassed. I found a NOS logic box for Fiat that is identical expect it does not include the buzzer - otherwise the function is the same. Plugged it in and the ignition switch is now operational. Leaving the occupant seat switches disconnected disables the starter interlock logic for the seat belts - so it acts like it is not a 1974.
What's left? Install the spark plugs, put some gas in it and see if it will start. After 3 years, I am almost there!
Vance
Last edited on 03-13-2026 07:52 pm by vnavaret