However, the most significant issue was my Mother's situation with her worsening metastatic melanoma. She's had it since early '08 and it spread to her lung and toward the end, to her brain. She was diagnosed last October with 6 - 12 months to live, went through radiation treatment, and another surgery after which she was basically home and bed ridden. Of course, I spent a lot of time traveling to visit her at least weekly. and didn't realize it at the time but her impending death affected my attitude. She passed quietly early on the 4th of May. Kudos to my sister for moving in with her and being Mom's primary care provider for over three months.
So, now that I'm about finished with her affairs and my spirits are picking up, back to work on the Vette. To look at the car, one wouldn't think much work has been going on. However, I have been working on a lot of small sub-systems that I'll cover further in this post.
But the big news for today is, "IT'S ALIVE AGAIN!!!!". I just got the wiring harnesses back from VettAid and with it the car is now functional. This start up is the singular event that, at least psychologically, for me is a significant milestone. I now know the custom, one-off wiring harness, security system being integrated with the ECM/harness works and I can get on with all the mechanical/electrical sub-systems checks.
This first clip shows the key less start system. The fob unlocks the doors (when I retro-fit later model power door locks) and disarms the security, allowing the circuits for the ignition and computer to function. The toggle switch on the gauge cluster turns on the ignition and the light on the push button starter on the steering column lights. The starter button replaces the factory key cylinder. The toggle switch also turns off the ignition. The video cam used to take this clip picks up static from the fuel pump so there is only the sound of static instead of a sweet sounding exhaust.
This clip was taken with my ancient digital cam, but you can hear a bit of the exhaust....and the tired groan as I climb out of the car. Gotta get this car finished before I'm too old to get in and out!!!! This is the fourth start up since I began this project, but the first with the motor, frame, and the body all together (at least most of the body). The first two are on video clips earlier in the blog. he third was a few months ago, but I had to bypass computer by using a jumper wire on the fuel pump relay to get the car to start. That was one of the small glitches with the security system.
Although there is a lot of work left, to me this is the home stretch, the "light at the end of the tunnel"!!!
I wanted to post this event today because it is such a significant milestone. However, I have worked on a few things since the last post; some are, rebuilding the original and then a later model steering column and modifying the factory seat tracks in order to install the C5 seats, etc. - pictures at 11. I will update this post with details of that work.
