3/2/01 Windows, Doors, and Wiring

The nice thing about Partsource is orders placed on Monday usually arrive by Thursday so I can install them on Friday! This was the case with my window channel felts. After my approval on the the size and fit of the sample I got, the box arrived at work just in time for me to bring them up to the shop. Tom, the mailroom guy, knows to notify me immediately when packages arrive probably to keep me from checking in with him all day long!

I bought some contact cement to glue the channels in place, and began cutting the coiled up length down to size. Using sheet metal shears, I bevel cut the ends so they would butt up next to the adjacent piece for a neat fit, kind of like a picture frame. Once the felts were glued, I used some C-clamps to hold them in place so the glue could set.

With the doors off, I can access some of the wiring much easier. These wires go to the main door switch that controls the interior lights. Before, I couldn’t fish these wires through this access hole because the door was in the way. Even if the wiring had been run through, it still would have been impossible to get this rubber grommet in place. These grommets keep the wiring from chaffing against the sheet metal, and shorting out the interior lights.

The right side wiring was a little easier because there are fewer wires to run through the hole, but still way easier without the door in place. I replaced some suspect wire that was hard, and wrapped in electrical tape. I soldered in new wire, and used shrink wrap so a future restorer will not have to deal with the sticky gooey mess electrical tape turns into after just a few months! All I need now is a new rubber grommet, and I’ll be done.

Looking for other things to do while the contact cement dried on the window channels, I decided to clean up the check straps for the doors. One of them was left on the door when it was painted, but the other one has the original paint on it. Obviously both will have to match and painted the current color of the car, so stripping the paint was in order.

I’m amazed these pieces didn’t get lost in the years this car laid disassembled. If I saw a coffee can with a couple of these pieces inside a few years ago, I would have never guessed these belonged to a Ferrari!

After a few minutes on the wire wheel, all the pieces were ready for paint.

Although I spent last week researching how to install a self energizing alternator with an internal regulator, I decided to try using the Marelli regulator. The change of mind comes from the fact that everything I currently have may be in good working order, so why go through the trouble and expense when I don’t have to? Also finding an alternator matched to my ammeter’s low rating has not been easy. The alternator I currently have is an externally regulated unit rated at 37 amps, which is matched to the electrics to the Ferrari, so it should work. The Marelli voltage regulator should be able to work with it in providing signal to charge the battery. If when I wire everything together, and the Italian regulator proves faulty, I can always replace it with a new single wire internally regulated alternator in the future.

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