1969 Mustang Stringer Rebuild

The more I look at this the more I wonder why it would need to go to the key? Wouldn't I just need to run from the alt to the amp meter to the battery?

Thanks Pete, sometimes these diagrams blow my mind so see if I got this right.

I traced in red what I think I am supposed to do. The red represents my new 6 gauge wire.

Alt to amp gauge. There are 3 post on the gauge, one I believe is ground. For the other two post I would connect my alt wire in and out the other to the key switch. At the key switch I could connect to the IGN post. Then would leave out of the BAT terminal back to the battery side of the solenoid.

Missing anything?

I believe a 1/4 of my wires are not original so who knows if the colors match. Probably why I'm having trouble here.

So from amp to BAT on key. Then do I go from BAT to Solenoid?

Understood. Basically instead of connecting directly to the battery it goes to the battery via the same post on the solenoid that the battery cable is connected too.

So it's a loop, touching the gauge and ignition. It does not go in one post and out another, same post in and out, right?

Man..... OK so in one post and out the other on the amp gauge. Same post in and out on the ignition BAT. Right?

About what should my gauge be reading if everything is working correctly? I have no radio so at most the ignition, blower, bilge pump, lights....

Come to think of it, I'm not sure what the gauge goes up to. Probably not 105 amps huh?

Pete we are lucky to have you here.

So pinging it out won't "fry" anything?

I'm trying to avoid breaking anything by fixing it.

thanks Pete!

David,
You didn't paint your wedges!!

Go flap free. You will never get water back to the manifolds with those H/M goose neck risers.

Wow you've got a lot to do David but it's looking good. Tomorrow morning when you're finishing up, grab a quick shower to scrub the grime off and let your wife hook the trailer up while you catch a cat nap LOL.

Extra hole in the crankshaft? You got a pic of that?

If you're talking about the hole in the crank shaft coupler on the rear, that's probably the alignment marker. 302's are externally balanced and the flywheel has to go on using that alignment mark.

Gosh David, I'm trying to remember here. I'm sure Pete knows this like the back of his hand or the Boat Dr. for sure. If you look at the back of the flywheel it has a counterweight. I believe the extra hole is to signify the side the counterweight goes on. You might also search some Ford 302 threads about this. If you don't get it right you will vibrate like crazy with possible disastrous results. If you haven't painted the flywheel yet, you may still be able to see how it was aligned on there by the scratches in the paint.

Actually David, that's what I would do. I would call Eric. He can answer that very quickly. It could have affects on the tranny as well as the engine and I'm sure he knows.

Well guys, the boat has beaten me. She will not be making the trip today. It's been a major battle, everything has been against me. Oh well, at least I'm this far along.

I'm at the alignment stage. Going to need to do something with the front. With my setup I have to flip my front mounts over and add wedges. If not, the front end is always too high. The new iron wedges I have are too small though. So I was going to add a block to the stringer to get it just right. So yeah Keegan, this part took way longer than expected. I actually had less trouble with the stringer job than the reassembly job.

I also have an exhaust issue. Back with my old stringers, the risers where directed partly over the stringers. So the hose was bending outwards to clear it to the pipes. Well maybe it's the thicker material of my new stringers or maybe I just placed them further apart than the last but the situation is even worse. I have some new "flex" hose but it doesn't want to flex in the short length I need to connect to my fiberglass pipes. You guys got any ideas? Maybe some short metal bends like Wakeslayer has setup. Mine would be different of course with the HM risers.

I guess a couple more weeks and I'll have her going. Not staying up till 3am anymore on this project.

I'm considering changing out the cutlass bearing before I put everything back together. Where do I find one of those?

Thanks Pete. Sure wish you lived down the street from me

Where do you find those?

I'll have to look at mine later to see how the exhaust lines up with my stringers,but here is how mine is now set up.The stainless pipe is angled in to connect up to the manifolds.