Mykk's BMW V8 T-bucket, version 1.5:

[Mykk]

In the spirit of cleaning things up. Relocated the heim turnbuckle pivot for the shifter, made a new heim anchor bracket.



Moving the pivot point lower sure does make getting into gear way easier, at the expense of more exaggerated movement at the shift knob to get there.

Once the body is back on we'll see if the increased throw has me punching through the plexi windshield to get into third gear.

 

[Mykk]

I'm making it better, I swear..... I hope....

 

[Ferg Daddy]

At the expense of your sanity?

 

[Spanky]

You have my undying admiration. Wiring for me is worse that oral surgery!

 

[Mykk]

Moving forward. I decided to employ the Raspberry Pi5 digital dash I previous made to use in Bucket #2 and install it into Bucket #1







An idea that I think I'll use in Bucket #2, using the individual coil on plugs under the covers on the valve covers but but running the coil wiring individually with a mesh loom to simulate ignition wires.



I will experiment with grounding the coils off hold down studs that make direct contact with the cam caps rather then running individual coil ground wires to a central bolt on the outside of the cylinder head. If it presents issues I can run different ground wires to each coil later. If this works long term it's clean, easy and a convenient solution to running the ever so critical and picky ignition coil grounds. Leaving the +12v power supply and +5v coil triggers from the ECU in the mesh loom.







I don't so mind the blue wire separators on the red/black "ignition wires" as it matches the red/blue AN fittings around the car.

Doing something similar on the Bucket #2 could be a clean way to get my "ignition wire" look and not worry about where I am going to mount those external waste spark ignition coils.

 

[RodStRace]

I saw what you did and immediately thought of the shielding they used on BB corvettes as a ground, but figure that would throw a lot of EMF out.

Example

AC Delco Packard 66 67-74 C2 C3 Corvette Big Block Shielded Spark Plug Wires 427 | eBay

Complete set of 8 shielded wires PLUS coil wire. Used, but in great condition. Were NOT cleaned for pics! Stainless Steel Braided Cover Spark Plug Wires were used on Big Block cars with an AM/FM radio.

www.ebay.com

The Red and Blue fit the theme you already have.

 

[Mykk]

I got to thinking. If I'm going to simulate ignition wires I could run a 'distributor' too. Run the coil power and trigger wires through a modified distributor cap mounted to a gutted distributor base. I'm not usually one for fake things on a build, but if done convincingly enough it could be a neat & clean vintage look that would have all people scratching their heads.





When the idea came about I immediately thought of a left front mount angled distributor like a Caddy 500 because it's not a conventional location and is a unique look. A rear SBC mount distributor location would actually be easier to pull off and better routing for the EFI wiring. But I'm still feeling the front mount location. I can even run the wiring into the coil terminal and split it to each cylinder inside the cap.

I am not willing to cut up my functional and working SBC Mallory Unilite for this idea, when the time comes I'll source a dead Unilite that I can clean up.

 

[Mykk]

Going to fit a CCR fiberglass dash to the Speedway body. It is a neat look and it may provide the depth to mount the gauges and clear the tank:

 

[Spanky]

Customizers used to refer to that as a "tunneled dash."

 

[Mykk]

I polled the distributor location on social media and the internet has spoken. Having the distributor to the rear was the unanimous vote. Using a 1960's Ford points distributor that was seized. Gitted & Cutted, then wire wheeled the housing. Mounted to a stud on the coolant crossover.









Having the dist to the rear does have a 'faster' look to it, it'll be interesting explaining why there is a distributor coming from the water pipe.

 

[RodStRace]

Grab a couple Fluid Drive emblems from old Mopars and slap them on the crossover.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Mykk]

Here's an idea. A '66 Mustang gauge bezel in the CCR Tunneled dash. Very rarely do OE parts fit in universal hot rod parts and this is no exception. So the left side sits more gracefully than the right side but aI really dig the look so I'll keep working on it.

 

[RodStRace]

I'd imagine that there are any number of bezels that might be short enough to fit the confines. I'd also imagine most will need some work to fit the profile.
For just a taste,

10 Coolest Dashboards of the 50s

by Frank Peiler In the early days of the automobile, dashboards were just that: wooden planks onto which gauges and switches were mounted. By the early Thirties, wood dashboards were replaced by steel, and designers began to take an interest in the collection of dials and knobs located there...

blog.consumerguide.com

I've seen beautiful work done with wood, engine turned panels, ribbed aluminum sheets and the simple gauge lineup.
You could add a hood over each gauge to continue the tunneled look of the entire dash, like the 59 Impala. Probably useful in a topless car to cut down on reflections.


If you are going to use the rectangular electronic display, the Mustang seems IMHO a bit of a round hole with a square peg being stuck in.

Instrument Cluster Design Custom Mount - Case Study | Absolute 3D

Discover how Absolute 3D created a custom mount for a Haltech IC-7 digital display using precise 3D scans and design for a seamless track car upgrade.

www.absolute3d.com.au

 

[DonnyRay]

I think both gauge clusters look good.

 

[Mykk]

Bucket #1 on the way back together. I decided to change a few things up, again. Going to reinstall the single throttlebody and scoop. The four throttles & stacks is a neat look. A single throttle blade has been easier to tune for a reliable and consistent idle. The Arias scoop looks smoother up there too.

Bucket #2's headers are using one side from two sets of pipes. With the other sides of the two sets sitting on the shelf I figured it could be fun to make a low & short "street" exhaust for Bucket #1. Mocked up here with the wrong muffler and turnout.





Best off all I can swap things back to how they were or mix & match at will.

 

[lincolnuT]

I saw Number 1 in Prescot AZ at the Nats. It was not running yet but damn it looked like it was running standing still