Tube and lube....????

Today was another successful day on the Butler Farm. The morning began with the re-installment of the doors. The freshly painted hinges and new door pins and rollers gave the doors a new look and feel. It took about 30 minutes to install and properly adjust them. Minor adjustments will need to be made later. After the installment of the doors, we made a trip to Lowes Home Improvement for plastic tubing to run our high voltage wire in. The tubing is used to prevent chaffing that can cause connection problems. After thinking about how it may be tough to run the wire through the hose, we decided to purchase a special lubrication that is used by professional electricians.

Upon returning to the shop, instead of diving straight into running wire, Mike and I decided to paint the window trim and cowl. The cowl was coated with hammered texture paint while the window trim was coated with flat black. After painting the pieces, Mike and I noticed a gauge pod in the 5.0 Mustang that would be perfect for holding our voltage reading gauges. It installed perfectly into our car. While all of the painting and installing was going on, Mr. Butler was designing a control panel to mount all of the electronics on.

At the end of the day, we finally decided to tackle the task of squeezing the cable through the stiff rubber hose. After about two hours of fighting and frustration, we decided to slice the hose down one side and push the cable in through the slit.

Mounting and adjusting the passenger side door.

The bottom of a pin that allows the hinge to pivot. This clip keeps the pin in the hinge and allows for easier removal in case you need to remove the doors again.

The new pins.

The sweet looking gauge pod.

Autometer white face and Westach black face gauges.

The driver's door in position.

The beginnings of the control panel.

Spotting where the bolt holes should be drilled.

Planning on where to mount the controller.

This aluminum plate under the controller allows the heat to dissipate more evenly and quickly.

Thanks to Michael, the DC to DC Converter is in a clean stylish position that complements the engine compartment.

After the controller and contactor are mounted. This control panel allowed us to use less wire and clean up the engine compartment tremendously.

Hidden behind the panel is the relays and cooling fans along with all of the wire that we plan to run.

After mounting the shunt. At first look, you don't even notice its position in the engine bay.

Deciding on where to mount the Anderson quick disconnect. Tomorrow I will be designing a foot to hold the switch in place.

Mike and Mr. Butler trying to squeeze the cable into the hose.

Mr. Butler lubing up the cable. Our first plan of action was to use dish detergent, but we later found out that that was worse than trying to run the hose in dry.

You can pick this product at any of your nearest home improvement centers.

After a brutal battle, the decision was to cut the hose, stuff the cable in through the side, and retire for the night.