V1 Brian's City Goblin-06/Crate MotorTC #61

[Brian74]

After a challenging 2 days of driving and camping in below freezing wx and some sketchy roads, we made it to Red Oak. I picked up my stage 1 (frame # 61) and stage 2. Took a freezing ride in Lonny’s car and was everything I hoped for.

Visiting Lonny and Adam actually felt more like visiting some long lost family. They are the kindest people and take a huge amount of pride in their work. The skillset between them both is mind-blowing and I couldn’t be more exctied that I chose to go with this kit. Its only going to get even better as time goes on and their newest ideas take form.

 

[ctuinstra]

Big enough tow vehicle?

This car will be the ying to the yang.

I agree with you, meeting them was great. I really enjoyed talking with them about everything. I knew that I had more questions but just forgot everything as soon as I showed up. I should have written it all down.

 

[KJP]

Looks like the perfect tow vehicle for a long drive. The frame looks pretty small in the middle of the trailer.

 

[Brian74]

Its only a 23’ Winnebago. It was perfect though. A free place to stay with full amenities & hot shower wherever we decided to stop. All the stage 2 & 3 pieces easily fit in the aft storage and above the cab.

 

[Brian74]

Got the kit home yesterday. I’ve been brainstorming where to start. I think I am gonna do a mock-up build with the Steeing column, ECM, BCM, and fuse box so I can better organize my customized body wiring harness and ensure it fits properly. I may weld a some of these zip tie tabs in to have a few additional locations to secure the wiring harness.

I also want to weld in a bezel panel in somewhere for an aeroforce or ngauge and make provisions for a small button/switch panel, and possibly even a stereo. I will be running a Powell catch can and may need to mount that to the chassis as well. Once I have all of that figured out I’ll get it painted. Most likely going to have it powder coated in black.

 

[Brian74]

Started on the main body harness today. Laid it out, stripped the wrappings, and labeled every connector using a connector diagram. The seam ripper worked GREAT, and I wore latex gloves to keep the glue off of my hands. My daughter helped me out by typing up and printing all of the connector labels.

Next step; I will label all fuse box, ECM and BCM wires, remove all unneccessary wiring and add & switch the neccessary pins to convert this LSJ harness to work with the LNF components.

Once I get the harnesses completed, I will mock it up on the frame and mark the spots where I will weld in any needed wiring harness securing tabs & do any shortening or lengthening to the harness as required.

 

[Brian74]

Body harness is stripped. I de-pinned every BCM connector to bare minimum, but I did save some of the B+ leads for future accessories. Its amazing how thin the harness actually gets. Other than some very minor changes, this LSJ harness looks like it will adapt well to work with the LNF.

If you use the Chilton Manual connector diagrams, be careful, because some of the connector diagrams are wrong. Always verify with the wire colors.

 

[DanPerryy]

Wow - what a great job!!!

 

[Briann1177]

The labels look great!

 

[RichRich]

Very nice, I looked into doing that and almost just as fast talked myself out of it. Awesome though, did you follow a youtube video for that or past experience?

 

[Brian74]

Very nice, I looked into doing that and almost just as fast talked myself out of it. Awesome though, did you follow a youtube video for that or past experience?

I specialized in automotive and aviation electrical systems in previous careers.

 

[Brian74]

Spent all weekend mapping out my body harness. I ended up having to print out every 2006 & 2009 wiring diagram for the entire vehicle so I could really look over and find the differences. Most of what I found was minor aside from the PCM stuff.

My specialty crimpers and PCM X2 connector arrived, so I got started on it. The $40 crimpers I bought worked every bit as good as the $2500 Bosch ones would have. All the pins are crimped; I will double check them once more with the diagrams before inserting them into the connector.

I also had to order a 12 pin Delphi connector to adapt the body harness to my LNF engine harness. Mouser Electronics has a lot of that stuff in stock and cheap.

 

[TheNuker]

Holy ****, And here I was just happy the **** harness worked at all, let alone taking it apart!!!

Nice work!
Nuker-

 

[JeffsGoblin]

Yeah, what Nuker said!

 

[RichRich]

Holy ****, And here I was just happy the **** harness worked at all, let alone taking it apart!!!

Nice work!
Nuker-

HAHA, I was thinking the same.

 

[Brian74]

ECM plug is finally pinned after a delay having to order some additional pins and reverifying the harness diagrams several more times. All I have left to do is build the new 16 pin ECM to body harness connector and then I should be ready to move on to the dash harness. The work isn’t bad; its having to stop and wait every few days for more parts to get delivered that sucks.

 

[Briann1177]

This is pure wiring porn.

 

[RichRich]

Very impressive, looks like that would require some serious patience. It was a load off my shoulder when I got the car running, I just couldn't imagine my nerves if I would of done this.

 

[Brian74]

Work stoppage is over again as I got the rest of the engine to body harness connector parts that I ordered. I also received some 24 pin delphi connectors to use to extend the harness instead of splicing it. The new engine connector is done & lines up nicely with the LNF engine harness (I excluded the AC compressor wires). All I have left to do on this harness is to add on the 24 pin connector for the extension harness to the dash harness. I hope to get started on the dash harness next week.

 

[Brian74]

Body harness is completed, aside from soldering the ground terminal and final continuity checks. There were some interesting peculiarities between the ‘06 and ‘08 harness because the ‘08 ECM controls a few more circuits where the ‘06 relied on relays. My center mounted high brake lamp circuit / cruise control cancel signal is now using the former rear defrost relay, since the ‘06 circuit was different. I had to swap a few fuse box pins since I am staying with the 2006 fuse box.

I am about to get started on the dash harness once the next order of parts come in. I plan to add dash buttons for the info center and cruise control, as well as a button for the courtesy lighting. I will mount a LED high center mount brake lamp strip and small led courtesy floodlight to either the roll bar hoop or side rails. I will also mount some led courtesy foot lamps under the front cowling. The courtesy lights will be activated on a proximity sensor whenever climbing into the car and stay on for 30 seconds and extinguish when the ignition is turned on, but can be turned back on again after that with a dash switch. All of these circuits will be integrated into the factory wiring and BCM relays.

I also plan to mount a 2” Aeroforce gauge right above the steering column. It will mount on a single flat plate that will also house the cruise control, info center, and courtesy light switches to the left of the gauge cluster.

I am also considering running a stereo. Soundstream makes some very small marine amps that will fit nicely under the passenger seat. It looks like a single DIN deck will still provide plenty of legroom if offset slightly.

I bought the DF Goblin seat rails, but I think I am going to add in a seat slider in between the Goblin mounts and the driver seat. This will also raise the seat about 2 inches, which will help me because I am only about 5’8.

I am also debating on adding an additional cross brace and running diamond plate panels on the driver and pax floorboards for added strength when climbing in.