240 cruise control

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 05 Feb 2011, 12:03

I bought a used cruise control for the '86 240 DL through one of the suppliers listed on the forum. It does have installation instructions with it but I'd be more comfortable with a bit more detail and explanation. I haven't found good step-by-step instructions and am wondering if anyone knows of some. How hard is it to put this thing in and make it work, assuming both it and the car are functioning normally?

Thanks in advance,
David

Post by **jimmy57** » 05 Feb 2011, 14:31

I installed a few dozen of these when that was a new car. The proper kit has a bracket that carries the throttle servo that is on a bracket that attaches to the steering column U clamp. The throttle cable attachment cover has to be removed and a slot cut in it.
The cable has a pin with hairpin clip and you push the stock one out with the longer one and then attach the cable from servo. If you push the pin out and the cable comes loose you'll lose your religion before you get it back in unless you remove heater hoses and such!
The turn signal switch gets replaced with the new one with switches on lever.
The speedo wire (Orange I think) that will go one one of the two parallel unused spade terminals on baCK OF CLUSTER.
If the kit has the speed pickup that goes into back of speedo it will not work on 86. Up to 85 has speedo cable and used the speed pickup winding with two wires, the 86 cluster does not have the drive piece nor hole for the earlier version.

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 05 Feb 2011, 20:21

Hey Jimmy,
Thanks for the information. I have the whole kit in the box here at the computer with me. It does have that bracket you described. I'll figure out the throttle cable attachment cover (on the car?) when I get out to the car.
I found the hairpin clip. WILL BE CAREFUL with that one.
I have the turn signal switch - seems straightforward enough.
I see the orange speedo wire. Does it matter which of the two spade terminals I clip to?
There is a black box with a lot of wires coming from it, one is the orange wire with spade connecter, that says "Specific Cruise Systems, Inc SN 257327 on it. I hope that's not the speed pickup. I am encouraged by the fact also that the instructions that came with it say "Cruise control 1986 -->"

Those instructions also talk about drilling holes in the firewall and tensioning the throttle cable and getting proper adjustment on the brake pedal and stuff like that. Is that going to be tough for a pretty average guy?

Now, since my garage is not heated, if the weather would just get a bit warmer in Iowa....

David

Post by **jimmy57** » 05 Feb 2011, 21:33

The orange wire goes on either terminal.
The one area I don't recall is where the brake pedal vacuum dump valve bracket is located. I think it is integrated on the servo bracket. The dump valve has to be installed and adjusted so that it is fully depressed when brake is released. It is not a hard thing to do. The brake light switch will have a "piggyback" connector wire attached to it and it goes on the wire that goes to bulbs and is not powered unless brake is depressed.
The servo has a cable that gets attached to the pin at pedal top where throttle cable out to engine goes. The cable is adjustable and should have a little free travel so that it doesn't hold throttle open.
I never drilled a hole in firewall. There is a rubber bulb like cover up in the vicinity of where the throttle cable comes out of firewall and you can do a 3 puncture hole with an exacto knife and push vacuum hose through that. A little WD-40 helps. WHen you are done you can seal the hose pass-through with silicone sealer if it isn't a good seal.

adavidd · Post by **adavidd** » 06 Feb 2011, 14:22

Courage is being gained. Thank you. I'm going to give it a try - as soon as it gets a little warmer so I don't freeze while crawling around the car. Thanks.