1982 CHP #0327

[Steve]

Shotgun Release Switches

The shotgun lock release switches. The diagram shows 3 methods of activating the shotgun rack release. My memory of this is cloudy because of all the many other patrol cars I have driven over the years but I think I remember two switches and a key. The switches were one under the dash (pushbutton) and possibly one on the CC1. Both active only when the ignition key is on. Then a small key on the ignition key ring that would open the shotgun lock. Wish I remembered better.

[mac88chp]

Originally Posted by Steve

Shotgun Release Switches

The shotgun lock release switches. The diagram shows 3 methods of activating the shotgun rack release. My memory of this is cloudy because of all the many other patrol cars I have driven over the years but I think I remember two switches and a key. The switches were one under the dash (pushbutton) and possibly one on the CC1. Both active only when the ignition key is on. Then a small key on the ignition key ring that would open the shotgun lock. Wish I remembered better.

Steve, my car has only two releases and no key on the lock. The first is a foot switch (generic horn button) up on the drivers footwell and the second is a momentary switch mounted under the dash below the right glovebox door hinge.





Here's a shot of the underdash switch in my car. I made up a reproduction bracket and used as close as i could come to the original style switch.

[Steve]

Thanks, Michael, that's very helpful. I think I was confusing the shotgun release buttons and the key with later Crown Vics I've driven that had a momentary rocker switch on the lights control boxes to release the shotgun. They also had a key to unlock it.

I'm going to check 0327 to see if anything is still left. But with your info, it shouldn't be too difficult to recreate them.

I see your CHP fuse block is shown. Is that the original location? I thought I saw something somewhere mentioning they were under the hood, but I don't see any good place to put them.

[mac88chp]

Originally Posted by Steve

Thanks, Michael, that's very helpful. I think I was confusing the shotgun release buttons and the key with later Crown Vics I've driven that had a momentary rocker switch on the lights control boxes to release the shotgun. They also had a key to unlock it.

I'm going to check 0327 to see if anything is still left. But with your info, it shouldn't be too difficult to recreate them.

I see your CHP fuse block is shown. Is that the original location? I thought I saw something somewhere mentioning they were under the hood, but I don't see any good place to put them.

The CHP fuse blocks were mounted under the dash near the steering column in the Mustangs.

[Steve]

Today I spent a few hours revealing 0327's spotlight and antenna ball mounting holes. For the spotlights I used a cylindrical sanding tool with a Dremel and sanded the paint away carefully to show the Bondo spots. Once they were visible I used an Xacto knife to carve away the bondo (first photo). I wanted to be very careful not to enlarge the mounting screw holes.

Removing about a quarter inch of Bondo inside the trunk where the antenna mount is was much more work. I had to be careful because there was Bondo on both sides of the metal. I didn't want to knock any of the outside Bondo off or damage the metal shape and create more body work. Carefully chipping away as much Bondo on the inside as I could with a putty knife then grinding the rest away, I could see where the three bolt holes and the center hole were from the trunk side. I then drilled the bolt holes and the center hole, using the Dremel tool once again to remove the rest of the Bondo to the original-sized center hole. (second and third photos)

The ball mount fits perfectly. It was a good day for 0327. A little at a time, just keep moving forward...

[ImEvil1]

Nice!

[mac88chp]

Good work! Thank god my car was never "civilianized" and all holes were left intact and unmolested.

[NoDrama43]

be sure to spray a little etching primer on the holes, inside and out, to prevent any surface rusting etc.

[Steve]

With the great help of Jim (NoDrama43) I now have an NOS Unitrol M131 Wig-Wag Flasher unit for 0327. I had one from 0204 but it was original and had seen better days. And I did not have any instructions on how to connect it. I had even called Federal Signal Corp. (Federal acquired Unitrol's parent, Dunnbar-Nunn, some time ago) technical support for information, but they were unable to help.

Along with the NOS unit came installation instructions with a wiring diagram. I spent a couple of hours today figuring out how this unit wired into 0327's headlight circuit. I found where the wiring harness had been opened up near the master brake cylinder, and where it had been opened right below where the wig wag flasher had been installed on the left side of the engine bay just in front of the shock tower. It was obvious Motor Transport had cut the wires and spliced in the flasher in those two places, reconnecting the cut wires upon decommissioning.

It didn't take long to figure out which splice was for which high beam side; the RH was near the firewall. the one for the LH was near the wig wag flasher. One more wire, +12V from the WW terminal on the back of the CC1 completes the circuit.

I'll post all photos and more details when I have it installed, wired and working, but for now, and for future restorers, I am posting the installation instruction page in jpeg and pdf formats.

The wire I ordered came in so next step is to build some harnesses.