Adding Cruise Control

[Bruzilla]

My current Police Interceptor was like most Interceptors... ordered without cruise control, so I had to retrofit a cruise control system into it. I was amazed at how simple a system it was, and now I'm thinking about adapting it to my Road Runner.

The system operates using an electronic servo that's in a box mounted on the fender wall. The box has a cable that runs to an extension on the throttle body and connects right next to the connection for the throttle cable. When the system is active, the servo retracts or extends the cable, which actuates the throttle the same way you do with the pedal. There is a bracket that mounts near the throttle body to keep the cable in tension, and everything is controlled by five momentary switches on the steering wheel.

So I'm thinking I'll have three issues to work through:

- Actuation
- Control interface
- Deactivation

I'm thinking actuation should be fairly simple. I can modify the bracket to bolt up adjacent to the existing throttle cable bracket, then install an extended arm onto the Holley's throttle lever that will allow me to attach the throttle cable with the cruise cable next to it.

For the control interface, I'm thinking of making a switch plate with three momentary push buttons (On, Off, Set) and one momentary rocker switch for Accelerate and Coast. I can mount this on the center console. All I would need to connect it would be a plug from a doner Interceptor for the servo box and I would need to fabricate a custom wiring harness.

For deactivation, the Interceptor uses a switch that installs on the master cylinder that actuates when it detects a fluid drop in the cylinder and sends voltage to the servo to shut off the cruise control due to braking. I'm thinking I can tap a line into the brake light switch so current will go to the box when I step on the brakes, which should yield the same result (assuming the voltage requirements are the same).

I'm figuring for an investment of about $30-$50 bucks, I can install a nice modern cruise control system into the Road Runner.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bruzilla]

Change 1 to the plan. Looking at ebay, there are thousands of cruise control switch sets you can buy for under $20, so now I'm thinking when I'm at the junkyard pulling the servo, I'll just look around for a nice set of switches and connector that I can pull and adapt for my evil purposes.

 

[YY1]

While you're at the JY, look for mid to late 80's Dodge trucks.

They have the same factory CC as your 73 could have been ordered with.

You could do it all with factory parts, and it'd look factory installed.

 

[Ron 73]

I sure hope you detail this out for us if you do it, It sure does sound like a good project! Good luck.

 

[Bruzilla]

But is the system on the trucks vacuum operated or electronic? The vacuum systems sucked, which is why I want to install an electronic one. And since I'm not after originality points, I want it to look like a clean factory install but not like it came from the factory in 1974.

I also have to find a place to install the controls at. If I can find the right buttons, I might go for putting them into the front of the dash pad, just to the left of where the gauge cluster is. I was going to put them in the console, but then I would have to be cutting big holes into the steel of the console top plate and that's a much harder job.

 

[YY1]

Vacuum, but the controls on the turn signal lever should work with an electric system, shouldn't they?

I've seen several universal electronic systems that work like a bicycle speedometer- magnets on the driveshaft or other rotating part, and a pickup...

 

[Bruzilla]

A switch is just a switch, so it should work with anything. I remember those horrid universal systems that JC Whitney sold in the 70s and 80s, where you had the switches clamped on to the turn signal switch.

The reason I want to use the 2003/2004 Interceptor system is you don't need any sensors, computer inputs, or other interfaces. It's a very clean system that follows the KISS principal, which is the way I've been working on this car.

 

[YY1]

Well, in that case, I might want one, too.

 

[Bruzilla]

Damn... I lied. The Interceptor system does need a Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) signal. Looks like I can put a sensor on the tranny (if I can get an adapter that works on the 727) or I can go the cheesy way with the sensor and magnet.

 

[bigtree]

I have a factory cruise-control system that needs a good home.....e-mail me

 

[tpodwdog]

isnt putting cruise control on your hot rod kinda......pointless?..wouldnt that take fue fun out of driving a hot rod ????...unless you like all the widgets and gadgets. im just asking....nothing more, nothing less....

 

[YY1]

Depends on how often and how far you drive.

I drove mine about 75 miles yesterday, most at 75 MPH.

Cruise might have been nice.

That looks like an early control lever on that unit for sale.

Is it all inclusive? What's the asking price?

I've got 73/74 setups from two different parts cars, plus whatever interchanges from a 5th Ave, but I'm still not sure if I have everything for one complete system. All the parts are scattered in several different locations... I missed an op to get a complete system off a 77 360 club cab, and it was CHEAP ($15). I was too lazy that day.

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I'll say one thing though....floorboard and trans hump design matter a great deal when contemplating cruise.

Most of my B bodies are real comfortable and easy to find a spot that doesn't cramp if held for a long period.

The Dakota...NO WAY. After about 1/2 hour, cramps set in and cruise is almost mandatory.

 

[trimmer]

What problems are you having with the vacuum units?

 

[Rick62]

isnt putting cruise control on your hot rod kinda......pointless?..wouldnt that take fue fun out of driving a hot rod ????...unless you like all the widgets and gadgets. im just asking....nothing more, nothing less....

Cruise control prevents tickets!

 

[YY1]

...unless you set it for 90.

 

[Rick62]

...unless you set it for 90.

Good point!

 

[Bruzilla]

isnt putting cruise control on your hot rod kinda......pointless?..wouldnt that take fue fun out of driving a hot rod ????...unless you like all the widgets and gadgets. im just asking....nothing more, nothing less....

It depends on what you consider "driving a hot rod". If you're just taking it out for a cruise night, doing some "acceleration tests" along the way, and motoring around town, I would agree with you. For me, "driving a hot rod" includes that plus using the car as a primary commuter for about 50+ miles a day, five days out of seven, most of it highway. When I'm commuting I need cruise for the same reason I installed it in my Interceptor. ;)

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What problems are you having with the vacuum units?

Two really. The first is age and vacuum. I've had vacuum setups on three cars. The first was a Dodge Monaco with a 440 way back when, and it was hit or miss as to when it would work. The later cars had issues with vacuum leaks and seals in the reel unit going bad with age. The other problem is cost. One of the things I've enjoyed the most in getting my current car back on the road has been in getting good performance without paying an arm and a leg. Yes, it would be easy to lay out a lot of cash on an OEM system, but I'm more interested in finding the sort of low-buck solutions I would have been looking for in the late 70s/early 80s. Since I have no originality issues to deal with, I like dispelling the notion that you have to pay a lot to drive a Mopar.

 

[trimmer]

Thank you Bruzilla for your honest answer. I have a complete cruse control set up out of a 1985 fifth ave. new yorker that I was originally going to use in my Demon project. I was going to use the engine and trans as well but now I decided to use a 360 fuel injected set up in it instead. I no longer need any of the parts from the new yorker so if you need them they are available. Also the controls are on the turn signal switch but I have found it to be fairly easy to adapt the tilt steering column to fit the early Mopars. (I believe the tilt steering columns are actually G.M. pieces with only the lock cylinder and the plastic around them to be from Chrysler.)

A few years ago I installed a built injected 360 in a 1934 Dodge street rod and used an A500 overdrive transmission in it. In order to use the stock '34 speedometer I had to use the VSS from a mid to late 80's ford between the transmission and the speedometer cable. just unfastened the cable at the speedometer gear housing and put the VSS on that then reconnected the cable. Much easier than I had imagined. I am always amazed at how many things that will actually interchange between different car brands.

 

[Bruzilla]

Thanks for the info. I thought about using a lever-type switch set up, but I'm guessing you remember those old clamp on setups that aftermarket setups used in the 80s and 90s. They just looked tacky then and I think they still do. Plus I don't want to have to replace/modify the steering column to install a factor arm if I don't have to.

Since a switch is just a switch, and what's really important is the goes-intos and goes-outofs of the wiring, I can really use any make or model of switches provided I also snag the wiring harnesses and route power and signals to the right places (thank goodness for all the pinout diagrams you can find on the net). I'm thinking of looking for a set of switches that would look nice mounted to the left and right of the gauge cluster. I have a plastic dash cap on the dash, so I can cut holes in that to mount the switches and give it a nice custom look. I was also thinking a stalk-mounted switch unit attached to the center console would look cool too. I've used them to mount satellite radio components in other cars and they look and work great.

 

[YY1]

The factory 71-74 CC/turn signal stalk IIRC, is a direct bolt in, and conceals the wires in the hollow stalk-