gemellocattivo.com

I kind of got started


The install on the last switch maybe wasn't my best work



and then Amazon delivered my buttons!

.....yeah.....I feel like I did as a kid when I ordered anything from the back of a comic book They are both much too small and would look silly


so back I went to button searching and settled on this almost double the size:


It comes as part of a $50 push to start kit which appears to be modular so no unwanted locking feature. Info on all this stuff is about impossible to find so I'll see when it arrives. I might be able to return all or most of the stuff I already bought or the fall back plan is buy an OEM button and make it work I guess

The diff was very clunky so I also grabbed some different limited slip additive while it was on my mind.

The push to start kit came and the button is not bad


The controller is kind of a pita honestly and the instructions I would rate a 3 out of 10 maybe.,...not quite worthless but not very helpful so it took a bit of trial and error to figure what it wants and what it does.

plus side
brake on and the button starts blinking to tell you is armed and ready, the tap the button and you get ignition on, about a 1/2 delay and starter on for either 0.85 or 1 sec or press and hold the button and you get the 1/2 sec delay then starter until you let go or 5sec. That seems ok.

no brake it cycles acc, on, off with each push.

Minuses
1) You need to push the brake for ignition off if it things the engine is running. not a fan of that, I REALLY like to have a kill button/switch handy. This might be a deal breaker....I need to thing about it.
2)it shuts the ignition off after 5 sec if it doesn't thing the engine is running. Blue wire to 12V ign on disables that but it seems a worthless function. Power to the blue wire stops the starter would be more helpful
3)Its kind of hard to enable/disable, I simple switch won't do. There are 3 wires, white+brown power on/off enables, white/black + brown power on/off disables. This would need a switch plus a pair of timed relays I think? or maybe put a relay on the switch and LED wires? Either way its not trivial

NHot sure it this is worth keeping of not...I did realized thought that is I do a DIY I still need like 30A relays to actually switch the starter and ignition. I ordered 10A relays to do the control login not realizing there are no actual power relays, so I would need to add those is I return this unit.

I like the plan. Seems like you could wire in a kill switch that shuts off the engine quickly if needed.

_________________
Wade Williams
Master Ferrari Tech
Restoration Tech
Engine Machinist
Fabricator
Racecar Driver

The button I just got and kind of lie is a VW/audi button in a custom mount I'm pretty sure...but its still a touch small for the hole in the dash so it eight needs an adapter for the adapter of a new larger adapter if I want to use it.  I've also found a plain unlabeled push button that is large enough for the hole, but I'm worried it will just look too big, I might order it just to see.  I've pretty much decided to just return the push to start kit.....I might keep it to use the button and the 4 30A relays inside a neat box but I don't like the functionality...still pondering the path forward here but I"m inching closer and closer to dragging the ECU into the fight.



I've also thought about a race car start panel where the AC controls are but I keep thinking about fixing an AC system...or a panel on the dash...I still might do that if this continues to annoy me.

English vs Italian


Popped off the handle with a little heat...still a match


What bit me was the Healey switch had a hex nut (I could have sworn my old car had a round one....maybe a year thing) but no problem I'll, just use the ....oh man, old English stuff has English threads, but I have a lathe that cuts english threads



and Bam! 1 point for me!


Small win to take my mind off my push button that is keeping my mind off my engine

Nice. I don't think I can do English threads.
I find it annoying to just have my brain on engine over load all the time. It would be nice to just shut it off and go to sleep sometimes.
Life of a gear head I guess.

I like the push button idea. Even with an adapter, having it in the key position would be sick looking. I am sure there is a work around with the turn off option. Maybe without ECU involvement.

_________________
Wade Williams
Master Ferrari Tech
Restoration Tech
Engine Machinist
Fabricator
Racecar Driver

My lathe only has the gearing for threads/in, not metric which is usually a problem so this was a nice to actually have what I needed.



I'm definitely moving forward with a push button and ordered a 4th button option last night


This one should fit the hole in the dash but will likely look a bit heavy....my though when I ordered it was paint the outer ring black...it will be here later today. Last night I laid out what using the ECU for starter control would look like wiring wise....it almost couldn't be easier because the ECU is in the back...the starter is in the back...there is an empty relay slot in the back and I already have the brake pedal switch wired to the ECU and 3 output pins that should work.

Once I pick a switch I'll finalize how I want to install and wire it.

Hmmmmm.......

1 more...it kind of matches the gauges a bit

I like the first picture one. The black one would probably look good too.

_________________
Wade Williams
Master Ferrari Tech
Restoration Tech
Engine Machinist
Fabricator
Racecar Driver