Cruise control replacement 454 engine

[raveson]

If anyone need to relace your cruise and is in the vacinity of Ocala, FL, found a great place for a reasonable price.

ARA Air and Electric
207 NE 20th Street
Ocala, FL 34470
800-741-5572

Took me on one day notice and did a great job. It took about 3-4 hours and I was on the road after road tests. Not easy to fid a place to replace the curise!

[bobkelly]

Raveson---Thanks for posting the info. Good to put in the forums data bank.

[GlenCoombe]

So, can you tell us how much this effort cost? I've very interested even though I don't live there...still own two houses just south of Ocala and visit often. Lost my cruise earlier this year in a very electric runaway incident.

[raveson]

Total cost with tax was $791.00

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

So, can you tell us how much this effort cost? I've very interested even though I don't live there...still own two houses just south of Ocala and visit often. Lost my cruise earlier this year in a very electric runaway incident.

Glen,

You can buy the components and install yourself for around $250 or less. I've installed cruise on 4 different vehicles so far and they all work great. The one I use is an electronic system that doesn't use vacuum. To install you have to connect a wire to the dead side of the brake light switch, +12 volt connection, ground connection and speed sensor connection. The servo cable goes to the carburetor and there are various bits supplied to help accomplish that task. I'm pretty sure the speed sensor used on the Airstream Moho is compatible with this unit, if not you can buy a sensor that ties into the speedometer cable to provide the pulses needed.

Next week I could take pictures of the unit I have sitting on the shelf if you would like. I plan on using it on the 20' argosy Moho since it doesn't have cruise right now.

Brad

[nymphfishin]

Our CC on our 94 Surburban would work off and on, mostly off,.

I used some circuit board cleaner sprayed into the end of the 'Set' button a couple of times,, it cleaned the contacts and worked fine for until I traded it off 4 years later..

It's only a couple of bucks, who knows, it might work..

[GlenCoombe]

Brad, please shoot photos and let me have the info.... the other route is a bit more money than I'd like to spend.

Nymphfishin, we're talking 1984... nothing solid state here...thanks for the info though.

[vswingfield]

Hi Glen,

Like Brad, I have installed a couple of aftermarket cruise controls. However it has been a while. I ordered them from the Sears catalog. A quick Google search turned up this page at JC Whitney.

Cruise Controls - JC Whitney: Auto Parts & Accessories

My guess is that a little more effort would find the same ones cheaper somewhere else. In my experience, Whitney is more expensive and has about the worst service. This does give you an idea about what is available, though.

These things are simple to install and work very well.

Vaughan

[guy99]

Glenn,
As I reported in this old thread: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f156...rol-20632.html
My replacement cruise control was $375 parts and labor installed. The thread also lists the brand and part number in case you want to source one yourself.

The shop who put mine in is in Southern Oregon, I don't think you get out this way much but I bet if you call around you could find someone in your area to put it in at a reasonable cost. I'm sure you already know this but places which specialize in RV's are likely to charge more. I'd look for a good auto or medium duty truck repair shop that does cruise controls.

[vswingfield]

Good point about the shops. There was a speedometer repair shop a few years ago in Little Rock that also did cruise controls. You might look for one of those.

Vaughan

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by GlenCoombe

Brad, please shoot photos and let me have the info.... the other route is a bit more money than I'd like to spend.

Nymphfishin, we're talking 1984... nothing solid state here...thanks for the info though.

Glen,

The only installation I have pictures of are for my 64 Triumph Spitfire. Pictures can be seen at Spitfire 4 Restoration Page

The link includes the company info for the place I bought the system from. I've been very pleased with the system and its proven to be 100% reliable.

I'm pretty sure total cost was less than $200 without the speed sensor. The speed sensor on your moho should work with this system.

You have to replace the turn signal lever with a unit that has the controls. They sell different column switches for Chevy, Ford, etc. The servo module mounts anywhere within 3 feet or so of the carburetor. Various brackets are supplied for connecting the throttle linkage although I've found I had to custom make some of them.

The also sell a vacuum type servo if thats the way you would prefer to go. My preference is the electronic servo, that way you don't have to worry about engine vacuum or messing with the vacuum lines.

I've installed this same system on the Spitfire, 76 Coachmen motorhome, 81 chevy pickup and a 79 Jeep Cherokee. The Cherokee was a vacuum servo type and I was never happy with its performance.

Check it out, I think you'll be pleased with the setup.

Brad

[JKWoodrow]

The Audiovox system works great. It can be bought for about $100 which is about $60 cheaper than JC Whitney. The system is very well engineered and complete.