Cruise Control Install Photos

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:51 am

I just installed a Rostra 250-1223 universal cruise control in my '79 Spider 2000. These are the photos of the install.
I mounted the cruse control actuator where the charcoal canister was located and made a L-bracket that attaches to the existing strap, the actuator and bolts to the fender well.

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:52 am

This group of photos shows how I attached the cruise control actuator cable to the throttle linkage.

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:54 am

How the actuator cabel was routed to the throttle actuator.

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:56 am

How and where I mounted the speed sensor.

I added a clutch switch to disengage the cruise control rather than just the "Blue Tach Wire" that the instructions call for.

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:57 am

This is where I located the control switch for the cruise control.

PhillySpider · Post by **PhillySpider** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:00 pm

Isn't there a reason FIAT stopped putting cruise control in the spiders? I know my manual says not to maintain the same speed or rpm for extended periods...It recommends continuously varying speed.

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:11 pm

I think the only "cruise control" that Fiat installed in Spiders was a throttle lock and as the name implies, it just locked the throttle in position. There was no speeding up or slowing down automaticly and it did not disengage if you depressed the clutch or brake pedals. Does maintaining a steady speed for extended periods of time harm the engine, I don't know. What I do know, is that I love my new cruise control!

AriK · Post by **AriK** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 3:54 pm

Very nice addition to your Spider kmoses. I believe the only call for varying speeds for any car present and past is during break-in period

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 7:38 pm

What I do know, is that I love my new cruise control!

Thanks for all the photos. Great installation looks real neat.

baltobernie · Post by **baltobernie** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 9:01 pm

Great install and photos; thanks. This new product that replaces the vintage Audiovox unit should be a definite upgrade, with electronic control instead of vacuum. No need for a vacuum reservoir, either.

Like the Audiovox, you cannot shorten the drive cable, can you?

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 9:44 pm

You can purchase a cable that can be cut to length from ebay that is manufactured by Lokar "U-Cut-to-Fit Cruise Control Cable #CC-1602U".
It was originally produced for the Hot rod crowd and is designed to be a direct bolt on for the Rostra cruise controls, the cost is around $80 with the only drawback being that the clamp on cable end will need to be adapted to work with the ball chain . I was thinking about purchasing one but first I wanted to see if the cruise control in stock form would fit the spider engine bay and the actuator cable route I used works very well.

DRUMMOND · Post by **DRUMMOND** » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:22 pm

Great looking installation! Certainly a step up from the throttle lock