Thought I'd add to your post about the fibre optics. I know sfa about the optics in Vettes, but I do know a bit about fibre used in comms. (in a previous post you were going to look at comms. fibre.) Here's a brief run down ........
Most comms. fibre is what's known as Single Mode. The fibre consists of a glass core, which is only 9 micro metres diameter, the glass cladding, which causes the light to reflect and therefore pass further down the core, and a protective jacket. To join fibres, where you're playing with 9 micro metres and have to line them up exactly, a high precision fusion welder is used. My conclusion is that comms. type fibre is of no use to you whatsoever.
I have done a few searches and so far can't find any specs on the fiber used in a 'Vette. My guess is that it's not a glass fibre, but plastic. You know those fibre optic lamps that the shops used to sell? My guess is that this is the sort of fibre you are after. The core will be much larger than 9 micron (maybe 4 or 5 hundred micron) and will be much easier to join. There are UV curable adhesives that can be used to join fibres, you wouldthen just have to add some strength to the joint, possibly by some sort of sleeve then heatshrink to keep it all together.
If you, or someone else, knows more about the fibre used in 'Vettes, can you let us know please.
