73 Wiring Harnesses
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 111
Likes: 2
73 Wiring Harnesses
I am about to dig into a complete new interior on my 73. I have to buy all the harnesses for the car and everything else.
I have read that the harnesses in the car are only good for 10 years. I can remember many stories of vettes that burnt to the ground b/c of shorts and brittle wiring.
Are there any companies that make better harnesses for our stingrays?
I have read that the harnesses in the car are only good for 10 years. I can remember many stories of vettes that burnt to the ground b/c of shorts and brittle wiring.
Are there any companies that make better harnesses for our stingrays?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
I am about to dig into a complete new interior on my 73. I have to buy all the harnesses for the car and everything else.
I have read that the harnesses in the car are only good for 10 years. I can remember many stories of vettes that burnt to the ground b/c of shorts and brittle wiring.
Are there any companies that make better harnesses for our stingrays?
I have read that the harnesses in the car are only good for 10 years. I can remember many stories of vettes that burnt to the ground b/c of shorts and brittle wiring.
Are there any companies that make better harnesses for our stingrays?
cc
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 2
From: Melrose Florida
Just as with any other component on a vehicle, deterioration is a function of environmental conditions and to a lesser extent time in actual use. The bulk of the wiring harness on my 1936 Ford, the entire wiring harness on my brother's 1949 Packard, and the entire wiring harness (except for the ballast resistor and coil) on my 1959 Pontiac are original and still good for many more decades.
If you must be a masochist, check every connection, terminal end, grounds, and wiring runs...but don't replace all your wiring harnesses because some company is telling you they are bad because they are old.
Purely my opinion,
Steve
PS: Corvette fires are typically caused by hot exhaust components, fuel leaks, and deteriorated wiring in the ENGINE HARNESS, specifically the ignition and starter wiring in proximity to the exhaust.
Last edited by halfmoontrail; Feb 11, 2009 at 03:53 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
I agree with Half Moon.
When I restored my 71 the only harness I replaced was the engine harness. This one lives the most difficult life because of the heat and gas/oil of the engine compartment. They suffer most down at the starter and behind the distributor.
If any of the harnesses have been butchered it's a different story.
Regards,
Alan
When I restored my 71 the only harness I replaced was the engine harness. This one lives the most difficult life because of the heat and gas/oil of the engine compartment. They suffer most down at the starter and behind the distributor.
If any of the harnesses have been butchered it's a different story.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 111
Likes: 2
So are the harnesses made by L'ectric Limited the same quality as stock or are they upgraded with better quality wire and connectors?
I am going to be running an ls based engine and all that so I know we will need to modify a few things.
I am going to be running an ls based engine and all that so I know we will need to modify a few things.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Steve,
I agree with half moon, but one thing you have to watch is the wire molesters.
If the harness has ends cut, taped, re-wrapped and twist tied you might want to replace them. The harnesses made by Lectric Limited are top shelf and the only harness’s we install in our shop. Problems are far and few between and if we do have one we can always rely on them to work with us on resolution. This is what every vendor needs but hard to find.
The wire harnesses in my 62 are 47 years old and still look great. When we did the body off restoration we just re-wrapped them.
You have to look at this like house wiring, the copper in the wires will not go bad, degrade or corrode unless there is an existing problem. (Bad ground, loose connector, exhaust heat, or bubba let loose with a wire cutter).
I don’t have the harnesses on the Forum Special section yet but if you want to email me direct a list of what you need, I’ll get you a price on them cheaper than eBay!
Email me at Willcoxcustomerservice@Willcoxcorvette.c om
Willcox Inc.
I agree with half moon, but one thing you have to watch is the wire molesters.
If the harness has ends cut, taped, re-wrapped and twist tied you might want to replace them. The harnesses made by Lectric Limited are top shelf and the only harness’s we install in our shop. Problems are far and few between and if we do have one we can always rely on them to work with us on resolution. This is what every vendor needs but hard to find.
The wire harnesses in my 62 are 47 years old and still look great. When we did the body off restoration we just re-wrapped them.
You have to look at this like house wiring, the copper in the wires will not go bad, degrade or corrode unless there is an existing problem. (Bad ground, loose connector, exhaust heat, or bubba let loose with a wire cutter).
I don’t have the harnesses on the Forum Special section yet but if you want to email me direct a list of what you need, I’ll get you a price on them cheaper than eBay!
Email me at Willcoxcustomerservice@Willcoxcorvette.c om
Willcox Inc.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Feb 12, 2009 at 09:04 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I don’t have the harnesses on the Forum Special section yet but if you want to email me direct a list of what you need, I’ll get you a price on them cheaper than the eBay ******!
Email me at Willcoxcustomerservice@Willcoxcorvette.c om
Willcox Inc.
I think I'll keep the email just in case too
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
No problem and thank you! When I'm done, you won't have to email me the list! I'm going to move these to the forum special section in about two weeks. I'm just buried right now with the site mods.
We've added about 50 more items so far to the forum special section. There are a bunch more to come too!
Willcox
We've added about 50 more items so far to the forum special section. There are a bunch more to come too!
Willcox