When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
^^^^
This is what I've been doing the past few days. Years back I was trained on splicing communications fiber optic cable and yes, you had to be careful. This ain't that. A razor knife and shrink tube is all you need - as you already know.
I also have experience fusion splicing communications fiber.
What year is your car? My 70 Corvette uses glass fibers. My 70 GTO has plastic fiber.
I also have experience fusion splicing communications fiber.
What year is your car? My 70 Corvette uses glass fibers. My 70 GTO has plastic fiber.
‘69. Some elliptical genius attempted to repair one by stripping back insulation and twisting the strands together. They’re definitely plastic.
My fiber experience is ancient - early 90s - and I remember precautions taken so you don’t get the slivers in your fingers. It was all very manual and time consuming. Recently I watched the Verizon FiOS tech that came to my house do his thing with a very small fusion kit of some sort and my my my things have certainly changed
‘69. Some elliptical genius attempted to repair one by stripping back insulation and twisting the strands together. They’re definitely plastic.
My fiber experience is ancient - early 90s - and I remember precautions taken so you don’t get the slivers in your fingers. It was all very manual and time consuming. Recently I watched the Verizon FiOS tech that came to my house do his thing with a very small fusion kit of some sort and my my my things have certainly changed
That's funny. No way you would be able to twist the glass on the 70. Must have switched over for that model year. I just bought a FO harness from a 69 so I guess I'll be going backward. Now I am wondering if it will fit into the guides. Haven't seen it yet.
That's funny. No way you would be able to twist the glass on the 70. Must have switched over for that model year. I just bought a FO harness from a 69 so I guess I'll be going backward. Now I am wondering if it will fit into the guides. Haven't seen it yet.
I'm pretty sure that's the car's original harness. It did get a body off resto of some sort about 89 or 90 so who knows. This is a very early Oct 68 build, maybe they were in the process of making changes or it was simply inventory or that strike, IDK. It's what's on the menu for me, fortunately.
If that had been the stuff we worked on then that doorknob would've found out real quick what we already know, right ? Ouch.
I'm pretty sure that's the car's original harness. It did get a body off resto of some sort about 89 or 90 so who knows. This is a very early Oct 68 build, maybe they were in the process of making changes or it was simply inventory or that strike, IDK. It's what's on the menu for me, fortunately.
If that had been the stuff we worked on then that doorknob would've found out real quick what we already know, right ? Ouch.
Most likely. I'm pretty sure it was originally plastic fibers GM was using. My GTO has a small FO link to the ash tray that is definitely a bundle of thicker plastic "fibers".
My experience with the 68 I have. Go as following. This may not be the original way to repair the cables. When I purchased my 68 the owner said it back fire and blowing half the left muffler to pieces. The fiber was damaged coming from the rear, which it is channeled on that side. I I bought various repair kits, to repair it back together. But it was never satisfactory. Then I got to thinking about Optical computer lines. So what I did I bought a optical computer line, same approx size, and ran that all the way from the front by the emergency brake on back to the lights. Works great. Integrated into the wiring harness coming from the rear and nobody will ever know. I think 15 ft cable, cost me under five bucks. But not too sure on that cost now, because it's been before covid.
Just a cautionary mention, there are little brass clips on the interior ends of the fiber that are impossible to find. Don't lose them, they keep the fiber in place.
just a heads up. those brass ends (and some other misc. parts including replacement optics cables) are all listed for sale in the most current zip catalog that i have.
I have one end of my replacement harness in place. Now that I have worked with both the 69 and the 70 it is clear GM switched to glass fiber for 1970. The outer jacket on the 69 is black, the 70 is yellow. They are not well marked either. If I can get the back end to the lights connected I should have it up and running again.
The ends inside the lamp housings are notorious for getting dirty or painted over and preventing light from entering the FO cable. If you have weak or zero light, check in the lamp housing before you assume a cable problem.
Question: The 3 FO lights that go into the console were cut by the original owner on a 68 feeding from the rear of the car. The fiber optics still work, however, there is nothing to plug into the lens. Are they supposed to have ferrules on the end and if so, are the same that go into the light housings? Thank you.
Yes, they have a termination ferrule, but it is different from the lamp end. The lamp end has a rubber weather seal. There are pictures on sites that sell the FO cable if you search zip or corvette central.