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So my car hasn’t been running real great. Today I replaced the cap and rotor and things seemed to be running a lot better. I took the distributor out to make sure the centrifugal weights were good and to replace the vac can. Yeah, I know, I didn’t need to take the distributor out, but I did. So after getting it all back together, I’m timing the car and all seems to be going well. I shut it down after letting it heat up to make sure it starts again. And as I’m sitting in the drivers seat, I crank the engine over and watch as my timing gun slides off the fender and into the engine. Sparks fly, and a big puff of smoke comes from the starter area. Timing gun slid right into the positive lead on the back of the alternator. OFC. Here’s the arc mark on the timing gun.
No surprise, the fusible link at the starter is what blew. Which, I guess it did what it’s supposed to do. Just pisses me off because I did a frame replacement and the wiring harness is about 2 years old. Now I have to hack it apart to fix my brand new wiring harness. I’ll get a piece of 14awg fusible link and solder it in. I was hoping to go for a ride today, not fix the car more.
Just had to vent…
Don't you hate it when that happens? I have had to replace the Fusible Links on my 1968 C3 after I had a PainlessPWM electric cooling fan controller that decided to "let the smoke out". It was pretty exciting as one minute it is working fine and the next it is smoking away and neither fan is spinning any more. On my 1968 there are plenty of places for tools to short out on, I have been trying to cover them up over the years.
Be sure to replace the Fusible Links with ones of the same Size/Value and then solder them into your electrical system like they were from day one. After they are installed put a piece of heat shrink over them to protect them. I have found them locally at NAPA stores or online at AMAZON.
It sounds like you are on-track to fix your Corvette properly! Please feel free if you have any issues as we are here to try and help you!
Blown fusible link
