Interior Wiring harness?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Interior Wiring harness?
How much of a PIA is it to replace this harness? I'm sorta getting scared of the old one being 30 years old, plus Bubba looks like he has had his handy work in it. Near the fuse panel there are alot of connections not hooked up or just hanging. Would this also be a good time to replace/rebuild the ac? Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Boxford Mass
The dash harness is a big PITA just because so much has to come out of the car. I did it on my old vette. Its not a job to rush and requires more patience than I thought I had.
I have to change it in my 71 also. I have some weird things happening.
I have to change it in my 71 also. I have some weird things happening.
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 520
Likes: 5
From: Front Range
With everything gutted from the interior, it took me several weeks' work, several hours a day, to properly terminate and route a Painless Performance Products Wiring harness (with many modifications). That's with shrink wrap on the connections, and quick disconnects for gauge panels, etc. But then again I have a highly modified setup.
The stock harness is difficult to route because of its gerth in areas like the dash and gauge panel, and you really can't get it in there unless you pull panels out. You're thinking along the right lines though. The Corvette wiring harness is old and busted. Flat spade fuses are the new hotness. If you're not driving a Bloomington Gold special, do your car a favor and upgrade to more modern wiring.
At least that's my perspective.
the blonde weasel
The stock harness is difficult to route because of its gerth in areas like the dash and gauge panel, and you really can't get it in there unless you pull panels out. You're thinking along the right lines though. The Corvette wiring harness is old and busted. Flat spade fuses are the new hotness. If you're not driving a Bloomington Gold special, do your car a favor and upgrade to more modern wiring.
At least that's my perspective.
the blonde weasel
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I replaced it on both my 71' and 78. I bought the direct replacement. type from ZIP. The Assembly manual (AIM) was the biggest help. Shows how to route the wires and what plugs into where. Best 20 bucks you'll ever spend.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,335
Likes: 1
That harness is not to bad if you take your time. It's not a bad idea to take the time to label the connections on your old harness as you dissconnect them. This is time consuming but makes life alot easier when putting in the new one. This way you can lay the old one on the floor and use it as a road map when installing the new unit. Let me know when you are ready to order the harness. I carry the best harnesses on the market. They are exact reproductions of the originals. Regular price on them is 439.00 but i sell them to forum members for 399.00. Best deal in town!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Yup - I just pulled mine out when body came off.
I threw it in a box until last weekend - time to install.
At first, I was thinking "Oh no." (and I have 4 degrees in electronic/electrical engineering)
Then, I openned the AIM ... fairly clear routing, connecting,
and wire color directions. Not a big deal, but I wouldn't swap it
unless you have definite problems. You need to pull most of the dash to get at everything.
I threw it in a box until last weekend - time to install.
At first, I was thinking "Oh no." (and I have 4 degrees in electronic/electrical engineering)
Then, I openned the AIM ... fairly clear routing, connecting,
and wire color directions. Not a big deal, but I wouldn't swap it
unless you have definite problems. You need to pull most of the dash to get at everything.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Originally Posted by Duke94
I replaced it on both my 71' and 78. I bought the direct replacement. type from ZIP. The Assembly manual (AIM) was the biggest help. Shows how to route the wires and what plugs into where. Best 20 bucks you'll ever spend.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
Originally Posted by Scudd
What kind of fuse box did it come with?
I didn't find the dash harness replacement job too difficult, but I took lots of notes and made drawings showing the routing of the old one. I also stuck pieces of tape to the wires that came out and wrote their destinations on each. This made it much easier to connect up the new one.
The AIM is a great help, but I would also highly recommend spending a few bucks for the year-correct wiring diagram. It has saved my bacon several times already!
It's tough to beat the feeling of having all of the lights and other electric stuff working for the first time after the job is finished.
