C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 11:34 AM
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Default C3 wire experts

Ok, I have sorted my starter out but I have a wire that does not fit the wire diagrams. At the starter I have the Black battery cable, the red harness wire, and the red wire on the small terminal. Then the wire diagram shows a yellow wire for the coil terminal, but I only have a thin redish wire left, no yellow. The redish wire does seem to run to the area of the coil. What is it, and why no yellow. This is what I am sorting out. My 1972 convertible is a base engine car. I will be using it as a accasional fair weather driver, but I am putting it back to original. The previous owner put in a 75 engine, HEI and replaced the speedo and tack with the 75 units, I am putting the original distributor and gauges and engine back, all else seems to be there. I do not think the harness was changed although it apears they added wires.

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cal
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 11:37 AM
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
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Originally Posted by cal camara
Ok, I have sorted my starter out but I have a wire that does not fit the wire diagrams. At the starter I have the Black battery cable, the red harness wire, and the red wire on the small terminal. Then the wire diagram shows a yellow wire for the coil terminal, but I only have a thin redish wire left, no yellow. The redish wire does seem to run to the area of the coil. What is it, and why no yellow. This is what I am sorting out. My 1972 convertible is a base engine car. I will be using it as a accasional fair weather driver, but I am putting it back to original. The previous owner put in a 75 engine, HEI and replaced the speedo and tack with the 75 units, I am putting the original distributor and gauges and engine back, all else seems to be there. I do not think the harness was changed although it apears they added wires.

Thanks

cal
the wire is yellow from the factory, since yours is red, i suspect some patching has occured, peell back the wire wrap and see if you can find a splice while you are at it look for any other splices, this was done for a reason, and hoplefully it was related to a short or some other related problem





tim
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 11:59 AM
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Default Red wire

Ok, that was easy, the wire has the same insulating fabric as the other wires and seems to be wraped into the original harness. It is red all the way. It looks original, if It is not I can splice into it at both ends to make it appear original.

Last edited by cal camara; Mar 14, 2006 at 12:01 PM. Reason: adding
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 12:06 PM
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
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Originally Posted by cal camara
Ok, that was easy, the wire has the same insulating fabric as the other wires and seems to be wraped into the original harness. It is red all the way. It looks original, if It is not I can splice into it at both ends to make it appear original.
so is it red at the coil as well ?
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 12:32 PM
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Default red at coil

Yes, the same wire (red) comes out of the engine harness at the coil area. there are yellow wires in the same area but they go thru the firewall and there are none (yellow) at the starter.
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 12:39 PM
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My '79 has the big black cable from the battery, another wire that attaches to the same big lug on the solenoid at the battery cable (it has 3 or 4 smaller wires going into one connector) and a small wire goint to the small post on the engine side of the solenoid. The only other wire is a ground wire coming from the harness to the engine bolted to the bell housing. the other small terminal on the solenoid I think was used on later model cars than ours.
Bernie
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 12:41 PM
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
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Originally Posted by cal camara
Yes, the same wire (red) comes out of the engine harness at the coil area. there are yellow wires in the same area but they go thru the firewall and there are none (yellow) at the starter.

well sound like no splice and is OK. mystery wire iguess, the only thing i can think of is possible the engine harness was replaced at some point in time in the cars life perhaps

so long as it works, Giddy up !!!!!

Last edited by sweethence; Mar 14, 2006 at 12:48 PM.
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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Thanks

cal
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Old Mar 16, 2006 | 01:40 PM
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OE points setup has one wire from dist to coil negative and two wires at coil positive ... one is a resistor wire to keyswitch ON/RUN & has about 9vdc when RUNNING ... the other goes to starter and has 12vdc ONLY when STARTING ... do not RUN the coil on full 12vdc with an OE points setup. If you do, it'll burn up the points and/or OE coil. Better check/meter coil voltage when RUNNING ... should be about +7 to +9vdc when running.

Since the car DID have an HEI ... it's wired differently ... HEI requires 12vdc when BOTH Starting & RUNNING.

Last edited by jackson; Mar 16, 2006 at 01:44 PM.
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