Wireing Harness Rebuilding
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,341
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Wireing Harness Rebuilding
Every wiring harness in my 81' needs to be redone so rather then spending crazy amounts of money buying new ones I want to pull each harness out individually, unwrap them, inspect and continuity check all the wires, re-wrap them and re-install them myself. I figure it will be time consuming and boring but at least I'll know they are correct
My problem is that I know I have quite a few broken connectors that need to be replaced and about half of my fuse box is, well, melted for lack of a better term. Does anyone know where I can find a replacement fuse box and all of the correct connectors for a 1981 vette? I've checked all the ussual suspects and all I can find are rebuilt harnesses. For example, Zip has my dash harness with the fuse box for the low low price of $787.00... lol All I want is the fuse box
My problem is that I know I have quite a few broken connectors that need to be replaced and about half of my fuse box is, well, melted for lack of a better term. Does anyone know where I can find a replacement fuse box and all of the correct connectors for a 1981 vette? I've checked all the ussual suspects and all I can find are rebuilt harnesses. For example, Zip has my dash harness with the fuse box for the low low price of $787.00... lol All I want is the fuse box
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Wow ambitious job!! Have you considered posting in parts wanted??
I'd be tempted to look for harnesses even if it means used before attempting a complete rewire. I am sure someone out there has what you need.
Good luck.
I'd be tempted to look for harnesses even if it means used before attempting a complete rewire. I am sure someone out there has what you need.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,341
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
About two years ago our illustrius Civil Engineers left a stop **** open at one of our Minuteman III Missile Alert Facilities which resulted in about 300,000 gallons of water flooding the site. After pumping 4 tanker trucks worth of water out of the site we opened the capsule and found 18 inches of water standing inside the capsule itself. Several communications drawers valued at a little over $200,000 were submerged under water and the water had run into the capsule through the cable ways in the top of the capsule and flowed through the equipment racks. We completely dismantled the capsule, checked and rewired everything, put it all back together and have since, conducted 5-6 successful Minuteman III test launches. I figure if I can rewire an entire Missile Command and Control System for nuclear missiles I can handle the dash and engine compartment of an 81' Vette
Good call on the parts wanted post, I never even thought of that...
Good call on the parts wanted post, I never even thought of that...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: parsippany nj
The last detail has wiring harnesses at a discount price. Yankee lady also has a good price on the harnesses.The car is 25 years old. I think just better to get new wiring if it's that bad. kathy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
I just installed harness from the last detail. They have the lowest prices on harnesses. The harnesses are made by a company here in Illinois. You only want to do this once every 25 years and I dont care how talented you are, your work wont be the same as a quality harness with all the proper connections, fusable links, etc. Imagine rewiring the car and when you first turn the ignition on something begins to smoke? You would need to start all over again. Why take the chance? If you have a budget get a used set that needs less reapair as mentioned above. Just my 2 cents...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Very few original type harness connectors are available individually. They just don't sell them. The reproduction industry leading harness manufacturer (Lectric Limited) is here in Illinois. I went to their facility looking to buy numerous connectors for my 72, and was told "not available".
Eddie
Eddie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Yea I think the hardest part of the job is going to be finding the connectors. Most of them were designed for the auto industry and they have moved on in the intervening 20+ yrs.
Parts section and ebay might be your best bet, check parts on the other forums also. Wrecking yards might be good too if they have old cars, the connectors will be the same, they were for the most part not corvette specific.
Very hard to find that stuff down here in South Florida, the yards here don't have many old cars
Parts section and ebay might be your best bet, check parts on the other forums also. Wrecking yards might be good too if they have old cars, the connectors will be the same, they were for the most part not corvette specific.
Very hard to find that stuff down here in South Florida, the yards here don't have many old cars
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Michigan
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
Last summer I got my front harnesses from Lectric Limited. They dropped right in! Still, it cost a lot of money, but for '71 that's 36 years old, I wanted to do it ONCE and have it correct. Good luck with yours. I did keep my old, sliced, taped up wiring just to remind me why I spent the money. BTW, I am NOT a missle tech (I'm an electrician). 
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 10
From: Shelby Twp MI
I need to re-do my rats nest too. I don't know if this is the right thing, but I did see some new ones on ebay for $417.
I guess I would still feel better about buying one (probably made outside of the US) then having my freshly rebuilt 77 burning down on side of the road.
I guess I would still feel better about buying one (probably made outside of the US) then having my freshly rebuilt 77 burning down on side of the road.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
I bought engine harness and front light harness from Lectric Limited.
Getting a harness that works and looks great is worth the money to me.
I don't think I could have corrected all the crap that was wrong with my original harnesses.
You have to also remember that the wires and connectors are 25+ years old. They have been subject to heat, moisture, and who knows what. I can't see not replacing the whole harness with new.
Just my $.02.
Getting a harness that works and looks great is worth the money to me.
I don't think I could have corrected all the crap that was wrong with my original harnesses.
You have to also remember that the wires and connectors are 25+ years old. They have been subject to heat, moisture, and who knows what. I can't see not replacing the whole harness with new.
Just my $.02.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
About two years ago our illustrius Civil Engineers left a stop **** open at one of our Minuteman III Missile Alert Facilities which resulted in about 300,000 gallons of water flooding the site. After pumping 4 tanker trucks worth of water out of the site we opened the capsule and found 18 inches of water standing inside the capsule itself. Several communications drawers valued at a little over $200,000 were submerged under water and the water had run into the capsule through the cable ways in the top of the capsule and flowed through the equipment racks. We completely dismantled the capsule, checked and rewired everything, put it all back together and have since, conducted 5-6 successful Minuteman III test launches. I figure if I can rewire an entire Missile Command and Control System for nuclear missiles I can handle the dash and engine compartment of an 81' Vette
Good call on the parts wanted post, I never even thought of that...
Good call on the parts wanted post, I never even thought of that...