dash harness
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
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From: jarrett north carolina
dash harness
hi! i have a 76 coupe that is a project car and right now all of the dash wiring is laying on the floorboard. looking up under the dash i see a lot of wires that have been BUBBAD,or have been spliced together. what is the procedure,if any, for removing this harness as i want ro replace it.also what does the dash harness consist of? are there other harnesses that are connected to the dash harness,like the radio,power windows.how hard is this to do?thanks--john
Le Mans Master
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From: charlotte north carolina
i'm a little confused. you state that the dash harness is on the floor board, but you have to look under the dash to see these bubbaed wires? if the dash is in place most of the wiring is still hidden. you need to get an aim (assembly instruction manual) to show you where the wires are routed. to remove the dash harness (which is the main wiring for dash, radio, and passenger compartment side of firewall connections to engine wiring), the dash pads, and center console must be removed. if you go this route, take accurate pictures to ease reassembly. the engine harness and forward light harness plug into the engine side of the fuse block. the rear light harness also plugs into the dash harness near the fuse block. if you just want access to the dash harness, you can remove the upper dash pad and the center console.
jeff
jeff
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From: jarrett north carolina
wire harness
thanks jnb5105 for the reply! when i bought this car all of the dash componets were in a box. the wires that the guages and everything else in the cockpit connect to are what is hanging loose. part of the wires is still up next to the firewall. there are some that have been repaired under the dash.i can't tell what has been cut without removing the harness from the firewall.i just wondered how hard it is to undertake a job like this because i have a very limited experience with the wiring.ido have the book.but i can't read the schematics.--thanks for your input!---john
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Seattle Area WA
It sounds like the main harness with the bulbs is still in place. If you have power windows, there will be a separate much smaller harness that runs across the firewall as well. If the car has A/C, there is a separate harness for that as well.
I would say that most "cutting of wires" has to do with adding an alarm or aftermarket stereo system and changing dash speakers etc. This should not be hard to reverse and should be minimal.
Reading the wiring schematics shouldn't be too difficult, the wires are color coded which greatly helps and if we have an idea of the location of cutting that would help too. Maybe if you can post the color code of the cut wire and location of where it is cut, we can help pin this down.
I would say that most "cutting of wires" has to do with adding an alarm or aftermarket stereo system and changing dash speakers etc. This should not be hard to reverse and should be minimal.
Reading the wiring schematics shouldn't be too difficult, the wires are color coded which greatly helps and if we have an idea of the location of cutting that would help too. Maybe if you can post the color code of the cut wire and location of where it is cut, we can help pin this down.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
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From: Ann Arbor Michigan
When your dash looks like this, you are ready to change out the harness. There is one mian dash harness, then one that goes to the rear lamps.
Here's with the new harness installed.
Here's with the new harness installed.
Last edited by Duke94; Mar 4, 2008 at 06:44 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Here's the deal..... Before you do anything else to the wiring harness you have, there is one critical decision to make:
"Is the existing harness salvageable [or not]?" If it is NOT useable and you decide to replace it, you still do not want to disrupt the existing harness. You need to leave it in place for reference purposes until you get the new harness and check everything out (compare the two harnesses, find the differences, prepare for the revisions provided by the new one, etc.). You absolutely HAVE TO HAVE a GM Assembly Instruction Manual [A.I.M.] if you want to do a decent job of re-wiring your car. In fact, if you don't wire it the same way the factory did, I'm not sure you can get all the wires to fit!
Also, if you decide to KEEP the existing harness, you need the AIM to find out what "Bubba" did to your harness and how to bring it back up to correct condition. You have a difficult job coming up and I wish you success. Just stay cool
and take it one step at a time. Don't go the the next step until you have thought it out carefully. Good luck!
"Is the existing harness salvageable [or not]?" If it is NOT useable and you decide to replace it, you still do not want to disrupt the existing harness. You need to leave it in place for reference purposes until you get the new harness and check everything out (compare the two harnesses, find the differences, prepare for the revisions provided by the new one, etc.). You absolutely HAVE TO HAVE a GM Assembly Instruction Manual [A.I.M.] if you want to do a decent job of re-wiring your car. In fact, if you don't wire it the same way the factory did, I'm not sure you can get all the wires to fit!
Also, if you decide to KEEP the existing harness, you need the AIM to find out what "Bubba" did to your harness and how to bring it back up to correct condition. You have a difficult job coming up and I wish you success. Just stay cool
and take it one step at a time. Don't go the the next step until you have thought it out carefully. Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Finger TN
If your harness is beyond repair, check out Lectric limited for a replacement, and get a good schematic. Just note, the dash harness is the most expensive, $300-$400. I found one in great condition on ebay for $45, but I'd suggest just buying the lectric LTD repalcement. Doc rebuild has a very easy to follow wire diagram. It's not as hard as it looks, just get a good colored schematic and label your connections as you remove, and you will need that AIM for the proper routing. Just take your time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: jarrett north carolina
dash harness
thanks for all of the replys everyone! my dash looks like duke 94's first picture except all of the tape has been removed and the wires are spread out every where.i don't know whether it is salvagable or not.i thought about splicing the dash bulb wires up and going from there.what do you guys think?----thanks---john
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Finger TN
I'd just get a new harness from Lectric. Nothing is worse than chasing an intermittent electrical gremlin due to a loose or corroded splice. I've learned by experience to just solder the connections and shrink wrap after. Much more secure and just as quick as splicing, plus moisture proof. If you have to splice, be sure to get the environmental splices that have shrink wrap built in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
thanks for all of the replys everyone! my dash looks like duke 94's first picture except all of the tape has been removed and the wires are spread out every where.i don't know whether it is salvagable or not.i thought about splicing the dash bulb wires up and going from there.what do you guys think?----thanks---john
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
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From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I've given away MANY connectors from both my 71' and 78'.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
jjarrett....
Here's my suggestion. Buy the AIM for your year Corvette. Then sit in your car with it so you can find and label all the connections you find in the AIM (use a highlighter to mark off each one as you find it). Sounds like a lot of trouble, but here's the benefits: first, you will learn where each connection for each item is on your present harness...what color the wire is and what type of connector is used; you will find out which wires have been modified [or eliminated] to understand what 'defects' are in the existing harness (make a thorough list of each of these exceptions). With that info, you can then make a GOOD decision as to whether you really need a new harness or not. You might actually find that what you have is in pretty good shape or can be corrected pretty easily.
Finally, I'll say that, if you don't want to go to that much trouble....you should reconsider whether YOU want to re-do the wiring. You really need to do the "up-front" evaluation/diagnosis before you consider doing that job. I do wish you all the best with your project.
7T1vette
Here's my suggestion. Buy the AIM for your year Corvette. Then sit in your car with it so you can find and label all the connections you find in the AIM (use a highlighter to mark off each one as you find it). Sounds like a lot of trouble, but here's the benefits: first, you will learn where each connection for each item is on your present harness...what color the wire is and what type of connector is used; you will find out which wires have been modified [or eliminated] to understand what 'defects' are in the existing harness (make a thorough list of each of these exceptions). With that info, you can then make a GOOD decision as to whether you really need a new harness or not. You might actually find that what you have is in pretty good shape or can be corrected pretty easily.
Finally, I'll say that, if you don't want to go to that much trouble....you should reconsider whether YOU want to re-do the wiring. You really need to do the "up-front" evaluation/diagnosis before you consider doing that job. I do wish you all the best with your project.
7T1vette