Need some electrical help
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Marana AZ
Need some electrical help
Good evening folks;
I have recently taken over some of the care of my dad's 1971 Stingray. He's just not in a shape anymore to take care of the car, and I was having a very hard time watching it waste away. I managed to talk him into letting me bring it to the house about a month ago, and I replaced the carpet, weatherstripping and serviced the brakes. About 15 years ago, we swapped in a ZZ502 in place of the stock 454, and he installed Holley Projection on it. I was involved with the engine swap, but not with the EFI conversion. Since the conversion, he has started to remember fewer of the specifics of how it all went together.
After I finished my recent projects, it seems that I hooked the battery up backwards. My excuse is that both the battery cables he has right now are black, and because of a slow leak somewhere in the system, he has pulled the negative cable so many time that it isn't apparent which clamp goes on which terminal. It's my excuse, but it was still a rookie mistake. When I hooked them up wrong, I heard a 'pop' from somewhere around the front right fender, and the dome light went out. I switched the leads, but have no power to anything. I never turned the key with power reversed.
What is the damage? Is there a main power breaker somewhere?
I've done some searching, and it looks like I may have fried the alternator and a fusible link from the starter to the ignition. I checked fuses and pulled a couple that looked suspect. I'll have to pick up some replacements tomorrow. What else to look for?
If anyone knows about the Holley EFI... is there a fuse panel, or an inline fuse for it? I know almost nothing about it, and the way the car runs now, I would rather see a carb on it anyways. But that is not my call right now.
I've attached a pic of the car. I plan on putting together a project thread when I have more time.
Thanks for any help.
I have recently taken over some of the care of my dad's 1971 Stingray. He's just not in a shape anymore to take care of the car, and I was having a very hard time watching it waste away. I managed to talk him into letting me bring it to the house about a month ago, and I replaced the carpet, weatherstripping and serviced the brakes. About 15 years ago, we swapped in a ZZ502 in place of the stock 454, and he installed Holley Projection on it. I was involved with the engine swap, but not with the EFI conversion. Since the conversion, he has started to remember fewer of the specifics of how it all went together.
After I finished my recent projects, it seems that I hooked the battery up backwards. My excuse is that both the battery cables he has right now are black, and because of a slow leak somewhere in the system, he has pulled the negative cable so many time that it isn't apparent which clamp goes on which terminal. It's my excuse, but it was still a rookie mistake. When I hooked them up wrong, I heard a 'pop' from somewhere around the front right fender, and the dome light went out. I switched the leads, but have no power to anything. I never turned the key with power reversed.
What is the damage? Is there a main power breaker somewhere?
I've done some searching, and it looks like I may have fried the alternator and a fusible link from the starter to the ignition. I checked fuses and pulled a couple that looked suspect. I'll have to pick up some replacements tomorrow. What else to look for?
If anyone knows about the Holley EFI... is there a fuse panel, or an inline fuse for it? I know almost nothing about it, and the way the car runs now, I would rather see a carb on it anyways. But that is not my call right now.
I've attached a pic of the car. I plan on putting together a project thread when I have more time.
Thanks for any help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Nice looking Vette!
You may have fried a fuseible link, start by checking down by the starter. They look like this.
Heres a schematic if you need it.
http://www.nrjvette.com/johdotukset/?c=d;o=d
Heres a schematic if you need it.
http://www.nrjvette.com/johdotukset/?c=d;o=d
