big mort

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've been knee deep in my corvette but I've been rectifying some wiring issues that have been keeping my car from staying alive for about a month at a time. After digging into it, its a wonder the girl started at all. I've attached a few pictures below (hope they work) and they're just a few of the dozens of issues I've found in every area of every harness.

Part of me thinks "why bother with this crap? for the time I put into it, I could probably justify buying a whole new engine harness for $300". But:
1. I have a lot of accessories removed that I would just have to take out of a brand new harness, which would kill me to do.
2. I like getting my hands dirty and learning about the electrical aspect which I haven't been too familiar with yet.
3. I'm a glutton for punishment.

So I finished the starter side of the harness and am working on the alternator/headlight side now. I'm currently staring at a junction of 10-12 ground wires that are just soldered/crimped/taped/mushed together which is just a blast. So just wanted to share this fun, and while I'm at it ask about any suggestions for correcting this grounding issue. I'm thinking of taking one headlight side and grounding on one terminal, the other headlight side on another (both near the radiator support), and another ground up by the alternator/under master cylinder.

Next is my dash harness...fun fun. Though it kinda is. Gives my dad and I (both engineers) something to laugh about.











exposed wires, probably a dozen instances like this under the hood alone



10 wire ground junction



This weird little guy has one ground into a switch, and then another ground wire looping around the harness and back into itself. The other end comes out as two and poorly spliced into one ground loop

billschroeder5842

Sorry, pretty amazing handy work. Bubba was on it over time.

bazza77

the 10 link ground junction is factory !

but I see why your doing what your doing


theres a black (ground) wire down by the starter motor ,it usually has a large loop end on it , sometimes it gets joined into the starter motor area but its meant to attach on a bell housing to block bolt.

Richard454

Yep- "Bubba" worked for GM!!!

Here's my "factory" wiring job-


Looks just like yours- at least he was consistent!!!








Might want to consider putting relays for your headlights-

"While you are at it!!!" I upgraded the wires and headlight plugs too...

DSCN5143 by Richard Hayes, on Flickr

lionelhutz

Looks like typical factory connections to me.

big mort

I actually was figuring (hoping) that these mass junctions were factory. They're real ugly and the tape that surrounded them disintegrated so they look like perfect candidates for my "short" issues. Who woulda thought tape wouldn't last as a solid insulator for 40 years.

Loving this electrical stuff. Finished the engine bay so now just have to ground out, tape up, and put down.


Interior next. Not intimidating or anything.