What is this thing?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 21
From: Iowa
Thanks for the replies. If I recall, the wires were blue/green. I don't have my shop manual in front of me so I can't check that. I'll clean it up later and take another photo. I tried to trace the wires back to the source, but this connector becomes a part of the large loom tied against the firewall, and I'd have to take all the wires apart to look at it.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 5
From: Kingston, Ontario
My guess
To me it looks like the connector to the knock sensor which is located further up the right side of the lower engine block. It is round cylindered shaped with a threaded stud sticking out of it. Your connector clips on to the stud with spring tensioned metal clips.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 21
From: Iowa
You're right! Turns out I am not the only one with this issue. I searched the forums, and although many people have the issue of the wire degradation, replacements are NLA. What are your thoughts in switching to a later version of the sensor? I couldn't see the sensor on my engine, but I will keep looking. My connector looks nasty. What rubber once existed has been turned mushy and gross by years of oil drips.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 5
From: Kingston, Ontario
The knock sensor is on the lower right side of the engine block about one inch ahead (forward) of the starter motor. It screws into a small round threaded hole in the block. Your connector may be fine once you clean it up and recover the wires. My connector is mostly a metal clip. The two sides are pushed outwards by an internal spring. Push the two sides together (finger tight) and the holes on the bottom will line up to capture the threaded stud of the sensor. Eckler's has a picture of the sensor available at http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...nsor-1982.html but it seems to be on national backorder. I do not know about changing over to a later model sensor but if you find one with two wires it should be simple enough.