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I recently got handed down the Vette my mom purchased for her dream car almost 2 decades ago. The car unfortunately is in rough shape but still runs and drives so that's good. I have started the breakdown process to begin restoring it from the inside out! I'm a novice to intermediate mechanic but luckily these old cars are far less electronic this the new stuff. I joined this forum in hopes to find guidance as i walk through this process as i have already found helpful articles here. If anyone is interested in the progress of the project and willing to help guide me when the all powerful google fails me, that would be great! The car itself is a 1978 Anniversary Edition and i drove it on the weekends as a teen so i am extremely excited to bring her back to the glory days!
Progress so far: Carpet out, center console out, the buckets behind the seats out, and of course both seats.
Next up: Dash and hopefully leave gauges if possible. Are there any gotchas or helpful tips and tricks to getting the dash out without breaking it? The end goal is to re-wire pretty much everything as most of it doesn't work anymore. I thought about getting an entirely new wiring hardness to start fresh but not sure if that's overkill. I'll be posting pictures as i come across things or upon request.
I recently got handed down the Vette my mom purchased for her dream car almost 2 decades ago. The car unfortunately is in rough shape but still runs and drives so that's good. I have started the breakdown process to begin restoring it from the inside out! I'm a novice to intermediate mechanic but luckily these old cars are far less electronic this the new stuff. I joined this forum in hopes to find guidance as i walk through this process as i have already found helpful articles here. If anyone is interested in the progress of the project and willing to help guide me when the all powerful google fails me, that would be great! The car itself is a 1978 Anniversary Edition and i drove it on the weekends as a teen so i am extremely excited to bring her back to the glory days!
Progress so far: Carpet out, center console out, the buckets behind the seats out, and of course both seats.
Next up: Dash and hopefully leave gauges if possible. Are there any gotchas or helpful tips and tricks to getting the dash out without breaking it? The end goal is to re-wire pretty much everything as most of it doesn't work anymore. I thought about getting an entirely new wiring hardness to start fresh but not sure if that's overkill. I'll be posting pictures as i come across things or upon request.
Evening! I have gone through the center console and gauge cluster where the radio and AC/heat sit. It took some time but i have identified most of the wiring and where it all goes. I labeled everything so i don't forget but there are some connectors and random wires that i am not sure what they control or where they hook up. I took pictures of everything i am unsure about and there are also two components that connectors hook into but curious what they are. The large component seems to be random screwed in and seems out of place so i think someone didn't put it back in the original position so advice there would be great! Feel free to ask for more pictures Driver side behind seat against panel. Defrost? Connects to relay under center console but goes to what? Doesn't seem to connect to anything near shifter or center console area. However, the matching cables run near the antenna and might control defrosting? Another lost connector and a wire just cut so no clue what these are supposed to do. Coming from primary harness from center console/dash The window switches hook up to the small silver box in the bottom left but curious of what component this is just so i understand it. This is the large part that was randomly screwed down but it seems important as the car starter wouldn't turn unless it's hooked up. I feel this should be mounted somewhere properly but just a hunch.
I'm always up for a challenge but the more i remove the more i uncover. I have a lot of tools for electrical work and familiar with them and always good with buying the tools i need. Anyone have good guides or videos on troubleshooting the electronics for this car? For example, the windows simply don't roll down and i can't hear the motors trying or anything.
P.S. I live in the East Tennessee area and open to looking at professional shops who are excellent when it comes to restoring these types of cars. Any references would be great and i'll take a look at them in case i throw in the towel.
I am restoring a 75 and the wiring is much worse. The best advice is to get a Haynes manual, the electrical schematic can be used identify what the wires are for by color and type of plug. Has been a life saver for me. Alot of cut wire and loose connections
One of the first things I got when I bought my ‘78 was a set of laminated wiring diagrams that are year specific. They are large enough to see and color coded to oem wires. And you can write on them with e raseable markers
One of the first things I got when I bought my ‘78 was a set of laminated wiring diagrams that are year specific. They are large enough to see and color coded to oem wires. And you can write on them with e raseable markers
A member here (papawana) provides free C3 wiring harness guides, just send him a PM and he'll get it to you.
Another thing to consider.. unless you have some really serious wiring issues going on in the car (pests and such), use caution when taking the car apart. I would make sure you take lots of photos, take notes and save the original connectors where possible.
A new harness is not going to be cheap... the main harness is over a grand I think.....
Best to tackle this one system at a time, don't start ripping stuff out.
Last edited by Goody; Sep 7, 2020 at 03:19 PM.
Reason: add member name.
Thanks for all the replies! I posted on that members thread for the diagrams so i'll wait and hopefully get a response there. I was able to get the wipers to work! haha pretty sure the motor is going out though as they struggle pretty hard. I'll definitely take some time and try to look at the connectors and wire color patterns to identify some of these. Overall, everything seems to be good from a wiring perspective. It looks more like hardware failures at this point which i believe all are original so not surprised they are failing. If i can't track down the wiring issue, i plan on ordering a new motor for one of the doors and see if it resolves the issue and go from there. Chip at it one part a time pretty much.
One question though, there is a black plastic guard in the rear just underneath the rear window that goes all the way from one side to the other. It was held on by 3 screws on both sides but appears to be glued in something where it connects to the very rear windshield. I am afraid of breaking something so i left it alone. Are there any tricks to getting that part out? It's pretty rough from a finish perspective and just needs a new coat of paint. I can provide a picture if needed.
Last edited by michael king; Sep 8, 2020 at 04:13 PM.
You can also look on line and here on CF for your own hardcopy version of the electrical troubleshoot manual.. it's an odd size, about 11 X 17 in horizon orientation (vs. std. portrait layout)
One question though, there is a black plastic guard in the rear just underneath the rear window that goes all the way from one side to the other. It was held on by 3 screws on both sides but appears to be glued in something where it connects to the very rear windshield. I am afraid of breaking something so i left it alone. Are there any tricks to getting that part out? It's pretty rough from a finish perspective and just needs a new coat of paint. I can provide a picture if needed.
Again without photo's kind of hard to know but I think you're talking about the plastic "horsecollar" or wrap around piece that is textured(grained) plastic. Check to make sure there's not some additional countersunk's toward the Halo's where the window starts at the B pillar.
The AIM is really helpful with things like this...
Horsecollar is better way of describing it but yes that is the part i am referring to. I'll take a closer look to see what's holding it in there, hard to get back there so could of easily overlooked it.
I recently got handed down the Vette my mom purchased for her dream car almost 2 decades ago. The car unfortunately is in rough shape but still runs and drives so that's good. I have started the breakdown process to begin restoring it from the inside out! I'm a novice to intermediate mechanic but luckily these old cars are far less electronic this the new stuff. I joined this forum in hopes to find guidance as i walk through this process as i have already found helpful articles here. If anyone is interested in the progress of the project and willing to help guide me when the all powerful google fails me, that would be great! The car itself is a 1978 Anniversary Edition and i drove it on the weekends as a teen so i am extremely excited to bring her back to the glory days!
Progress so far: Carpet out, center console out, the buckets behind the seats out, and of course both seats.
Next up: Dash and hopefully leave gauges if possible. Are there any gotchas or helpful tips and tricks to getting the dash out without breaking it? The end goal is to re-wire pretty much everything as most of it doesn't work anymore. I thought about getting an entirely new wiring hardness to start fresh but not sure if that's overkill. I'll be posting pictures as i come across things or upon request.
King, is your mother still among us ? Regardless, I applaud your effort to restore her car.
She is still alive and hopeful to see the car in good shape again. It's a bring reason i have put pretty much everything else on hold and focus on the car, no matter the cost really. Also, here is the part i was referring to in the back rear window area or the horse collar shaped. Pictures
Alright folks! I am on the power window now. I confirmed the wiring is working as the driver side rolls up and down but the passenger didn't. I can however, hear clicking which means power is being delivered to the motor. I got the panel off but hit a road block when i started to determine next steps. All the videos and guides iv seen weren't for a 78 specifically but also theirs weren't original and first time repairs so they had bolts in places where mine do not. Right now i see two ways to go about this, one to remove the window and the entire regulator system or just the motor but i have to finesse the regulator into a specific position so i don't hurt myself or break something. I took the two pictures below illustrating what appears to be either cutoff bolts or rivots of some sort. I am unsure how to get them off but right now it looks like my only path is to somehow get the window rolled down enough so that i can put a bolt in the regulator to hold it in place while i remove the motor. Any suggestions?? The two silver bolts/screws holding the regulator
If I were you I'd try putting 12 volts on the motor contacts directly. 12 volts on one contact makes the window go up and 12 volts on the other makes it go down. It might be that you're not getting enough current flowing to the motor through the switch to operate it. Also check that you've got a good earth on the motor casing. I had to open up my switches and clean the contacts, they both work fine now.
Michael,
Yep that's the rear package shelf panel assembly... The AIM (if you've picked one up) shows this on Pg 225. I've snipped a portion of it below and it appears to show about 8 screws total - you mentioned finding three in one of your earlier posts, keep lookin'! I bet the two on the left and right side with the corner pieces at the halo are what's holding it in.
78 AE Restore Project!
