still-learning

Folks,

Correct me if I am wrong (always a high possibility :)) but can't I wire my radio directly into the fuse panel? There appears to be two ignition spots and two battery spots. I was figuring the battery spots were always on and the ignition spots were tied to the car being in 'run'. Currently one of ignition spots is being used for my electric choke...

So to make a long story short, I figured instead of hacking into my new harness I would use the ignition for my main radio power. The battery for my memory. I would then use the same ground that the whole wiring harness uses for the ground.

Does my logic make sense? Just looking for a quick sanity check.

Tim M.

P.S. I also have a power antenna (a later add on) that I would run the power lead to the same battery power lead for the radio. (This is not the one from the radio which tells the antenna to be up or down.)

Smokehouse69

It might not be right, but that's the way I'd do it. Although if your radio is going to pull a lot of power (like with a big amp or something) I'd rig up a relay to provide the power, that way you wouldn't worry about overloading the fuse in the panel.

mrvette

You should be able to run any head end throug the typically brown wire from the original radio fuse.....and any higher powered amp will take a signal from the head end switch....and put that brown sourced 12 volts to a controll wire that THEN turns on the hi powered amp...which draws power directly from an unswitched source....like the alt or bat or fender tie point....
the brown wire is ignition/accessory controlled so the whole system should shut down when ignition is off....

the brown wire does not conduct any significant power as a result...just for head end power, and activating the power amp....much as it would activate the antenna motor....same thing, differant circuit...

GENE

still-learning

Gene,

I guess I was just trying to avoid cutting the brand new harness. I have the wiring diagram for the car so I could always just 't' into the existing radio power wire. I also have my old harness which has the memory wire connected to what I think is the clock wire.

Is the benefit of doing it this way that I use the already existing fuse for the radio instead of putting it on top of something else?

As far as amps go I am not going to bother... I am just using a semi decent head unit.

Tim M.

82dukman

Tim, you do know that they sell those aftermarket plug/wire kits that plug into existing wiring harnesses with open ends for the radio, so you don't have to cut your harness, don't you?

still-learning

You know that is really funny. I do know and I have used more than a couple on other cars BUT the were all modern. It never even occured to me that I could get one for a '77. I am off to the web to go looking... :smash:

Tim M.

still-learning

Bad news. So far the only thing I can find is one for '78 and newer vettes. That is the oldest GM wiring harness I can find. On the other hand w/ all the stuff bubbasized in my vette I don't know why I am worried about two splices. :)

Tim M.

mrvette

Still, you are on the beam electrically, but the execution is up to you at this point....your last post has it right....

GENE

82dukman

Tim, check out this link for Crutchfield. They have an o0lder one for GM, 73 and up. Scroll down on the page, and I think it is only $3
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-DugtvOK...&search=wiring

still-learning

82dukman,

I found the GM harness for those years. It turns out on ebay there was a description of all the models. While it had older GM cars the Corvette's were for only '78 or newer.

Too bad too. I love Crutchfield. The get a lot of my money. (Including the actually stereo I am installing. :-))

Gene,

At least my sanity was ok. :)

Tim M.

82dukman

I'm lost :confused: Will the one from Crutchfield work or not?

still-learning

Unless the stuff I saw on ebay was incorrect. No, it will not work. It is a generic 'older' GM harness. I found a description that listed out all of the exact models. I am still trying to find the webpage again...

Tim M.

82dukman

Try calling Crutchfield. After all it is an 800 number. Can't hurt

still-learning

Alright, the definitive answer. I kicked my wife off the phone and called. Yes and no. That harness will not work. They do have something that will give me power and 'illumination' (ie dimmer) but it will not do ground or memory. At this point I still need to splice the clock wire and manually run a ground.

The clincher was that they were not going to be able to ship it out until at least Wednesday....

Oh well. Made for an interesting posting. :)

Tim M.

82dukman

Sorry, just trying to help ya!! Thought those guys could do it.:D

MN-Brent

You might be able to find this splice connection over at Walmart. Ive bought a few there but they were for 79 and newer cars. Worth a check though. Just picked up one for my 82 this summer there.

Brent...