Hi,

I am trying to re-mount my 68 convertible corvette and I try to install the harness. I have one question. Does the main harness from the fuse panel route above or below the steering column ?

thank you for your help.

 

You are about to the most fun you can have without sticking your head in a vise and starting to tighten it. The harness goes under the speedometer over the steering column and then under the tachometer. It did this in '68, '69 and part of '70 until they lengthened the harness and ran it over the gauges. Because of the configuration of the dash there is plenty of room above the gauges, but almost no room below because of the support for the pedals. Unless you get the harness exactly where it needs to go you will either not be able to get the dash panel to fit correctly or get the steering column back in to position. If you look around the forum you can find numerous filings about people that can't get the dash panel to fit. It will fit, but it might take you trying 20 times to get everything into the correct place. If your harness is original it is probably stiff and difficult to manipulate. One of the things that I tried was to put a bend in the harness where I thought it should go over the steering column and then use ty-wraps to hold the shape (see photo). I left it for a couple of days and then just before putting the dash panel in place cutting the ty-wrap and hoping everything would fit. took a couple of tries, but eventually it all fit. Mine is a '69 and the harness is slightly different that yours because of the mounting of the ignition switch, but the headaches are the same. I hope never to need to remove the dash panel again.

 

I'm no Purist so keep that in mind as you read this.
I extended the leads to the dash instruments. I also added a connection that allows me to unplug the leads for each side (tach & speedo) such that I can unplug to removed the dash pad, and also to plug in AFTER I reinstll it. The lengthening allowed me to re-string the main harness ABOVE ..... if you can use solder and heat shrink I recommend it. Not only does it make Removal and Reinstallation easier but it will also help you avoid damaging the fragile fiberglass structure.

 

They had a number of ways to run it on a 68, it changed a few times. Yours will fit only one way. I have lengthened mine for the gauges and switches as well and its much shorter than the first response you got. Theres no way I could fold mine like that. Mine runs under the tach, speedo and above the steering but it goes straight across some went diagonal though the to. try straight across first, without the steering column in or it laying on the floor

 

Thank you for your answers. Pictures help a lot. After the dashboard, where the main bundle is routed ?

 

Where can I find instrument panel lamp socket ? I found the following item on rock auto. Does anyone try them ? Is it the correct one ?

 

Nobody tried these ?

 

Nooe not even close. Older school than that
Its a twist lock bulb and its a push fit. See if Lectric Limited has some...you may have to call

 

I was just looking for some odds and ends and came across this and recalled your post. Corvete Pacifica