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It's been a while but I picked up a new project. 77 L48 with at manual. Done lots of C4's but this my first C3 project.
First things first. I started to clean up the wiring. It is a mess and much don't work. After removing a lot of wires that were not part of the original harness, I discovered the car would no longer start, turn the key and nothing. After some digging around with my meter, I found what was left of the neutral start switch under the center console. Seems this car must have started it's life as an automatic. Touch the purple wires together and vroom... couple of questions. Where should the neutral start switch be on a manual 77? is there a switch on the trans? There is no clutch switch installed that I could find, should there be one? Here is a pic of the existing natural start switch, or at least what is left of it.
I also found a switch on the left side of the steering column that there was nothing plugged into. Was that for the automatic as well? sorry it's so close and you can't see the whole thing, there isn't much room for a camera under there.
There were a few more wires that I found lurking around the hvac box. I assume one was for the AC, any thoughts?
If it was a manual gearbox originally the car would have the welded on gearbox crossmember mount .
The neutral start switch for autos was at the auto shifter , for manual cars, indeed a clutch pedal switch was used , it was tucked up high on the pedal box frame work .Had a little rod coming onto the "leg" of the pedal.
The switch on the column looks like a high beam dipper switch , 77 was the first year they were put there . Previous year cars had a floor switch on the left side of the floor area. If you have the windscreen wiper controls on the column as well that's a true 77 rare one off type of column be very careful with that switch.
Yours looks to be an early 77 , later in the year they painted the engines corporate blue . But who knows just what you got after so many years !
Electrical Harnesses: There was a 1st design & a 2nd design for the 77 model year.
1st design was VIN 00001 - 27372 anything after is 2nd design.
I don't see a left front fender alarm switch hole so I assume it is a late 1977.
The dash harness was the same for both manual and auto trans cars for the 2nd design.
Here is a link for the 2nd design NSS harness LINK: https://www.lectriclimited.com/neutr...ension-harness
And here is a photo of a spare 1977 late main dash harness showing connectors from Main harness to NSS harness for a manual trans car.
These would also have been near the shift lever.
Your 2nd photo is the column mounted dimmer switch.
You really should invest in the 1977 Corvette Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
Best electrical manual for the 1977 used by GM techs back in the day..
Sample of the manual E-bay link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/13450844297...Bk9SR4yKuYqVYg
Well, as a side note. I have a early 77. And my engine came factory that ugly corporate blue. (Kinda a horrible teal color) I painted it black very early on as it was way to ugly.
the orange engine in combination with no fender alarm lock makes me think the engine is a transplant.
Have you looked at the numbers?
And the 1st engine compartment photo of the 2 wires, may be for the Anti-Theft hood switch.
But if those 2 wires are Black & White that would show a 1st design or early build engine harness...
2nd design Anti-Theft hood switch wires are Lt.Blue & Black
Anti-Theft hood switch location 2nd design...
Well, as a side note. I have a early 77. And my engine came factory that ugly corporate blue. (Kinda a horrible teal color) I painted it black very early on as it was way to ugly.
the orange engine in combination with no fender alarm lock makes me think the engine is a transplant.
Have you looked at the numbers?
The engine is black painted orange. Definitely not a matching numbers car. It will most likely end up black in the end. This is never going to be a factory correct build, although I would like to put the factory AC back together and get rid of all the poorly done repairs and mods.
And the 1st engine compartment photo of the 2 wires, may be for the Anti-Theft hood switch.
But if those 2 wires are Black & White that would show a 1st design or early build engine harness...
2nd design Anti-Theft hood switch wires are Lt.Blue & Black
Anti-Theft hood switch location 2nd design...
The wires are black and white, Must be an early design harness. Thanks for that. What does the switch actually do?
The wires are black and white, Must be an early design harness. Thanks for that. What does the switch actually do?
makes the alarm horn honk. Very simple factory alarm. If you open the hood or either door a alarm horn mounted in the left quarter panel honks. No immobiliser, nothing that fancy. Just makes noise.
77 Corvette project - Electrical stufff
