My engine wiring is somewhat hacked - although I can identify the wires and where they're supposed to go. It's just that a few of the wires have been spliced or even just cut and left dangling.

Here's my question - is a new harness necessary or can I fix it myself by splicing in my own wire, soldering it, then shrink wrapping it. OR...is a better argument that the splices will reduce the voltage, the wiring is 31 years old ('69 model) and thus, probably a bit restrictive already, and I should not be cheap and just pony up the hundred bucks for a new harness?

I really don't know so I'd appreciate anyone's help/suggestions.

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'69 Restification

JonT,
If you have the dough, buy a new harness. A harness that is 31 years old will have some resistance due to old age and corrorision. Splicing a few connectors (soldering is best, along with shrinkwrap) works too.
Nothing looks worse than a "hacked" up harness.
Good Luck


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'72Z & '67 Chevelle.com (http://communities.msn.com/Classic67Chevelle)

It's not hard at all to refurbish the original harness. However, you must decide if the time involved is worth the $60 for a new harness.

The easiest way to learn how the plugs work is to head to the self-serve boneyards and tear a few apart. If you are carefull you can remove the old wire from the spade/ring and reuse them, or, use a similar color wire from another donor harness. Interior harnesses are also likely donors as many of the wires are similar in color and size.

In a pinch I have removed the crimped on spades used in the firewall plugs and crimped/soldiered them to new wires. New non-stick wrapping is available from the repro houses.

Addtional wiring can be added to the harnesses as well. For example, a 12 ga power line for the stereo amp is run in the engine harness and through the firewall utilizing one of the empty plug sockets. It looks totally factory and and best of all there are no new holes in the firewall.

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Click here to see see my car and hear 5-speeds. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

January Hot Rod has a pretty good article on aftermarket wiring. According to them the factory wiring isn't all that good to start with. New stuff is much improved and with the wear and tear on yours, I'd spring for a new harness and dress it up under the hood.

I have to agree that if you can afford a new harness, that's the way to go. Fixing what is hacked now will cure those ills, but who's to say a month down the road more problems won't surface.
If you do decide to go new, from the posts I have read here STAY AWAY from Painless.

www.wiringharness.com (http://www.wiringharness.com) making it clickable.

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Leo Paugh
MCC #017
www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)
There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't met.

Save yourself the inevitable BS of being one more person trying to make your hacked up wiring work. I used M & H (website above) and it was well worth it. Once I actually had the harness in my hand I was surprised at how little there really is in the engine bay of these older cars. NOT complex at all. And the minimal cost of the brand-new, correct-colors & connections, everything works harness, was worth every penny.

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'69 Garnet Red Convertible, Ivory over black, 350 w/turbo 400