68 Corvette Starter Solenoid Wiring Problem

[Kurt B.]

Car is a 68 Corvette with 327 cid 350 horsepower motor with Air Conditioning. (I don't know if the A/C makes a difference with the wiring.
My problem is I have reviewed the Assembly Manual for this car, the wiring diagram in the GM Chassis Manual as well as am automotive Generic Wiring diagram book and when I compare them to my wiring, mine is different.
I have owned the car since 1972 so I don't think the wiring was removed and replaced and I opened up the harness so i could see the colors of the wires.
I know the solenoid should have a 12 guage Purple and 18 guage yellow. I have the piurple but not the yellow. In place of the yellow I have an 18 guage orange wire that has a white woven material covering over the orange insulation.

Also on the large terminal at the top of the solenoid where the heavy battery cable is mounted, I also have a 12 guage Red wire. Could my wiring be different because the car has the C60 A/C option? Builkd date was May 10, 1968 so it was not an early production car in which I might have expected something different or weird.
I am confused because all the diagrams say I should have 18 yellow on the "R" terminal of the solenoid and 12 Purple on the "S" terminal and none of the diagrams show a 12 guage Red wire on the large "Bat" terminal at the 12 o'clock position (top) of the solenoid.
It has been 6 years since I disconnected all this and I kept diagrams and notes but I want to be sure I don't fry the electrical system with this hookup that seems not to agree with any of the published diagrams but it certainly does not look like it has been tampered with.
Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I am pulling out what little gray hair I have left.
Thank you in advance,
Kurt #26406

[Paul B.]

Re: 68 Corvette Starter Solenoid Wiring Problem

Kurt, I'll check both my '68s Monday afternoon. I went through the same thing you are on my '68 convertible, but that was many moons ago.

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 Corvette Starter Solenoid Wiring Problem

Kurt-----

I don't think that AC would affect this wiring.

Regardless of what the book says, the small wire on the solenoid battery terminal is RED.

I don't recall the color of the solenoid "S" terminal wire. However, as I recall, this is the resistance wire from the coil and it does have the cloth interbraid covering. I doubt that yours was ever replaced if it still has the covering.

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 Corvette Starter Solenoid Wiring Problem

Kurt just came back from driving my original owner 68 327/350 L79. Love the sound of its idle, still after all these years. The power it has still gives me pleasure after all these years.
Took a look through the side vents of my 68 on the passenger side and could see quite clearly that the small terminal on the starter solenoid closest to the me on my FEB built 68 has one yellow wire with protective covering. This same size of yellow wire also connects to the positive terminal of my coil coming out of the wiring harness.
This yellow wire is the wire that gives your coil 12 volts when you turn your key to the start position and is only delivering 12 volts when you are starting the car.
The red wire your mention has to be on the center large terminal of the starter solenoid. This is where your battery get its recharge. The juice flows to this terminal and through the positive battery cable to keep your battery charged.
If you need the color of the wires to the other terminal on the starter solenoid closest to the engine block I look for you.

[Kurt B.]

Re: 68 Corvette Starter Solenoid Wiring Problem

Thank you gentlemen.
This discussion board is a valuable resource.
It sure makes working on these cars much easier to have so many helpful experts a few keystrokes away. It's like having the worlds largest pit crew to help with any problems that come up.
I very much appreciate your help as I am not a mechanic and just self-taught on what little I know about my car.
Kurt