56 wiring

[David Pilgrim]

I need help putting the wires in the right place and fusing correctly on my 56!
the 14 ga red,the pink from the ign,radio, wipers,and brake light! What amp and
I do not see how the system is protected! The red shuold come in be fused and then so out to the clock and light switch and the pink what does it feed? The other things I know are fed by the red and fused on to the item!

Do not want a fire or battery drain!

Thanks for any help

Dave

[Donald L.]

Re: 56 wiring

David,
Excellent article that addresses your concerns is in Vol 20 #4 of the Restorer.
One adds a fusible link in the black 12 gauge wire from the starter solinoid where
the positive battery cable also connects. It is this point where all the power starts throughout the car. Not correct by NCRS standards but it will save your 56
to be judged another day.

Regards,
Donald #31176

PS the fusible link (14 gauge) will allow about 30 amps through before it blows)

[John H.]

Re: 56 wiring

There are NO fuses in a '56-'57 except for the optional radio, heater, and park brake warning light, all of which are located on the little accessory fuse block on the inside firewall above and to the left of the clutch pedal. There is NO circuit protection for anything else in the car, which is why it pays to install a fusible link (18 gauge) in the 14-ga. black wire at the large terminal stud on the starter solenoid. Otherwise, a dead short will burn up the harness from that stud to the location of the short.

[Roy B.]

Re: 56 wiring

You do have a circuit fusible link protector for your power top or power windows, it's the 30amp fuse on the R/S fire wall under the hood, which will have two wires if both are present or one if only one is present besides the red hot wire.A lot of amps were used for each option.All early 56's had both. Mid 56 and up they became an option till 62.

[Scott S.]

Re: 56 wiring

Dave,
I, like the others, would suggest that you install the fuseable link at the starter. If you use black shrink tube, then the splice is hardly even noticeable. I have one on each of my early cars and the judges have never even made a note. I would also strongly suggest a battery cutoff switch and a 1 amp inline fuse at the clock.
Happy Corvetting
Scott Sinclair
56/7 Team Leader