C1 Rear Lamp Harness and Psychoanalysis!!!!!!!

[Steve Westphal]

Just returned from my mechanics shop and had to counsel him out of a serious state of depression. Seems my degree in psychology only goes so far when the client is involved in replacing the rear lamp wiring harness on my '56. I started with an angle on dream analysis when, suddenly, I discovered that this wasn't a latent problem we were dealing with here, but, a very real and immediate illness caused by the inability to restring the new 'Lectric Limited harness through the original channel from where the GM wires were laying for years. Hypnosis crossed my mind, but, I abandoned it, knowing that a flawed, post hypnotic suggestion might ruin his ability to continue work on my different buddy's assorted Corvettes. In all actuality, as he started to insert the new harness, by tying it to the old harness and threading it through the factory path, obstacles were encountered. To the point that, rather than falling off of the deep end, we decided to drill a very small hole behind the seat and run the wires under the carpet and through to the rear fender well and complete the job, therefore, allowing me to pass through the next safety check, courtesy of the Nebraska State Patrol!!!!! I guess, when I do the body and chrome, I can return it to the original configuration, therefore, emulating the factory positioning. Unlike most people dealing with the mind, I am asking for advice in this matter. This is serious as the mechanic involved is very close to a textbook breakdown and I do not want to take the chance that he won't recognize me the next time I enlist him to help me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

ps......when I went there this afternoon, he reminded me, very much, of Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein" and the girl in the office began to look more like Cloris Leachman the longer I stayed. Whoaaaaaa.....Frau Blucher!!

[Ed H.]

Re: C1 Rear Lamp Harness and Psychoanalysis!!!!!!!

Steve, been there done that. I used lectric limited for the entire 57. When it came to the upper left rear fender well I used a small round rat tail file to eliminate all of the epoxy and left over fiber glass that was stuffed into the opening. It took me about 4 hours to complete the job. Word of caution if you have to open it up go down and not up. I put a ding in the area of the opper fender where it butts up to the area of the rag top housing. Had to do some fiberglass repair in that area. It came out perfect and passed top flight at the nationals (2003), good luck.

[Dave Suesz]

Only took me two hours...

to run the t/l wiring trough the original route. I gotta wonder how the GM guys working against the clock got it done. After the t/l wires, I tackled the antenna wire, which was much easier by comparison, even the little ground strap that comes out of the rocker panel to the frame. Got that on the first try. Pure luck.