severe electrical short in 67 Corvette

[larry linkous]

I have a severe short in my 1967 Corvette. It seems to be on the passenger's side of the motor compartment. It appears that if anything from the motor ie the braided pkug wires ect touch the air conditioning unit it cause's a short of severe nature. It has melted the A/C Control cable to the dash and yesterday it caused a short on the inside of the motor compartment around the A/C unit itself. Has anyone had this problem?? Could it be as simple as NO/BAD ground strap. If you keep everthing pulled back and keep it tight around the motor it seems NOT to have the problem but I am not sure. Where is the ground strap on a 67 Big Block car? Any ideas?? Thanks

[Michael S.]

Re: severe electrical short in 67 Corvette

It is very possible that you do not have a proper ground and the current is finding a ground through the A/C cable. This was common on Cutlass's in 70-72 as they would ground through the shifter cable and burn up the shifter cable if the body/engine grounds were loose or missing.

Also check the black wire with the large eyelet in the wiring harnes that goes down down to the starter. Many times this wire gets connected to the positive lug on the starter solenoid by mistake. This wire is a ground wire and connects to one of the starter mounting bolts.

Get a assembly manual and study the pictures for proper placements of grounds straps based upon your cars options and engine configuration.

[Bryan L.]

Re: severe electrical short in 67 Corvette

I've done what Mike described by hooking the black wire to the + lug on the solenoid. It makes the a/c evaporator core and exposed plumbing have 12 VDC on it. It won't short until something grounded makes contact with the metal on the evaporator. Felt like an idiot after I did it and was lucky nothing got damaged. Didn't notice it until I was tightening up the manifolds and the ratchet touched the evaporator tubes and it sparked a little.

BL

[larry linkous]

Mike and Bryan-- GREAT INFO !!!!!! one more

question?? I undid the starter and lo and behold JUST like you guys said the big eyed ground wire was hooked up to the postive on the solenid. I hooked it back to the starter mounting bolts. Starter still turns over and coil still has fire. However I also had a black and green wire hooked there too. I tracked it back and it looks like it goes to the relay on the passenger inner fender relay for the A/C Should this be hooked to ground also?? You guys probably saved the life of a auto soul of a 1967 Corvette. THANKS for the great info. This is simple just a great board. Thanks again Larry