C-3 70 Fiber Optics

[Jim K.]

Re-doing the rear fiber optics and have a new lense and fiber kit from one of the vendors. How are the ends held in to the lense? the end goes in but is loose, I assume the rubber end is for the actual lights and I hope to be looking for that end of things today, I don't recall seeing anythung tha would want to recieve the rubber boots. No real diagram or instructions to speak of in the kit. Thanks!!!
Jim

[Jim K.]

Re: C-3 70 Fiber Optics

Oh yea, since my old fiber was in many peices, I assume it runs past the e brake, along the panel behind the seat, meets up with the antenna lead then follows it out... no?

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3 70 Fiber Optics

As I remember, the fiber optic cables are held in the lamp housings by gray rubber boots that came on the harness. They are therefore not specified as a separate part number...I haven't researched a repro source. The fiber optic conductors to the rear lights are part of the rear wiring harness...fiber optics was standard equipment on 70s.

Details on the fiber optic systme are shown in the 70 AIM in UPC12, pages A5, B8, C5, and C6.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3 70 Fiber Optics

Jim-----

The fiber optics at the dash end are retained to the rear of the lenses via a small brass "ferrule" which "press fits" into the receptacle in the lens. The "ferrule" is part of the fiber optic cable assembly.

At the lamp end, it depends upon the particular lamp you're talking about. For the headlamps, the fiber optic cable connects to the sealed beam wiring connector. A special foam rubber seal ensures that the connector-to-sealed beam interface is sealed from outside light. These seals are available from Dr. Rebuild. They are CRITICAL to the performance of the fiber optics for the headlamps.

All other lamps which are fiber-optic monitored use a special rubber/plastic connector which fits into an orifice in the lamp reflector. I don't know of any source for these connectors. They are part of the wiring harness assemblies as originally used and available from GM and, as far as I know, part of the reproduction harness assemblies manufactured by M&H Electrical Fabricators, Lectric Limited, etc. However, I don't think that they're sold separately. You could contact them to find out, though.

[Jim K.]

Re: C-3 70 Fiber Optics

Thanks Joe & Chuck. The rear fiber optic only harness I just bought (not as part of a harness) has the rubber boots for the tail light ends, but just the brass ferrel(sp) on the console end. I did look at the details in AIM 12-C5&6 But having nothing in the car but a few scraps of old fiber, it wasn't too clear, it just shows it running to the door sill area; now I understand that is is part of the harness and there is a stub of old fiber coming out of that area. I did find the license plate lamp connection and the right tail light (both connected to yet another scrap of old fiber) but the left tail light is missing the old "lense" and boot. are the lenses available seperate (one of the bigger vendors says they have a lense kit, so I will call them monday)?

So, I just ran the new fiber from console area all the way through the rear bulkherad and checked for length and function, then glued the rest of te carpet in place. it's getting there!!!
Thanks!!!