1970 Wiring

[Dave C.]

I am having trouble locating wire from the bulk head connector that returns to the coil. I traced the wire from the coil but it ends like it was burnt off - yes the car is not running. The car will fire with the starter engaged but when the key returns to the on position the engine dies. The book show that the wire should be W-R/B - white with a red and black stripe? Any help appreciated.

thanks

Dave

[Jim T.]

Re: 1970 Wiring

Dave one thing you can do to get the car running is visit a recycling/junk yard and locate any gm car from about 70-74 that still has the underhood wiring. Locate the wire that goes to the coil and open up the wiring harness to remove the wire, the thing to remove last is connector from the bulk head connector so you will know which wire with connector to remove. The terminal end can be removed intact. If you don't know how to do this just ask. Now you will have the appropiate length of resistor wire that will not burn your points. This will get you on the road. Since some of yours may be missing, what length is left may not be the best to use. The resistor wire replaces the ballast resistor that was used on Corvettes through 1967. If you cannot get to a junk yard you could also use a ballast resistor with standard wire replaced into the bulk head connector in place of the original resistor wire or not wanting to mess with the bulk head connector you could run standard wire with supplied 12 volts from inside the car from the connector on the fuse block labeled ign into the engine compartment to the temporary ballast resistor. This would give the coil power with the key on. Other than a donor car, I don't know where you could buy a new replacement resistor wire going to the coil.

[Jeremy D.]

Re: 1970 Wiring

Is your car a big block/LT-1 with K66 T.I ignition? I know one of my LT-1's had a factory wiring harness that had provisions for both T.I and points. I think Lectric Limited makes that harness you're looking for....hate to see ya spend the $$, but chances are if one wire is screwed, so are some others.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1970 Wiring

While maybe not cosmetically correct, you can purchase the wire from most autoparts stores, and at one time your friendly Generous Motors dealer. Then again with the average age of the counter clerks at most auto parts stores you will be lucky to find one that even knows what your are talking about

[Jim T.]

Re: 1970 Wiring

Jeremy you have mentioned something that answers a question I have had about my original owner 1970 Corvette. There is a connector with the wire coming from the firewall harness on the engine side of the power brake vacuum unit that has 12 volts when the ignition is on. This could be the 12 volt source for the T.I. cars that was put in all the wiring harnesses.

[Jeremy D.]

Re: 1970 Wiring

YUP! I kept wondering about this friggin' wire on my LT-1 that went nowhere..... turns out it was the wire that goes to a points distributor. I just looked at my 300/350 coupe....yup, there's the coated wire that would go to a T.I. setup. I wonder if the earlier/later cars that K66 was available on have similar harnesses?