63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

[Joseph S.]

I am in the process of refinishing the underhood blackout on my '63 coupe. I am trying to determine if the wire harness clips were in place prior to the under hood blackout process. My car looks as if the riveted clips on the front of the inside fenders and the resin attached clips ( behind the inside fenders) were in place prior to blackout application. The screw attached clips on the firewall appear to be installed post blackout.
Any feedback would be appreciated.

Also was the inside vertical lip of the fender and cowl gutters body color or blackout? I have seen cars both ways
Thanks

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Joe, Early cars has the metal firewall clips bonded (JM) has it spelled out I believe , then they started using oval head phillips head screws to retain. These clips were installed before black out and should show signs or exterior overspray, and or blackout. the wiring harness black plastic retainers were not installed, these were done after. and I not seen any cars with riveted just push in style retainers which has pre drilled holes??? not sure where your talking about using rivets.

The fender lips and cowl lip were low gloss body color, there was a tape line so the blackout paint on inner fender lips and cowl lip had no or very little overspray.

[Joseph S.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Thanks Ed,
My car has riveted wire harness clips on the front of the inner fenders supporting the headlight wiring harness. I also have bonded clips under the fender lips just in front of the cowl- I assume these were installed prior to blackout. Thanks for the info

Joe

[Gerald C.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Joe and Ed,

I am restoring an April 8th, 63 and it's looking like a pretty original car. I've attached a picture of the black strap that holds the headlight wiring under the hood. It also appears that they were installed after the "blackout" was completed.

Hope this helps.

Jerry

Headlight wiring strap.jpg

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Jerry, that appears like a factory wire tie down and should not be blackout on harness or tie.I think Joe was as speaking of the firewall area, metal clips on his early were bonded. Later used a screw.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Ed,

Based on this picture, How would the blackout appear on the brace but not on the fiberglass underneath?

[Gary B.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Joe and Ed,

I am restoring an April 8th, 63 and it's looking like a pretty original car. I've attached a picture of the black strap that holds the headlight wiring under the hood. It also appears that they were installed after the "blackout" was completed.

Hope this helps.

Jerry

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I don’t know whose photos these are, but for some C2 years the large wire harness goes behind the headlight motor braces. Not for ‘63?

Gary

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[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Ed,

Based on this picture, How would the blackout appear on the brace but not on the fiberglass underneath?

Jerry, just a guess but would say the part(brace) was dipped before install, the rivet looks like it’s plain

[Alan D.]

[Gerald C.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Ed,

Any thoughts on how I would finish the brace or just leave it alone?

Thanks

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Ed,

Any thoughts on how I would finish the brace or just leave it alone?

Thanks

Jerry, I guess it would depend on if the body is is on the frame, not a lot of room If the body is still on.

[Gary B.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Jerry,

As Edward notes, prepping and repainting the header bar is hard to do with the body on and other items limiting access. With the body off my ‘66, I sanded the header, then covered everything with painter’s tape and plastic sheet when I repainted the header bar and re-did the engine compartment blackout. I covered each individual rivet and bolt that wasn’t meant to be painted. The prep took a lot of time. But it came out great, and was well worth the effort. But what I did is not feasible with the body on and the engine, radiator, headlight, etc., in place.

Gary

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[Gary B.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Jerry,

Much prettier with a restored header bar, restored headlight motors, and a new headlight harness.

Gary

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[Gerald C.]

Re: 63 Underhood Wire Harness Clips

Thanks everyone. The body is coming off and the brace will be painted appropriately.

[Gary B.]