1965 wiring

[Jim D.]

It seems there are two different beliefs regarding the wiring for 1965's. There are key wires that are referred to as in tail light, coil and headlight wires. Some say they are black with a color tracer and others say that late in the model year that same wire became a solid color that was the same as the previous tracer color (like the 1966 model year). In other words, black with a pink stripe became solid pink etc. My 65 was built in April 65 and has the solid color with the tracer. The AIM (revised 5-26) still shows the solid/tracer pattern. Any thoughts???????
Jim

[Lynn H.]

Re: 1965 wiring

I recently had 65 #20070 (July), that I did quite a bit of work to. If my memory serves me correctly it had the solid/tracer coloring like your April build.
Lynn

[William C.]

Re: 1965 wiring

The actual change to the wiring harness DRAWING was not made until the end of May in 1965. I don't have access to the change notice, but it would be impossible to have a wiring harness built with the solid colors until that time. after that date inventory would still have to be used until exhausted, but a very late '65 car with some or all solid colored wires vs striped would be possible but unlikley to be seen in a car before mid to late June at the earliest.

[Jim D.]

Re: 1965 wiring

Thanks for the replies. You guys are the BEST.

Jim

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 wiring

.... after that date [May '65] inventory would still have to be used until exhausted, but a very late '65 car with some or all solid colored wires vs striped would be possible but unlikley to be seen in a car before mid to late June at the earliest.

Bill, Jim -- took a look under the hood and under the dash of # 23564, and I'd roughly estimate that 20-30% of the colored wires are still black w/colored stripe. S-body L30 convertible. I'd say most of the pinks are solid, except from the ign sw. The headlight roll-up switch has black w/yellow stripe. I could check specific wires if visible, if that would help. As Bill said, inventory depletion could explain a lot.

I'd compare with my early 014xx coupe but it's too dang cold in the garage.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1965 wiring

I'd compare with my early 014xx coupe but it's too dang cold in the garage.[/quote]

So the old "Last 396" is still parked in the family room next to the fireplace, huh?
Had any recent contact with #563?

[Jim D.]

Re: 1965 wiring

Thanks Wayne but you can stay where it's nice and warm. I came across this question while ordering new wiring harness' for my 65.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 wiring

Thanks Wayne but you can stay where it's nice and warm. I came across this question while ordering new wiring harness' for my 65.

I see the repro harness manufacturers seem to offer an early and late version of their 1965 harnesses; can't recall if they specify a changeover date. But I think the wire insulation coding change (tracer stripe to solid color) was done over a period of time, and not all harnesses at the same time, nor all wires within a harness that were scheduled for change. The 2075 NCRS guides will no doubt have this down pat.

My beef with the repro guys is that the tracer color versions are painted on and are really miles away from the appearance on original wires. Maybe they've made vast strides in this area, more recently.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 wiring

So the old "Last 396" is still parked in the family room next to the fireplace, huh?
Had any recent contact with #563?

Loren -- I'd bring '564' up into the living room if the better half would allow . No, it's sitting in the (mostly) under-house garage, so the temp doesn't quite get to the freezing point. But last night's forecast is calling for minus 51 deg C (minus 60 F) with the wind chill factored in. Something in the minus 30's with blizzard winds. Had it out for a spin a couple of times about a month ago, when temperatures were above seasonal norms.

Booked a flight to San Diego for a week early January, so I'll be roaming the coast from the Mexican border to Malibu, albeit in some rental car .

Last time I visited '563' was in Aug 2006 (how time flies). I should drop him a Seasons Greetings card to see if he still has it (owned since 1973), and to remind him to NEVER re-deck that block , regardless what any rebuilder says.

For years I'd promised Dale Fiet that I'd put something together (mostly pictures and numbers) on that car for (say) a 2-page RESTORER article [a sort of follow-up on the one way back in Vol 20 #1 (Summer 1993), and now that Mike Murray is in charge, I'll send him a draft when I get around to it.