keep ammeter? / hack job

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jim in seattle

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Last night my wife and I took the 69 barracuda for its first mission since we have owned it- to a local pizza place for some beer and a pie. We took a taxi home. The car would not start, no lights, etc. After reading this morning about the ammeter problems and the fusible link I went back to the car (still parked in front of our favorite local pizza joint) to take a look- Check out this hack job:
 
Where the green wire is "attached" to the bulkhead it appears that someone used the female end of a clip, crimped it, and stuffed it in there. Now it has come out and it is all green and corroded in there. So, two questions:

1) How do I fix this correctly?
2) In reading about ammeter problems, alot of folks say it isn't safe. Is there a way to keep the original ammeter and make it safe? I like it all original looking but a burnt up dash doesn't count as original to me.
 
Sorry to hear about this.....
It kinda makes you wonder what else has been done to the wiring throughout the car.
I would go through it completely if it were me.
There are a lot of great tech articles at moparactionmagazine.com that deals with the ammeter and other wiring woes as well as anything else for your mopar.
Just click on the tech archive part and start reading.
Richard Ehrenburg really knows his stuff.
Good luck, and keep us posted on what happens.
Tom.
 
what a mess. do yourself a favor and put a new wire harness in that car. god knows what else someone hacked in the electrical system/
 
Where the green wire is "attached" to the bulkhead it appears that someone used the female end of a clip, crimped it, and stuffed it in there. Now it has come out and it is all green and corroded in there. So, two questions:

1) How do I fix this correctly?
2) In reading about ammeter problems, alot of folks say it isn't safe. Is there a way to keep the original ammeter and make it safe? I like it all original looking but a burnt up dash doesn't count as original to me.

That looks like a mess.................. I wish I could help.............Is that the key hot wire..im not sure
 
That looks like a mess.................. I wish I could help.............Is that the key hot wire..im not sure

I do not know for sure- but I thought so because:
1) it is red and looks like 12g
2) when it is unplugged from the bulkhead I get no lights, no gauges, no starter (using the key). Plug it back in and it all works.
 
I do not know for sure- but I thought so because:
1) it is red and looks like 12g
2) when it is unplugged from the bulkhead I get no lights, no gauges, no starter (using the key). Plug it back in and it all works.


Ok, according to 2) your car has lights and starts now? You earlier post said you didn't have lights or anything.

I would say the best way to fix this is to
1. Get you a wiring diagram- priceless..
2. Get a decent soldering iron, flux solder, quality (thick) heat shrink, and a new piece of fusible link (you can buy this at your local NAPA dealer that has the plastic tag on it like the original did).
3. Do a good quality repair (solder, heat shrink- keep it all real neat). Make sure to look at your the spade connector and see if there is damage. Repair as needed ( you can get new connectors at NAPA also).
Here is one of many articles out there about repairs to the bulk head connectors.
http://www.moparfins.com/repairs/Electrical/Bulk_Head_Connectors.htm
 
Ok, according to 2) your car has lights and starts now? You earlier post said you didn't have lights or anything.

I would say the best way to fix this is to
1. Get you a wiring diagram- priceless..
2. Get a decent soldering iron, flux solder, quality (thick) heat shrink, and a new piece of fusible link (you can buy this at your local NAPA dealer that has the plastic tag on it like the original did).
3. Do a good quality repair (solder, heat shrink- keep it all real neat). Make sure to look at your the spade connector and see if there is damage. Repair as needed ( you can get new connectors at NAPA also).
Here is one of many articles out there about repairs to the bulk head connectors.
http://www.moparfins.com/repairs/Electrical/Bulk_Head_Connectors.htm

Thanks for that. I did not have lights or anything until I found the problem this morning. When I stuff this wire back in everything works- but I do not want to drive it that way.

What spade connector do you refer to? The one on the main wire (red)? And how do I know what size fusible link? I do have a wiring diagram at my shop (20 miles way); I do not know if that will tell me the correct size link though?
 
think he is talking about the packard 56 connectors...

http://www.pcsconnectors.com/2971859.aspx

56M.1.jpg
 
think he is talking about the packard 56 connectors...

http://www.pcsconnectors.com/2971859.aspx

56M.1.jpg


Yep, that is them...

As for the fusible link, my '68 barracuda has the dark blue (16 gauge) as the original fusible link. I'm assuming if your main red feed there is 12 gauge, then the 16 gauge would be correct (take your wire size +4 gives your the correct fusible link size). You will then crimp on a new Packard 56 connector and load it into the main black connector. That will then plug back into the main bulkhead connector. You may get lucky and find the correct link with the black connector that plugs into that red wire connector. I would ask. As for the bulkhead connector, make sure the female side isn't damaged also and makes a tight fit. Depending on past overheating issues and possible shorts in the system, you may be opening up a can of worms... I would go over that bulkhead connector really well when you get it home.
 
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