Engine harness headaches

[matt030305]

hey all,

I have a 1971 duster that has a lot of Frankenstein wiring done to it in order to make a 1973+ dash harness fit into it. I just ordered a rallye dash harness as I plan on converting it over and making it plug and play without any guess work. I want to make it easy to service by just looking at the service manual.

Im looking at the service manual to try and rebuild my harnesses to make them usable. And Its making my head hurt looking at the 1971 service manual and seeing the Yellow wire come from the front headlight harness Rather than the engine harness. Every manual from 1970-1973 I’ve looked at shows it
coming from the headlight harness.

Every picture I’ve seen from other members, show car restos, show it coming from the engine harness. Would anybody be able to school me on where this wire should actually be. Thanks!

 

[ESP47]

My 68 yellow IGN wire is wired to the same T terminal on the headlight harness connector on the bulkhead. I'm guessing it's probably because the 8 terminals are being used on the engine harness and they needed another open spot for that wire.

Could always do a sanity check on the interior and see if the yellow wire coming from the ignition switch is running to the T terminal on the bulkhead.

 

[Mattax]

AFAIK no A-body had a seperate engine harness.

The wires are bundled together into harnesses based on location.

French Demon posted a phto of the "instrument harness" here

Replacing burned up 1971 Demon Dash Harness

Hello all, I am at the tail end of getting my brother's 1971 Demon 4 speed back on the road after sitting for 4/5 years. Reason for sitting was that the last time he ran it, both the engine and dash harnesses smoked/burned and he removed them both. He's lucky whole car didn't burn. I have gotten...

www.forabodiesonly.com

The engine harness in 71 is similar to shown here for '68 or 69
It continues past the battery to the front radiator support and the forward lighting.

By '73 the starter relay may have been moved to the firewall.

 

[j_anderson]

That wire runs up toward the battery tray loomed within the forward light harness. the wire breaks out of the loom at the starter relay

 

[matt030305]

My 68 yellow IGN wire is wired to the same T terminal on the headlight harness connector on the bulkhead. I'm guessing it's probably because the 8 terminals are being used on the engine harness and they needed another open spot for that wire.

Could always do a sanity check on the interior and see if the yellow wire coming from the ignition switch is running to the T terminal on the bulkhead.

That’s true, once I receive the harness I plan on looking everything over as well

 

[67Dart273]

Some years had a mistake at the bulkhead in the manual. I believe they interchanged the yellow "start" wire with the green/ red "horn" wire. Suspect that and check it out

Additionally if the harness/ dash you have is actually "into 74" you may be dealing with the much hated seat belt interlock circuit, 74 only

 

[67Dart273]

Also if the harness you intend to use has that white molex style plug that separates part of the engine harness from the rest, get busy and bypass it. The alternator output, amoung other things goes through there and they are a problem.

I have no advice except to do a wire by wire trace and comparison

 

[matt030305]

Some years had a mistake at the bulkhead in the manual. I believe they interchanged the yellow "start" wire with the green/ red "horn" wire. Suspect that and check it out

Additionally if the harness/ dash you have is actually "into 74" you may be dealing with the much hated seat belt interlock circuit, 74 only

That’s the only two wires that confused me. So I’ll look into that.

Thankfully Im converting over to a rallye dash since I have to pull the windshield due to a leaky seal. Just purchased a harness from here and will be tracing wires.

Just finished putting together the cluster, already have the dash frame painted from a while ago. Tried to get that “organisol” look and texture by spraying on SEM trim black ultra and dusting the dash with rustoleum textured black.

 

[j_anderson]

Very nice!