Well the wife's valiant fuel line ruptured, we think it might have be the ethanol in the gas they use around here, and we had a nasty engine fire. I have priced replacement harnesses, and can't even begin to afford a repo harness. I am not comfortable using a 46 year old replacement from a junk car, unless it is my last alternative. I can pick up a 12 circuit hot rod wire harness, from a friend of mine it is a brand new harness, and fix it that way. Has anybody gone this route and used a aftermarket universal harness. What are some of the thing positive or negative about this idea. I am broke as hell, and need the car back up an running ASAP, it is my wife's daily drive. Thanks in advance.
Nasty Engine FIRE...Help Needed..
- Thread starter 64X2
- Start date
-
The underhood harness in that car is so simple that a junk yard harness would probably work. I would look it over good and repair any faults before installing it.
This is assuming all the damage is outside the firewall.
This is assuming all the damage is outside the firewall.
zakimodo
Well-Known Member
When my engine harness melted its self I had doubts about the rest of the cars harnessing. I purchased an EZ wiring kit. Its cheaper than the rest of the kits (pro) because its universal. On the other hand it takes a little more work to install because its universal (con) but definitely give you peace if mind that the rest of the harness is in good shape (pro).
The problem is, you may well have some underdash damage. Before you make a decision on how to handle the engine bay, I'd strip out the underdash harnes --yup, lots of work--and inspect it all carefully for damage. Look for damage at the bulkhead feed through, for shorted wires that have fused together IN the harness, such as the big main ammeter feeds. I'd untape part of it to see, then tape back up if OK
If the bulkhead feedthroguh is OK, and no other damage, I'd go ahead with the junkyard harness. You should be able to fix any problems with it. Inspect whatever that car has for a bulkhead connector (not familiar with earlier ones) and be absolutely sure the connector is undamaged.
If the bulkhead feedthroguh is OK, and no other damage, I'd go ahead with the junkyard harness. You should be able to fix any problems with it. Inspect whatever that car has for a bulkhead connector (not familiar with earlier ones) and be absolutely sure the connector is undamaged.
I can relate Mine was struck by lightning a couple months ago and a member found a 66 Valiant in very fast time and got me and Victoria back on the road.
64dart170 was fast on the job, he may be able to help.
If a 66 model was the same I do have a couple bulk head plugs I did not have to use.
but would they be the same ?
64dart170 was fast on the job, he may be able to help.
If a 66 model was the same I do have a couple bulk head plugs I did not have to use.
but would they be the same ?
I can get pictures up in this thread if you think they will interchange ?
Sgt Mopar
Well-Known Member
That sucks. Seems i'm in a similar boat. guy who had my dart before me hacked up the wiring pretty good. Been trying to find a complete harness myself. Let me know if you have any luck.
412 Stroker
Well-Known Member
Just a question, doesn't your insurance cover this?? Mine does, but maybe you just have comprehensive?? or a high deductable?? at least that way it wouldn't be all on you to pay for this, I think 67dart is correct you are gonna find some stuff under the dash to fix too, I would look for a junker to pull all the wiring off of. I just went through my wiring and for 40 years it's in good shape, just my 2 cents.
old mopar guy
Well-Known Member
i have a used one from a 65 i will sell you for 40.00 plus shipping that probably won't be more than 15.00 from fl pm me if interested
Purple Haze
Well-Known Member
Hope all that white stuff isn't pkp the stuff is a real corrosive. If it is I suggest you get it cleaned up ASAP.
That was the first thing I did after it was towed home, it was everywhere and it was a mess. Glad that it got put out before it could get any worse, but your right that fire extinguisher stuff is not friendly.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
We think that the damn ethanol they run in the gas around here ate the fuel line, until it failed......
how much rubber fuel line was on it?
Friend of mine who fabs and builds roundy round cars, turned me on to this. I am going to build my own harness and incorporate this style bulkhead connector and reengineer the whole wiring harness. This will solve a lot electrical issues Mopar's seem to have because of the bulkhead connector.......
http://www.autowiringsolutions.com/item.php?item_id=624
http://www.autowiringsolutions.com/item.php?item_id=624
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
Friend of mine who fabs and builds roundy round cars, turned me on to this. I am going to build my own harness and incorporate this style bulkhead connector and reengineer the whole wiring harness. This will solve a lot electrical issues Mopar's seem to have because of the bulkhead connector.......
http://www.autowiringsolutions.com/item.php?item_id=624
looks nice and weather tight. but if your going to re-do everything why even bother putting a connection there? or are you just doing the engine compartment?
AussiePlymouths
Well-Known Member
Yeah, that's right. Do we really need the bulkhead connector?? Apart from if you want to pull out the whole engine bay wiring for some reason, why is it there. Seems just another place for resistance through the crimps to me. Anyone got a theory???
OH, sorry mate, about your engine fire, not trying to hijack your thread.
Gary
OH, sorry mate, about your engine fire, not trying to hijack your thread.
Gary
I do like the way the factory has the system set up. If I ever needed to I can unhook the engine/light harness very easily. Plus all high power/amp connection will be seperate from the bulkhead connector. I will put a plate over the exsisting firewall hole that the old bulkhead connector assembly was located, then mount the new connector in the plate. I am following what the factory did, just upgrading. I can make a nice new harness that incorporates the upgraded electronic ignition and voltage regulator. I found a 76 Valiant wiring Diagram and will use that as a reference, along with the 64 Valiant diagram, between the two I should have no problem making a nice new harness, with a cleaner installation. This all hinges on how bad behind the dash is, if it is still good and I find nothing, then I will make the new harness for the engine/headlights. I am stoked about this.... Now I have to sell some more stuff to finance the repairs, never seem to have enough money to pay the bills and fix the cars.... oh well it is the story of my life...
I had a metal line from the carb to just beyond the valve cover, there I had about a three inch piece of rubber hose connected to a metal fuel filter, then another three inch piece that connected to the metal line going to the fuel pump. I had mounted the fuel filter behind the altenator to keep it cool and had it mounted in a way that it would not physically touch the altenator, plus all my connections on the back of the altenator were insulated, just in case. It had been that way for about two years, last year I replace the filter and the car has been on several 4 hour plus trips without a hitch. As a matter of fact we had just gotten home from visiting family down in Tenn. the day before and that was a 4 hour drive averaging 22 to 25 miles to the gallon. It was a freak accident, my poor wife was coming home from the grocery store when it happened, she has a bad fear of fire and she has been a nervous wreck ever since this happened.
Shoot me some pics of what you have and we can go from there............
Thanks a million for the offer.......
Thanks a million for the offer.......
inkjunkie
Well-Known Member
Bulkhead connector is just one more thing to go wrong. Every vehicle I have ever had electrical troubles with it was because of a plug some where. Bulkhead connector on my car was covered over. Will be running continuous wires from point a - point b. Anywhere there is a connector is just a chance for a bad connection, corrosion etc.......
-
