Wire Harness Restorations

[67valiant 100]

Any of the OE style reproduction wire harness manufacturers (M+H & Evans come to mind) restore harnesses for cars they dont reproduce? The last of the A-bodies are kind of an orphan child. The wire harness in my '76 A38/E58 360 cop car needs some serious repair work. Being what the car is I'd like to have something clean & OE. Rather not put a bunch of splice repairs or an aftermarket universal harness in the car. Thanks!

 

[j_anderson]

I bought terminals, crimpers and wire of the correct gage (sized up one gage on all wires) and colors and rebuilt mine myself. I did the forward light harness, the body harness and several sub-harnesses like the NSS and seat belt warning system, etc... My dash harness was fine so I didnt mess with it. I purchased an engine harness.

What I did was lay the harness out and start cutting wires and laid them across the existing harness (zip-tied or taped to hold basic contours) then when I had all my lengths set, I put terminal ends on each wire then made note of the orientation of the wires within the original connector then de-pinned it and inserted my new wires into the original connectors. Finally, wrapped the finish harness with fabric style Tessa tape.

If I were to of it again, I would buy modern connectors and use them anywhere I could. For example, where the dash harness connects to the rear body harness or where the NSS harness connects into the main underhood harness , etc.... Modern connectors and terminals are easier to source and are generally more compact.

 

[Cuda Al]

M&H will make new harnesses using yours as samples.


Alan

 

[RedFish]

Yeah the 76 is quite a bit different. Remote shunt to amp gauge if I recall correct. Best to toss all that for a volts gauge. I'm fairly sure that gauge is still in same position thus still gets rained on. I assume the swap has been done in that panel too.
Some of the OEM wiring was oversized for what it carried.
Today we can use relays to move most high current/fire hazards outside the cabin. Headlights on relays. Ignition and charging on a relay, etc... Plus additional fuse protection.
I download factory wiring diagrams and modify to show my changes. Print the revised and put in the glovebox.
Keep in mind that insurance institute says mfgers report over 10,000 electrical faults per year. We do what we can for our dinosaurs then pray about it. Good luck

 

[65 Dartman]

I made my engine and body harnesses for my 65 Dart custom wagon based on my originals with some custom additions to each. My under dash harness is 80 percent custom with the only stock wiring (but replaced with new) being for the headlight and wiper switches everything else was to my specifications for my components I’ve added. Not hard just time consuming

 

[Mattax]

Any of the OE style reproduction wire harness manufacturers (M+H & Evans come to mind) restore harnesses for cars they dont reproduce? The last of the A-bodies are kind of an orphan child. The wire harness in my '76 A38/E58 360 cop car needs some serious repair work. Being what the car is I'd like to have something clean & OE. Rather not put a bunch of splice repairs or an aftermarket universal harness in the car. Thanks!

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That car has IMO one of the more complicated, if not the most complicated A-body wiring to replicate. You can certainly contact M&H to ask if the have the drawings and are willing to make it.

I would also seriously look into doing a rehab yourself. It does not have to have a lots of ugly splices. Splices can be done nicely if needed, and in other cases a new wire can be run, or just the terminals redone. Need to really look at the condition to get a sense of what would be needed.

Post some photos of the wiring and we can point some things out.
Some closer views of connections at alternator, voltage regulator, starter relay, bulkhead grommets and connector, ballast resistor, as those are all pretty exposed.
Another one that can be problematic is the harness to the neautral safety and reverse light switch. That's probably a seperate harness.

I wouldn't make modifications as that's an unusual (I'd say rare) car and there is some interest in police cars. Changes to the engine bay harness will mean changes need to the interior harness. They have to match!

 

[Mattax]

I think this was the last thread where we helped someone with a '76

Please Help identifying underhood components

Hello all, Still very new to this but enjoying learning. Electrically, could someone please tell me as indicated by the attached photo from left to right, labeled A through F, what the name of each component is? Mechanically, my Dart is just about right, now looking into the electrical system...

www.forabodiesonly.com

 

[crackedback]

If you want to do it yourself. Get the tools required. Most of the connector ends you can reuse releasing the terminal lock clip.

Easiest way IMO. Get a decent sized piece of plywood and layout the harness. Use trim nails to hold wires in place. Start opening it up to inspect.

Do one wire at a time. The have fun taping it all up, your thumbs will hate you!

 

[DionR]

I have a dash out of a '76 under my bench with the harness still attached. I could get pictures of connectors and such if it helped. Not sure if it has been modified, but I don't think so. Didn't look at it too hard, grabbed it all just because a buddy was parting the car out and I thought I might be able to use some of it like the 2 speed wiper switch with the connection for an electric washer bottle.

 

[Mike69cuda]

Keep in mind that things like bulkhead connectors are for assembly line purposes. You could delete many connectors in the car if you went point to point.

 

[RedFish]

I know nothing about aftermarket reproductions but the word "reproduction" suggests identical to OEM. So it was designed to last 10 years. The downsides, the technologies available in 1976 and the car itself. A coworker had worked as service tech and later service manager for a CPD dealership back b4 the 69 340 Swinger came. Told me he witnessed the factories stamping dies and welding jigs wearing away, thus fitment issues. Wind noise 2nd only to water leaks, rampant by 76. A service techs dread. Now walk a parts yard like LKQ looking for fire damage. Sure you'll find engine bay fires no matter the make or model but no cabin fires. call us human beans or future buyers, they keep us safe. Bottom line, I would be proud to take a sweet 76 to a cruise-in, whatever, but definitely not my daily driver. I've left my 67 at Walmart and went back to find a new door ding. I get over that. If my ride to work burned and took a couple coworkers rides out with it,,, what a nightmare. I'd start drinking again.

 

[townsend]

You should buy the 76 service manuals if you don't have them.
This is an example from eBay:

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