Was wondering what anyone is doing on the dash wiring? I know its 50 years old now. Is there concerns on it? Do you guys go to a new wiring harness?
Tom
Tom
Wiring
- Thread starter Billygoat
- Start date
Harnesses are usually good unless water damaged or shorted.
My first step was removing all the added wiring. My next step was finishing the installation of the custom dash purchased by po. I soldered/shrink wrapped the connections to original dash harnesses and then made additional harnesses, added relays etc. for fuel injection, generator control, etc.
My first step was removing all the added wiring. My next step was finishing the installation of the custom dash purchased by po. I soldered/shrink wrapped the connections to original dash harnesses and then made additional harnesses, added relays etc. for fuel injection, generator control, etc.
If I removed all the added wiring in the Eleganza I would have to adjust my torsion bars.
Lol, well I should go thru and do that. One of my PO’s was apparently a “Sparky” and liked going to Western Auto to see what new electric gadgets he could find. Things like deer sensors on the bumpers if you remember those. They’re disconnected but always wondered if those gadgets actually worked enough to warn you in time?
Anyhow, good news on the wiring harness issue!
Thanks,
Tom
I've worked on a ton of 70's GM vehicles, and I've never seen a systemic wire degradation issue. Moisture driven corrosion will happen at the connection points, of course. Typically those can be cleaned up, or new pins crimped in place. The harnesses themselves seem very good however.
I can't say the same for 60's cars--some of those wires are getting past-due on some of my Corvairs. And my 40's and 50's GM cars...forget about it. Complete toast.
I'd take 70's GM wiring over 90's/00's German wiring any day! I don't know if they made them from soy or what, but they're complete rubbish.
One exception: the battery boost cable in the front of the motorhome absolutely needs its outdoor portion replaced in every single motorhome. It's just trouble in waiting. I don't think that was a wire gauge GM typically used elsewhere, so they probably had a different supplier than normal.
I can't say the same for 60's cars--some of those wires are getting past-due on some of my Corvairs. And my 40's and 50's GM cars...forget about it. Complete toast.
I'd take 70's GM wiring over 90's/00's German wiring any day! I don't know if they made them from soy or what, but they're complete rubbish.
One exception: the battery boost cable in the front of the motorhome absolutely needs its outdoor portion replaced in every single motorhome. It's just trouble in waiting. I don't think that was a wire gauge GM typically used elsewhere, so they probably had a different supplier than normal.
A lot of new vehicle wiring is made from Soy based insulation which rodents love to eat. I'd stick with the original OEM wiring made with petroleum based insulation.
Agreed, If it's not having problems, don't mess with it. If it's working, it's a HUGE unnecessary job.
I'd bet you can find something better to work on
I meant electrical wiring. Not that essential baling wire piece holding "that one part" together!
Not only that, but GM has been/is? recognized as having some of the best connectors and wiring in the business. We are not talking about Lucas wiring hereAgreed, If it's not having problems, don't mess with it. If it's working, it's a HUGE unnecessary job.
I'd bet you can find something better to work on
Yes, that's what I meant also.
No Gloves compartment:
Passenger side Impressionist wiring:
I can't legally post the engine bay photo without a trigger warning!
Attachments
Can confirm. I owned a Holiday Rambler prior to the GMC. Its road manners were the reason I sold it to buy a GMC! Even though HRs were known as 'high quality' builds, the wiring under the dash and throughout the coach was an abomination. Absolute spaghetti. Once I got the GMC and started poking around the wiring, I was _amazed_. The contrast was stark.
Recently on this forum, there was a post of the wiring of the level monitor panel and how messy it appeared; from Coachman. That's how coach upfitters wire from the factory.
Not GMC. The GMC wiring is amazingly well organized and harnessed.
Yeah, after seeing some German biodegradable harnesses, I'll never complain about GM!
Here's a 15-year-old VW headlight harness. And with the amount of wiring in one of these vehicles, the main harness can pretty much total out a perfectly good car.
And a Mercedes example, probably from the late 90s when they had their famous biodegradable harnesses. It was so common, it doesn't do any good to try to source a used harness to save your car.
