Onto the wiring! Not bad for 55 year old wires

[Isaiah Estrada]

Began to tear into the factory wiring harness of the 68. Amazingly the rats didn’t chew it up, and the tape loom, although crunchy was still intact. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am - this wire looks BRAND new for its age.

Now to replace all the blade connectors and install them into a new bulkhead. Will be bypassing the ammeter along the way and adding a new headlight relay harness into the mix and then I’ll tidy it all up with new looms.

I started a new job recently and it’s a true blessing. Full time, benefits, and EXCELLENT pay. Only downside (for now) is I’m training on 1st shift (8-4) before going to my graveyard. Sure graveyard isn’t ideal but the way I see it, get off at 8 - sleep for a few hours and wake up around 12, I’ll have a lot of my day to work on my own projects and as long as I can sleep for about 2-3 hours before work at midnight I’ll be fine. Worked for me at my previous job at least!

As you know I’ve been looking at a 62 Chrysler. Still confident I’ll end up bringing it home. Even if I don’t, I’ve still gathered lots of really cool parts for one.

My latest score are these awesome 4 bolt valve covers for that 413

I’m glad to at least be farther along on the 68 than I had been previously. Today was my first day back in about 3 weeks since I started the job. Hard to make it out to the next town over after work!

All that’s left is to rebuild the heater box, and install the dash and she’d be “turnkey” and ready to move under her own power. Seats are almost done, floors are patched up. Just needs POR-15 all over the inside, insulation and then my new carpet, headliner, seats and door panels. Trying hard to not let myself get down with this car. It’s going to be worth it someday!

 

[MONC440]

Looks like you are coming along. Good job.

I'm not surprised by the wiring shape at all. As long as it hasn't been overheated the wires last a long time. Mice don't chew the old stuff the way they do the newer vehicles. All the new cars are mandated by the gov'ment to use bio degradable insulation and they make it out of oil from plants, so naturally to a mouse it smells like a food source. That change by uncle Sam has cost , OEM's, Dealers, insurance companies and owners billions of dollars in repairs. I also know of a few lives lost because of fires starting due to this. I love it when they protect us from ourselves. lol

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Don't replace any of the blade connectors (or their female counterparts) unless it's obvious that the wire is getting ready to fall off. They are perfectly good if they're strong. Just wire brush them and reinstall. Those ends are machine installed - and unless you have a quality Packard crimping tool (as has been discussed in a couple of different threads here on the board), they're not as easy as one might think to install new ones properly.

I hope you labelled all the places those are supposed to go back into - I usually did one at a time to avoid screwups.

Wire terminal crimping lessons

 

[73Coupe]

Don't replace any of the blade connectors (or their female counterparts) unless it's obvious that the wire is getting ready to fall off. They are perfectly good if they're strong. Just wire brush them and reinstall. Those ends are machine installed - and unless you have a quality Packard crimping tool (as has been discussed in a couple of different threads here on the board), they're not as easy as one might think to install new ones properly.

I hope you labelled all the places those are supposed to go back into - I usually did one at a time to avoid screwups.

Wire terminal crimping lessons

Agree. Corrosion is the enemy when it comes to these terminals. Sometimes I've added solder the factory terminals to make them more bullet proof, because if they're in an exposed location, corrosion breaks down the connection between the terminal and the wire.

 

[413]

“Replace ALL the terminals“ Really bad idea.
Fix any problems, but don’t create any new ones along the way.

 

[Isaiah Estrada]

Don't replace any of the blade connectors (or their female counterparts) unless it's obvious that the wire is getting ready to fall off. They are perfectly good if they're strong. Just wire brush them and reinstall. Those ends are machine installed - and unless you have a quality Packard crimping tool (as has been discussed in a couple of different threads here on the board), they're not as easy as one might think to install new ones properly.

I hope you labelled all the places those are supposed to go back into - I usually did one at a time to avoid screwups.

Wire terminal crimping lessons

Agree. Corrosion is the enemy when it comes to these terminals. Sometimes I've added solder the factory terminals to make them more bullet proof, because if they're in an exposed location, corrosion breaks down the connection between the terminal and the wire.

“Replace ALL the terminals“ Really bad idea.
Fix any problems, but don’t create any new ones along the way.

Seems to be a theme here. Not that I disagree, just wondering why it’s a bad idea? I just assumed it may be good to replace them! Good thing I posted here before.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Because it's hard to be as consistent as Ma Mopar when fixing a harness.

 

[fury fan]

...That change by uncle Sam has cost , OEM's, Dealers, insurance companies and owners billions of dollars in repairs. I also know of a few lives lost because of fires starting due to this. I love it when they protect us from ourselves. lol

As noted by the famous (?) economist Thomas Sowell, the 'intellectuals' in the goverment that make decisions that affect the rest of us never suffer the consequences of their poor decisions.