1966 K66 harness detail

[Rick R.]

I recently purchased a 66 coupe with NOM. (3904351 1967 block). The car has all of the prerequisite 427/425 items, except that I cannot verify that it had K66 because it now has a Pertronics setup installed in the tach drive distributor ( no tag on distributor), the K66 harness and amp are gone, and most unfortunately, there was previous body damage to the left front corner/inner fender well so no amp mounting holes are present, nor would be expected.
It DOES have the following clue: The pink wire from the ignition switch to the coil + side terminates with a factory plastic connector just ahead of the firewall. The coil side of this connector has a white resistor wire plugged into it. The white wire runs for about 3 inches, and was then clipped off and routed to an aftermarket ballast resistor. A wire from the other side of the resistor continues on to the coil. The ballast resistor evidently was installed because the primary resistance of the installed coil is less than that called for in the Pertronics manual that I viewed on line. I know that K66 cars did not use a ballast resistor.
My question is this: Did NON K66 equipped cars have the BLACK PLASTIC, PINK WIRE TO WHITE RESISTANCE WIRE CONNECTOR, or did the pink wire go directly to the ballast resistor that was installed on NON K66 cars? My wiring diagram seems to indicate that the connector in question would have only be present on K66 equipped cars. It shows this connector with K66, but appears to show the pink wire from the ignition switch going straight to the factory ballast resistor on non K66.
Forgive my inability to describe the issue succinctly, and thanks in advance for your expertise.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rick, Your first post........Welcome !


I'm not 100% up on the '66 version, but it appears your analysis is correct. The Pink wire should go directly to the ballast, not interrupted by a white wire.

Is the ballast mounted in it's normal place for Std points ignition?

Another clue may be helpful. Is there a harness clip held in with a small hex head screw, mounted directly under the driver's side female hood latch? I know '67 uses that, but not sure about '66. If this is present on your car, it may add the possibility that your '66 was originally installed with K66.

Here is one on a '67. I believe same is used on '66. Note that the AIM calls out specific dimensions for it's location, however they "randomized" at St Louis so it varies exactly where they're located.

Here's one '67.....
P1270049.jpgP1270089.jpgP1270090.jpg

Another '67....
P3030012.jpg

I'm not sure if in '66 that K66 was a mandatory option on the 425HP cars. If so then maybe another clue may be the label behind the instrument cluster rear cover. If original, it may identify the special instruments required for the engine. Is there a label on yours? It would be a 2 letter code with part numbers for the cluster, tach, and speedometer.

Rich

[Joe R.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rick, Your first post........Welcome !


I'm not 100% up on the '66 version, but it appears your analysis is correct. The Pink wire should go directly to the ballast, not interrupted by a white wire.

Is the ballast mounted in it's normal place for Std points ignition?

Another clue may be helpful. Is there a harness clip held in with a small hex head screw, mounted directly under the driver's side female hood latch? I know '67 uses that, but not sure about '66. If this is present on your car, it may add the possibility that your '66 was originally installed with K66.

Here is one on a '67. I believe same is used on '66. Note that the AIM calls out specific dimensions for it's location, however they "randomized" at St Louis so it varies exactly where they're located.

Here's one '67.....
[ATTACH=CONFIG]58921[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]58922[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]58923[/ATTACH]

Another '67....
[ATTACH=CONFIG]58924[/ATTACH]

I'm not sure if in '66 that K66 was a mandatory option on the 425HP cars. If so then maybe another clue may be the label behind the instrument cluster rear cover. If original, it may identify the special instruments required for the engine. Is there a label on yours? It would be a 2 letter code with part numbers for the cluster, tach, and speedometer.

Rich

Hi Rich,

Yes, K66 was a mandatory "option" with L72. Here's a I started a thread a while back that is in the ball park:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...ally-on-my-car

Also, I don't believe a ballast resistor is installed when the car has TI.

Joe

[Rick R.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Hi Richard and Joe! I appreciate your responses. Richard, my car does have that clip.
Joe, I was aware that K66 was required with 425hp, hence the reason for my post. Also, I was aware that ballast resistors were not used with K66, and mentioned that the one on my car is not an OEM one, but was required as part of the Pertronix conversion done by someone else prior to my ownership. I had already seen your previous thread. Thank you!! The connector I was asking about may be one of those wrapped in tape on your photos.
The car has the following: 1) F41 2) 90 degree bend in fuel line just prior to pump. 3) 6500 red line, 80lb oil pressure and LB sticker on back of cluster.4) AZ coded 3.55 posi ( AZ used only with 427's) correct date code. 5) Bolts/straps on inboard u joints 6) rear sway bar. 7) Vin coded transmission tagged 3880855. 8) Alternator p/n correct for 427 with K66 9) 4 holes for small block expansion tank on R/H inner fender are filled with factory bond 10)L/H hood prop 11)Big block throttle arm
I probably missed a few items. The above list points to a factory 427 car, although anything can be faked. The cluster and gauges indicate a 425 car, although they too could have come from another car. I hope you can see why I am posting about this one little electrical connector. It seems to hold the key to whether or not I have a K66/425hp car. Thanks to all.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Hi Richard and Joe! I appreciate your responses. Richard, my car does have that clip.
Joe, I was aware that K66 was required with 425hp, hence the reason for my post. Also, I was aware that ballast resistors were not used with K66, and mentioned that the one on my car is not an OEM one, but was required as part of the Pertronix conversion done by someone else prior to my ownership. I had already seen your previous thread. Thank you!! The connector I was asking about may be one of those wrapped in tape on your photos.
The car has the following: 1) F41 2) 90 degree bend in fuel line just prior to pump. 3) 6500 red line, 80lb oil pressure and LB sticker on back of cluster.4) AZ coded 3.55 posi ( AZ used only with 427's) correct date code. 5) Bolts/straps on inboard u joints 6) rear sway bar. 7) Vin coded transmission tagged 3880855. 8) Alternator p/n correct for 427 with K66 9) 4 holes for small block expansion tank on R/H inner fender are filled with factory bond 10)L/H hood prop 11)Big block throttle arm
I probably missed a few items. The above list points to a factory 427 car, although anything can be faked. The cluster and gauges indicate a 425 car, although they too could have come from another car. I hope you can see why I am posting about this one little electrical connector. It seems to hold the key to whether or not I have a K66/425hp car. Thanks to all.

Rick, Excellent information on your archaeological dig! It sounds like you have the right stuff.

Did they drill the hole in the firewall for the ballast? Just to the right of the wiper motor area as viewed from front looking rear. Normally it's a dimple on the K66 cars. Like this......

P1270093.jpgP1270094.jpg

Here's one that someone converted a BB to a non-K66 Small Block on a '67. Fortunately, they used a existing bolt to mount the ballast and didn't disturb the dimple with a drill.


pa180155.jpg


Before & After Module restoration FYI. You can get the hole locations from the AIM.
pa180139.jpgP4020042.jpg

A small piece of friction tape is used to hold the TI harness and the Forward harness together and insulating from the sharp edges of the core support. Shown in the K66 AIM sheets, for '67 and likely also '66.

P4020034.jpg

Rich

[Rick R.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rich, I can't believe the effort you have put into this! Thank you! They drilled a 1/4" hole right thru the dimple and mounted the resistor vertically. The small hole to the left of the dimple in your pictures is visible. My conclusion is that the car was indeed a L72 car from the factory. Additional circumstantial evidence is that the heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc on the engine are correct 425/1966 pieces. It is like the original engine kicked a rod out, and they rebuilt with a 67 block, using as many of the original pieces as possible. All conjecture, as I have ZERO documentation on the car except that the shipping report said it was delivered to Jim Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne, FL. so...... It's DEFINITELY one of the Mercury astronauts car!! LOL! The block was decked, and the pad is blank.
If someone with a non K66 427/390 car could confirm that the pink wire from the switch goes directly to the OEM resistor with no intervening plastic harness connector to a white resistor wire, that would be the icing on the cake. I have looked at numerous photos of 390 and 425HP cars on line, but they are never clear enough in that area.
Pics of my junker attached for your amusement.

Rick

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rick, You're welcome.....Always fun to assist a new TDB member.


So my pic of the mount area for the ballast....That small "hole" is actually a dimple behind some factory applied sealant, also around other water prone leakage areas too. This entire firewall was touched up by the workers, probably due to failing the water intrusion test. That thing to the right of the dimple is the firewall insulation fastener tip.

P1270046mod.jpg


Too bad they drilled it out on yours, but it can be corrected with some effort.

Also, (my '67) AIM UPC Sheet B2 shows the (pink) wire exiting the harness and connected directly to the bottom ballast terminal screw. This comes right from the Ign Switch via the big grommet to the right of the wiper motor.

On K66 cars, as can be seen in UPC K66 Sheet A3, that notation......"PROD IGN SWITCH WIRE", is the pink wire and connects to the TI harness White wire via a connector. There was no intermediate wire in this path.

Rich
p.s. BTW Rathman's is now Rosner Chevrolet, and about 20 minutes from me north of where I live. I have my "daily driver" C6 serviced there on occasion and know the Parts Manager well and get my Chevy parts "stuff" from there. He in fact worked there many years ago when it was Rathman's. I've already checked for some folks in the past, but the only one that was there in the 60's was their Shuttle Driver. He and I had some interesting conversations about the old days of Rathman's and the Astornaut cars while driving me back and forth during some warranty work when I first got my '07. Jim Rathman lived nearby he said, beach-side IIRC, but Jim passed away a few years ago.

[Rick R.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rich, Ok, NOW I have it..... I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, LOL. The thing I thought was the "dimple" in your previous pics was the rubber tip for the firewall insulation fastener, and what I referred to as a "hole" is the dimple. So this is good news, and further confirmation of K66. A previous owner has removed the rubber fastener and mounted a ballast resistor vertically using a bolt through THAT hole. The actual dimple has never been drilled. As suspected, the white wire was clipped off "downstream" of the plastic connector and attached to the aftermarket resistor. The other pink wire in the TI harness that goes to the R terminal of the solenoid was then clipped and connected to the + side of the coil as it should be. All in all, not a "butcher" job, as no holes were drilled, and the original connector was saved.
Since my car is only what I would call a "nice driver', I do not plan to spend the money to reinstall the K66 stuff. Thanks so much for the time you spent with this. Lacking other clues, the undrilled dimple, wire clip, and info regarding the connector/wiring were key to confirming the car had K66 and was most likely L72. Best regards,

ps Very interesting note about Jim Rathman's. Small world.

Rick.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rich, Ok, NOW I have it..... I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, LOL. The thing I thought was the "dimple" in your previous pics was the rubber tip for the firewall insulation fastener, and what I referred to as a "hole" is the dimple. So this is good news, and further confirmation of K66. A previous owner has removed the rubber fastener and mounted a ballast resistor vertically using a bolt through THAT hole. The actual dimple has never been drilled. As suspected, the white wire was clipped off "downstream" of the plastic connector and attached to the aftermarket resistor. The other pink wire in the TI harness that goes to the R terminal of the solenoid was then clipped and connected to the + side of the coil as it should be. All in all, not a "butcher" job, as no holes were drilled, and the original connector was saved.
Since my car is only what I would call a "nice driver', I do not plan to spend the money to reinstall the K66 stuff. Thanks so much for the time you spent with this. Lacking other clues, the undrilled dimple, wire clip, and info regarding the connector/wiring were key to confirming the car had K66 and was most likely L72. Best regards,

ps Very interesting note about Jim Rathman's. Small world.

Rick.

There you go! The PO did good by using the existing hole. I think you have confirmed that it was originally equipped with K66. It's a very nice car as seen in you photos. Enjoy.

Rich

[Donald A.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rich, I can't believe the effort you have put into this! Thank you! They drilled a 1/4" hole right thru the dimple and mounted the resistor vertically. The small hole to the left of the dimple in your pictures is visible. My conclusion is that the car was indeed a L72 car from the factory. Additional circumstantial evidence is that the heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, etc on the engine are correct 425/1966 pieces. It is like the original engine kicked a rod out, and they rebuilt with a 67 block, using as many of the original pieces as possible. All conjecture, as I have ZERO documentation on the car except that the shipping report said it was delivered to Jim Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne, FL. so...... It's DEFINITELY one of the Mercury astronauts car!! LOL! The block was decked, and the pad is blank.
If someone with a non K66 427/390 car could confirm that the pink wire from the switch goes directly to the OEM resistor with no intervening plastic harness connector to a white resistor wire, that would be the icing on the cake. I have looked at numerous photos of 390 and 425HP cars on line, but they are never clear enough in that area.
Pics of my junker attached for your amusement.

Rick

Rick. You have a stunning car!!!!

[Rick R.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rick. You have a stunning car!!!!

Don, I much appreciate your kind words, but the car is just a "driver", and that's all it will ever be as long as I own it. Driving it, and the history are the things that interest me most.

[Don H.]

Re: 1966 K66 harness detail

Rick, you can do both. Have a driver, and also have it judged. I do. And so do many others. It does not have to just be one or the other.
NOM does not disqualify your car. From your description and the photos I am seeing blue ribbon. And, people would enjoy seeing your car on the judging field.