1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

[Donald W.]

Hi, Have assembly manual and it shows 3 scenarios for mounting and location of front wiring harness for lights and horns forward of radiator support

Page A21 shows 2 clips across the edge of the Front top panel and states it to be riveted in.

Page A141 shows 3 clips across Front top panel assume 1 on center line and the 2 remaining ones equal distance from center line to each end. Connection method ? Looks like they are under the front top panel.

Page A143 shows 3 clips across front panel and states in footnote View B clip is to be cemented to front top panel.


HELP Which one do I use. Have no remnants to go by.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Don, Here are a few file photos I have of that area. I looked for better closeups but I have none. This is actually on a '61 I have here.

There are 2 U shaped brackets for the front upper surround support rods which are riveted on using soft aluminum rivets. The clip, one on each side, on inner rivet location, is attached to the backside before riveting the U bracket so that the rivet holds both the clip and the bracket. These two clips have a special shape to hold the plastic connectors of the forward lamp harness.

PC230003.jpgPC230025.jpgPA150001.jpg

There are also more wiring harness clips. These were originally bonded to the backside of that horizontal "flange". I'll try to get a few more photos of that area later for you.

Here in this link are pics of the clips and a diagram from the AIM with some references.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/catalog/product/view/id/9711/s/58-62-nose-panel-wiring-harness-clips/category/5721/

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Rich

[Donald W.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Fantastic . Thank you so much! The assembly manual on those pages (sometimes not good from book being reproduced so many times ) became confusing to me when I went thru it and found different views. I thought possibly there were more than 1 combination. As you may or may not know our car was stripped of all brackets and anything metal for drag racing. Trying to install the restored horns has opened up a pandora's box of things missing under there. Your photos are great. I did see the paragon and zip catalog where the bars and brackets should go and 1 view showed the harness clips attached to them in the assembly manual therefore the questions. Can you give me some kind of measurement as to where the upper riveted brackets attach to the front top of the panel. I can go from center line of top panel both ways to locate them. I will need to cut out an arch for the bar bolt to be installed. If I can get that location I should be good to go completing the front area of the car. I have struggled with the interior dash area for the last year as the heater assembly was also gutted and blocked off! Finally got that corrected with all the clips and do dads I needed. The grab bar and package tray is another issue trying to fit all that stuff in properly. I try to get to local car shows and try to find another 61 to look at and photograph as that has been the best source so far. I need to find someone close by to me who is willing to let me examine one closer. This would save me from bugging the folks in the society so much! I very much appreciate this. Thanks Don.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Don, The car is high on a lift so I can't get accurate measurements, but they were not bonded in very accurately when St Louis installed them. Here are some quick shots I took to help. You should be able to get close.

Rich

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[Donald W.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

WoW!! My front top panel has no relief as the factory panel does so that explains the problem I am having. Assume top front panel was replaced by aftermarket unit with no relief across the underside . I can go by the two nuts in photo 1 as center of entire panel. There are 5 clips across the front not 2 or three. O.K. on that and I fully understand the location of the 3 clips cemented to the underside of the top panel and will work off your photos (great shots!!) 1 in the middle and 1 on each side between bracket mounts and end of panel. Can you give me a measurement of the spacing of the riveted bracket mounts? Possibly the center of the bolt hole of one bar to the other . With that spacing I can line them up from the center of the panel and done. I really appreciate you doing this. You are the best!!

[Richard M.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Hi Don, No problem....I measured 12.5" between the centers of the 2 bolts.

Rich

[Donald W.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Fantastic !! This will allow me to place it as close as possible to factory settings. This I hope will be the end of the work ahead of the radiator support area and leave you alone. We are leaving for Virginia on a trip and when I return I can tackle this. Having all the missing pieces ordered from Paragon to be delivered when we get back home. Mostly enjoy driving her in the evenings for a short ride up in the hills near us while we are working on her like a shake down after a repair!! She is hard to steer and stop by today's standards but really enjoy her torque and the whine of the transmission while we climb up the hills. Once or twice a year we go to a local cruise in because she could use a new paint job, re chromed bumpers and the proper interior. When we pull next to the totally restored Corvettes she looks shabby. Last year they called her a barn find over the P.A. System which is O.K. with us. Little by little we are getting her in shape and will repaint her and get the chrome bumpers done again. We are restoring 2 vintage race cars (1 almost done ) and a 1921 Dodge Brothers touring. We have a budget for each car restoration and a lot on our plate every day and you really put us over the top on this phase of the Corvette's restoration process. Cannot thank you enough and the NCRS forum. I am sure I will be back on again as we move to another problem area. Don.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Don, Glad it helped. It's good that you're returning it to original form. When you need more help just ask here and someone will jump in to assist.

Good Luck,
Rich

[Donald W.]

Re: 1961 Corvette front wiring harness mounting clip location and style

Thank you I will