1980 Non-CA Carb Electrical

[Kenn S.]

I'm to the point I'm rewiring the car, just about to marry the body back to the frame and paint. I'm running the various harnesses and wondered about the choke heater and idle stop solenoid on the carb. The car didn't have wiring for these when I got it, but it was a tad molested too.

Page 12H of the AIM for 1980 shows a harness coming from the forward lamp harness (runs juxtaposed with the alternator wiring), but it indicates the connection is for RPO's LG4 and NB2 (basically the California 305 and California emissions). I need to verify my repro forward lamp harness does or does not have a connector for this carb harness. That would kill it right there if it didn't (since I ordered the non-CA harness).

In any case, I take from this that the car wasn't shipped with wiring in place since it's a non-CA L48 (350). I find it a bit odd that GM would add the solenoid to the carb for all 1980 cars, yet make a connection only for LG4 cars. Doesn't seem cost effective, and we all know how they did try to be cost effective. (The paint on this car shows that if nothing else... ) I'm sure the carb is original (evidence: P/N and date code).

I don't find any aftermarket repro's of this harness, so even if I wanted to install it, I'd have to hunt down the proper connectors and guess the wire colors (the two wiring diagrams I have don't show this harness but do show the ECM wiring, so I'd key off of that if I had to). The AIM doesn't give a part number, so I can't search that way.

I'm thinking I'm good to go with not worrying about the carb electrical, even with the cold engine start being a bit cold-blooded. Runs fine warmed up...dunno about C60 ops yet as that's not installed at present (body drop must occur first).

Any judges of 1980 cars know any details? My logic/suspicion is correct? Not correct?

[Edward J.]

Re: 1980 Non-CA Carb Electrical

Ken, I would think that your car had the electric choke and the solenoid, I am not sure if your car has A/C but maybe it needs solenoid to increase the idle speed a few hundred RPM's to keep engine from stalling when A/C is engaged.

[Kenn S.]

Re: 1980 Non-CA Carb Electrical

Yes, it has A/C, and the solenoid would be used for that. The carb has those parts, just no wires when it came to me.

My question would be more along the lines of "the AIM says only for this and that RPO code", and my car doesn't have those RPO codes. I'm wondering what the right answer is... The AIM leads me to believe no wiring, but the carb has the parts that would accept the wiring. Then again, the "official" reprint of the wiring for the car doesn't show this harness/connector at all, but for C60 you'd anticipate the boost in RPM. Hence my sleuthing for the most correct answer given the available knowledge, parts, and age of the car.

I suppose a tangential question would be finding such a harness. The usual suspects don't carry it (probably not a huge seller).

I'm thankful for your thoughts, though. I know them to be correct...

[Kenn S.]

Re: 1980 Non-CA Carb Electrical (answered)

Uh, well. Now I get to admit that as soon as I ask a question, I figure it out. Never fails. And I'm humbled and feeling rather stupid.

I honestly didn't know the wires came from the side of the car until just before I asked the question. I thought they came from the firewall, where several connectors exist. I'd looked through the AIM this morning and realized they swung out from the harness by the alternator and didn't recall a separate connector there for that purpose. But I also didn't run out to the shop and actually look as I should have done.

There is no separate connector, that is true. My memory was good there.

But there are mystery wires. Two of them, one blue and one brown (or so, definitely dark) with a white stripe. Those are the buggers. Blue would go to the choke heater (it's obviously longer) and brown/white would go to the idle solenoid. They're connectorized and ready to hook up. In my defense, the original harness is missing these wires, but it was butchered a bit in the car's history. I suspect they were cut out when the AIR pump..."just fell off one day" (not by me).

So for historical reasons, anyone searching this thread, your forward lamp harness is where the carb electrical wires should protrude, and they'll be integral with the wiring at least with this vendor's harness (not added on via some connector as the AIM would have you believe). Now, this is for non LG4 cars, of course. LG4 cars I can't say for sure. The AIM shows a connector, but I also know there is the ECM to deal with that has a massive connector, so that's a question for another day, another car. I suspect the truth is no connector. This vendor is really good.

Sorry, guys. But at least it's squared away and maybe helpful to someone in the future... Thanks all...

[Joe L.]

Re: 1980 Non-CA Carb Electrical

...I am not sure if your car has A/C...

Edward-------

If it doesn't, it's an EXTREMELY rare 1980. There were a total of ZERO built that year without A/C.