possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

[William G.]

After 7 months working on reinstalling the original 327 engine in my 67 AC roadster, all is not finished! It's been one problem after another throughout this rebuild.

My question is a wire that appears to attach to one of the bolts holding the starter in. I've checked the wiring schematic and it show a black ground wire. However, the wire on my car looks more purple than black! The harnesses are original to the car.
It also appears this wire may have gotten pretty warm at some point, as the insulation is not round and smooth, but rather hard and disfigured. The wire itself seems to be very stiff. Not what one would think would be a normal copper wire. Anyone have a similar wire on their cars?

Bill

[Domenic T.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

William,
Be careful there as I saw about a #14 wire (black) with a large connector that could bolt to the starter. I did and blew the amp/voltage gage. The black wire went to the starter battery post. BLACK = ground every place but there. Now the purple with a small connector is the S on the solenoid.
I am not at the shop but would advise a careful look at the diagram.

Dom

[Bill M.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

William
Be careful I am close to 60 and fried my 67 harness because I could not see the difference in the dirty colors. I now use my sons for wire identification.
Bill

[Dan D.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

Bill, Beware! I am not familiar with C2s, but in C1s the purple wire goes the starter solenoid and feeds 12V to the dash.

And if that wire shows signs of heat damage, then it was probably carrying heavy 12V current. You should probably replace the wire, or the whole harness. Harnesses are cheap, cars are not. Make sure you are right before you connect up the battery.

-Dan-

[Peter M.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

Hi William,
You should have a 20 gauge orange fusible link which is the terminus for a 16 gauge black wire that is part of the ammeter circuit. You should have a 14 gauge brown fusible link that is the terminus of a 10 gauge red wire that is the main power feed for the car, both of these go on the solenoid stud with the 12 volt positive battery cable. There is a 12 gauge purple wire that goes to the "S" terminal on the solenoid and a 18 gauge pink wire that goes to the "R" terminal on the solenoid. You will have a 14 gauge black wire that goes under one of the starter mounting bolts and because your car has air conditioning you will have another 14 gauge black wire that will go under the same starter mounting bolt.
Dom is correct you don't want to mix things up or you will be smelling smoke.
Good luck,
Kind regards

[William G.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

When I originally removed the starter from the car last spring, the wire in question was attached under one of the starter bolts and I assumed it was a ground wire even though the wiring diagram I have in the assembly manual said it should be black! Presently I have put it back the way it came off. The solenoid does have a purple wire with fusible link attached to the S terminal. The red wire to the R terminal and the battery cable to the large post. I suppose it is possible the previous owner of the car replaced the black ground wire with this purple one, or the insulation has discolored with age! The wiring harnesses are original to the 67 car!

Bill

[Peter M.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

Hi William,
I have had three 67 corvettes and all were wired the same as I identified previously, which also matches the A.I.M.. You might try unwrapping some of the harness to look for evidence of old repairs. Sorry I can't be more help.
Good luck.

[Joe R.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

Gentlemen,

1. The black wire goes to the mounting bolt on the starter. It is the ground wire for the fan motor and the WW motor.
2. The purple wire is 12volts from the switch and when you turn the switch to "start" it energizes the solenoid to start the car.

JR

[Joe R.]

Re: possible ground wire to a starter bolt?

When I originally removed the starter from the car last spring, the wire in question was attached under one of the starter bolts and I assumed it was a ground wire even though the wiring diagram I have in the assembly manual said it should be black! Presently I have put it back the way it came off. The solenoid does have a purple wire with fusible link attached to the S terminal. The red wire to the R terminal and the battery cable to the large post. I suppose it is possible the previous owner of the car replaced the black ground wire with this purple one, or the insulation has discolored with age! The wiring harnesses are original to the 67 car!

Bill

Hi Bill,

I don't put much stock in wiring insulation colors. I would recommend using the schematic and an Ohmmeter (Digital Multi Meter or equivalent) to see where the other end of the wire actually goes. Then you know for sure what the wire is for. I'm just sayin... I would do this test with the battery disconnected.

Joe