67 Capacitor next to ignition switch

[Paul S.]

My speedo in my 67 stripped out, so I got the joy of pulling the cluster today to send the gauges out to be repaired and restored. When I disconnected everything and got to the ignition switch, unplugged all the wires intending to remove the capacitor next to the ignition switch and the one next to the amp meter when I had the cluster outside the car. The capacitor one next to the amp meter is ok, but there's no wire attached to the capacitor next to the ignition and I really don't think I broke it. At the very least there's no broken piece of wire anywhere I can see.

So my question: what does the capacitor do (I'm thinking it has something to do with suppression alternator whine)? And how screwed am I with it broken (as I know it's no longer made)?

Mine's not a show car--just a nice driver.

[Don H.]

Re: 67 Capacitor next to ignition switch

Paul
I doubt that present or not, connected or not you will detect no difference in any aspect of your car's operation. However, if you care to replace it, reproductions are available from all the vendors, and old used originals or NOS ones are available from all the usual used parts sources, (several listed in the Driveline) as well as corvette swap meets.

[Joe R.]

Re: 67 Capacitor next to ignition switch

Don is absolutely correct. If you want it to look original, take a drill the same size of the wire. Drill a hole and super-glue the black wire in the capacitor. It will look perfect and work as well as it ever did. Not at all!!!!

JR

[Paul S.]

Re: 67 Capacitor next to ignition switch

Thanks--I'll just put it back on, as-is then. That way I won't loose the mounting screw or bracket in the unlikely event I or the next owner wants it to look correct.

[Jim B.]

Re: 67 Capacitor next to ignition switch

Hi Paul,
One added note you might want to consider. I believe that wire to the ignition side capacitor was always hot when the ignition switch was in the "on" position. You may want to find the broken end or the wire/connector that serviced that capacitor and secure the end with some electrical tape to prevent that thing from shorting against ground.

Jim