C2 Parking lamp wiring harness

[Ed S.]

Question pertains to a '64. Has anyone ever removed an original bulb socket and wire harness assembly from a parking lamp housing and replaced it with an Electric Limited wiring harness repair kit?

It seems easy enough to remove the original socket from the chrome housing - the issue or concern I have is installing the replacement from Electric Limited and getting the prongs bent down tight enough so there is not movement of the socket.

Is there a trick to or a caution regarding the installation of the replacement harness? Picture of my original with red arrow pointing toward the pressed ring that secures the socket into the housing - just bending up the ring will allow the socket to be removed.

Also attached is a pic of the Electric Limited repair harness - how to get those prongs bent over tight?

For what it is worth, I have searched this forum as best I can for tips on this issue - found none.

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

First, believe the colors should be white, purple, blue, so the black wire is incorrect and will be a possible source for a deduct.
You also mention it's for a 64. For 63/64 the front end of the connector is "booted" so that may give you a 20% date deduct
Now if you still desire to use these repair kits I have used different size sockets, each larger socket will bend a little more until it's
secured. Have fun.
Alan

[Ed S.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Alan,
Thank you - you make a good point, the wire colors on the reproduction appear to be incorrect (and they probably are). You would think that a manufacturer would check and use the correct color - this isn't rocket science. As for the booted connector - I have good reason to believe my harnesses are original, car build date is April 7, 1964 - the connectors are not booted. I intend to contact Electric Limited on Monday to ask about wire color - if they have the ability to manufacture it with different colors - will post the results if the news is good (I am not hopeful). And.... thanks for the installation tip.

[Ed S.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Alan,
Thanks again for your quick reply. In my quest for a "correct" parking light harness (for a '64) I called and spoke to the technical department at Electric Limited (twice). This is what I learned. The technical supervisor that oversees the production of this wiring harness informed me that they have the original (or a copy of it) of the wiring harness diagram for all C2s (they have others as well).

According to their GM reference the wire colors for the 64 parking ling harness is Black, Light Blue and Purple (not White, Light Blue and Purple). The harness for a 67 Corvette is White, Light Blue and Purple - and they manufacture it and have it in stock (picture attached). Additionally, I was informed that my call on this issue is not the first they received - other have called before and indicated that their product does not agree with the NCRS guidelines for a 64 Corvette. They were even aware that the 64 AIM that is in circulation specifies White (not Black) for a 64 and they have confirmed through research that the 64 AIM is also incorrect in that regard.

One more thing - it is worth noting that the colors of the wires of main wiring harness that the parking light wires connect to are BLACK, Light Blue and Purple (as per what is in my car and the AIM wiring diagram). Accordingly, I have to ask - is it normal to have two different wire color schemes in the same circuit?

So it appears I am on the horns of a dilemma - reliable sources are in disagreement on the wire color scheme. Accordingly, I solicit comments from experienced C2 judges - what have you seen on 64s and what wire color scheme do you believe and accept as correct?

[Edward J.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Ed, Alans post is correct as wire colors go, I have seen boots on some early cars with the boots on the back of the sockets, I am not sure when the cut off was. and sometimes with age the white wire turns almost a light yellow.

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

OK! So I believe that NCRS judging wants to see the white, purple, blue (w,p,b), a few years ago I talked to an expert at NCRS on the issue and he agreed only the w,p,b were used. They set the rules, so you may lose a point.

I have never seen a non booted 63/64 parking light, not to say one does not exist. I have original 63, early and late, examples all have the w,p,b wires.

Now to add more confusion, 4 different part numbers exist for these. During 63/64 GM was having ground problems with these, so in 65/66 a number of parking lights have been found with external grounds in various colors, green mainly however seen gray and yellow. Most times these fixes are external from the case.

The parking light lens color also varies from dark (early) to light (late/NOS), the bulb part numbers change, the connector to fire wall varies, the wire gauge differs and more.

It's your call !

As for the Parking Light Drawing, would love to see one. Think when somebody is referencing a wiring harness design they are referring to the major harness from the engine area which feed the head lights then onto the parking lights at the fire wall. Have been through that one before, and yes the black is correct at that end of the harness. The 63 has different wiring harness colors while 64-67 are the same.

The 64AIM wiring diagram is probably a 65 diagram, look at revision date at bottom of diagram (7/14/65?) a known problem. The wiring diagram for 64 per shop manual did not list any colors for parking light harness.
Well more than anyone wanted to know, reminds me of my other pet peeve (no comments)
Alan

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Alan,

Is there a guru, comparable to you, for '66 parking lamp issues and judges preferences?
Gary

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Gary,
First check your AIM for a part number please (let me know the #)

Would expect that using the present NOS light (910552) would get you full credit (remove tag on it) From my limited info the parking lights changed on 7/1965 to the 910552. A few words of caution - other senior members have seen the external ground wire (most green) on MY 66 still.
The use of the NOS is what judges expect.

My investigations on these has been to gather facts from other gurus (senior members) some of who are still on the forum (I think).

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

As best I can remember my '66 did not have an external ground wire. Just the normal 3 wires like on the NOS versions. For MY 66, do the NOS or Trim Parks version have the correct wire colors?

Gary

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Yes, the NOS parking lights have the correct wire colors, ie white blue purple. What pn for these lights are listed in your 66AIM?

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Alan,

I can check when I get home form work tonight.

Gary

[Don H.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

looks like 910415 in the 66 AIM UPC12 A5

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

For '66 and '67, I seem to recall that the judges looked at and felt for the heat-crimped area where the three separate wires transition into the harness. Which I took to mean the Trim Parts repro had a different crimp. Not sure about the GM NOS part, as I've never seen one.
Gary

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Here is a NOS. A crimp end on an original 63 for your reference, not sure what other repro firms look like

Sometimes I have heard of arguments of the wire colors being in a certain order, such as white, blue, purple at the crimped end. Remember GM was a manufacture (ship it!). The alignment of wire according to their colors was wasting time, only thing that mattered was the orientation of the wire color at the connector.

Also note the crimp was not always perfect, one of my originals slid off a little, - ship it!

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Parling lamp wiring harness

Alan,

I assume the yellow wire in your 2nd photo is the change from white to yellow with aging that Ed mentions.

Gary