Engine Harness Routing Question

[Mark F.]

I have a quick question that maybe one of you guys with original 65's can easily answer.

I need to know the correct routing of the starter motor harness that branches down from the main engine harness on the passenger side of the firewall near the transmission tunnel.

I checked the Assembly Instruction Manual and it appears that the correct routing is for the starter leg to drop down on the passenger side or outboard side of the two heater hoses before making its way to the riveted clip on the firewall/transmission tunnel. When I route it this way, the starter leg must take an upward direction to get hooked into this clip.

I'm sure one of you guys can put this to bed easily.

Thanks in advance!

[William C.]

Re: Engine Harness Routing Question

Looking at my car, the only riveted clip I can see in that area is the one the speedo cable runs thru. The clip in the AIM looks to be attached to the stud on the lower side of the heater box and secured with the heater box speednut. The AIM wiring section was never updated to reflect the revised location of the speedo drive, but the M20-M22 (page E376 in my AIM) shows the riveted clip I believe you are looking at. As you mentioned, too high for the wiring harness. I could be wrong on this, but looking at the car, I appears to be the only explaination, and there is only one rivited clip on that side of the car.

[Mark F.]

Re: Engine Harness Routing Question

Hi Bill

Is your car an AOS built? AOS cars typically do not have this starter motor harness clip riveted to the fiberglass as StL cars do. My AOS car doesn't have it and many others AOS cars I have looked at don't have it either.

I looked at the 4-sp tranny page in my AIM (page 331) that you mentioned and I see what you are talking about. I looked at my speedo cable, and I would not want to route the cable that way!!. In my AIM the clip that holds the starter motor leg is on page 199 under the section "Engine Wiring Harness".

I guess the question I am really asking is this. Should the starter motor harness be routed Below both heater hoses or Between the two? I can't image GM would have them routed between, but I can't say for sure.

Thanks!

[Bill M.]

Re: Engine Harness Routing Question

I guess the question I am really asking is this. Should the starter motor harness be routed Below both heater hoses or Between the two? I can't image GM would have them routed between, but I can't say for sure.

I can't say for sure either, but my original starter harness runs through the riveted clip and under the hoses. I don't think the harness is long enough to run over a hose and then back through the clip.

[Mark F.]

Re: Engine Harness Routing Question

Well I just finished attaching the starter motor harness to the starter motor and I think both Bill's are correct.

When I route the starter leg through the firewall bracket that I have been talking about, the harness is too short. So I dropped it straight down and decided not worried about putting the harness in a bracket. There must be a backet that I am missing, the one that is attached to the speed nut on the heater box as I do not have one there.

I suppose then, that the bracket that is riveted to the firewall near the heater hoses must be for the speedo cable, but that is an awfully odd angle for the cable to be routed in my opinion.

Thanks guys!

mf

[Bill M.]

Re: Engine Harness Routing Question

My '65 has a riveted clip 4 inches inboard of the heater hoses and at a height between the two hoses. The starter harness runs through that riveted clip.