Question regarding harness

[Pete B.]

I am in the process of disassembling a 71 sb coupe. I am going to do a body off resto. I need to know what the consensus is regarding wire harness replacement. I am into the dash, I do not see any cuts or splices. Should I lay out $450 for a dash harness just to be safe? I will say just about everything worked except for a few bulbs ect. I will replace the engine harness bc of the exposure to heat ect...
Just want to know what others have done or not done??

TIA

[Pete B.]

Re: Question regarding harness

Crickets
Ok let me ask this a different way.....
Has anyone not replaced their dash harness to live to regret it?
This is a base non air car.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Question regarding harness

Pete, If the harness is not cut or tampered with and the wires are not stiff, I don't see a problem with the original harness. I would leave it alone, put it back together carefully with some dielectric grease at connections, bulbs etc. If the underhood harness is in tact, same thing...

[Tom L.]

Re: Question regarding harness

Tim is probably right but...

I had my entire dash apart shortly after purchasing my car and felt that things looked OK and I wasn't having any problems, so back together it went. As I learn more about the pitfalls that come along with owning a 36 year old car age problems pop up from time to time. Fortunately none related with the harness though. In hindsight I think I should have changed it anyway. After all you know how much work there is to get to the harness, would you want to do it again?

[Bill L.]

Re: Question regarding harness

I had my original 70 dash harness completely refurbished by a guy in NJ. He did an excellent job. It is as good as new!

I replaced the engine harness since the heat had taken its toll over the years and the wiring was brittle.

If you replace the harness I recommend you send your original to either M&H and/or Lectric Limited. Ask them each how close they can duplicate your original and ask them to tell you exactly what differences there might be between the original and their harness.

I did not ask all the questions and when I received the engine harness I was disappointed. I am now sending mine to M&H to take a look at to see how close they can get.


Bill

[Pete B.]

Re: Question regarding harness

Thanks Guys,
I belive i will remove it and inspect it close. I like the idea of th dielectric grease.

Appriciate the help!

Pete

[Jack H.]

Re: Question regarding harness

Don't expect any supplier to provide an EXACT duplicate of an original wiring harness. Why?

First, the original insulation used on wires isn't available anymore (cost, safety and legal restrictions). Second, MANY of the original Packard supplied connectors changed over time (exact material used) for cost and legal conformance reasons. Third, original tooling used to fabricate this/that item either wore out and/or was replaced with 'improved' tooling creating minor telltale differences.

Bottom line, what's available from reproduction sources today comes 'close' to the mark but will/does differ from factory original parts in this/that aspect. But, in general, you're getting harness components that are MUCH improved over factory original parts in terms of durability as well as flame retardancy.

[Alan S.]

Re: Question regarding harness

Hi Pete,
When I restored my 71, SB, Coupe, #6589, I decided to replace the engine harness only. It appeared to have had the hardest life because of the engine heat and the gas/oil environment of the engine compartment. It was the most deteriorated at the starter and where it passes behind the distributor.
I was able to gently clean the other harnesses and get them looking quite good. The wrapping tape seems to have held up well for these many years.
Regards,
Alan

PS: I'd be interested in hearing about your restoration and seeing some PICTURES....hint hint.