67 Ignition Switch Wiring

[Stephen G.]

I'm working on a 67 BB, AC car. The ignition switch connector is partially melted and 2 of the "tangs" that lock it in place are also broken off. According to the schematic in the service manual the "IGN" terminal should have 2 # 12 Pink wires on it. Looking at my car and an other owners there is only one wire in the IGN terminal.

The other mystery is that according to the print one of the Pink wires runs to the bottom of the ballast resistor (via a grommet in the firewall and it's the only wire in that grommet). One of the cars seems to have a purple wire on the bottom of the ballast and my car seems to have a black wire there.

Also I know that I had looked for this connector some time ago to no avail. I was unable to purchase the connector or terminals. The venders just want to sell you a complete harness. Anyone know of a source?

[Peter L.]

Re: 67 Ignition Switch Wiring

Steve - If the ignition switch connector is partially melted, I'd be concerned that there is possibly a problem with the ignition switch that is causing a high resistance that results in the switch terminal getting hot and the result of that is the plastic connector melts. I'd look thoroughly at the back of the switch for some sign like a loose terminal, burning, or a hole in the back piece of the switch that the terminals are attached to. Pete

[Stephen L.]

Re: 67 Ignition Switch Wiring

The pink wire running thru the firewall grommet passes thru with wiring for the backup lites (4sp car) and the wiper motor to the bottom of the ballast resistor. A pink wire is also attached to the top of the resistor and goes to the ign coil via the harness.

I'll need to check my switch to see if there are 2 #12 pink wires on the switch OR if there is only one pink #12 wire on the switch and 2 #12 pink wires on the back of the fuse panel, one coming from the switch and the other going to the ballast thru the firewall

There is no original black or purple wire on the ballast resistor.......

You might check the junk yards for a connector from a GM of that vintage..... possibly the same connector......

[Stephen G.]

Re: 67 Ignition Switch Wiring

Thanks Pete. Already replaced switch.

[Stephen G.]

Re: 67 Ignition Switch Wiring - Take 2 - Or You never know what you will find!

It's all figured out now! Now that I have the dash harness out of the car. I really had no issues with the car except:

Why was the wire colors on the bottom of the ballast resistor not pink? Maybe faded?
Why was it not pink at the ignition switch? Maybe fading from over heating? There had been some repair work there.
Why was the ammeter not working?
The bulkhead connect had one pin burned and someone pulled the red #12 right thru the connector body and ran it to the alternator.

Check out the pictures. I can't believe the car ran fine and didn't go up in smoke! The entire bulkhead connector had been replaced (assumption) by splicing on a new one. Every wire from the interior to the engine compartment thru that bulkhead connector had been spliced about 8 inches up from the fuse block. And by spliced I mean twisted together and taped. No crimps, no solder, just twist!. Also the pink wire from the fuse block ran up to above the cluster and was factory spliced to 2 pink wires with a crimp and solder. However 4 inches away from the factory splice was a twisted splice of brown to the ignition switch and black to the ballast resistor.

I can only assume this harness had been remove from the car, "repaired", and re-wrapped. This most likely happened with owner # 1 in the late 70's.

What a pain this job is in an A/C car, but I'm sure glad I found this mess before it got me!

[John H.]

Re: 67 Ignition Switch Wiring - Take 2 - Or You never know what you will find!

It's all figured out now! Now that I have the dash harness out of the car. I really had no issues with the car except:

Why was the wire colors on the bottom of the ballast resistor not pink? Maybe faded?
Why was it not pink at the ignition switch? Maybe fading from over heating? There had been some repair work there.
Why was the ammeter not working?
The bulkhead connect had one pin burned and someone pulled the red #12 right thru the connector body and ran it to the alternator.

Check out the pictures. I can't believe the car ran fine and didn't go up in smoke! The entire bulkhead connector had been replaced (assumption) by splicing on a new one. Every wire from the interior to the engine compartment thru that bulkhead connector had been spliced about 8 inches up from the fuse block. And by spliced I mean twisted together and taped. No crimps, no solder, just twist!. Also the pink wire from the fuse block ran up to above the cluster and was factory spliced to 2 pink wires with a crimp and solder. However 4 inches away from the factory splice was a twisted splice of brown to the ignition switch and black to the ballast resistor.

I can only assume this harness had been remove from the car, "repaired", and re-wrapped. This most likely happened with owner # 1 in the late 70's.

What a pain this job is in an A/C car, but I'm sure glad I found this mess before it got me!

Steve -

That first picture is definitely a "Bubba classic" - I saved it.

[Peter L.]

Re: 67 Ignition Switch Wiring - Take 2 - Or You never know what you will find!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!