midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
got to foolin with the 396 on my lift and noticed that Bubba had severed the wire harness(consists of a pair of wires molded together) at the switch. otherwise the switch/wire assembly was original. i removed the switch and wire harness and took them to the bench. i drilled a 1/16" hole thru the pair of terminals that are peened to the switch, peeled about 3/16" of insulation from the wires ,inserted a pair of 3/4" long shrink wrap over the wires,inserted the wires into the modified(drilled) terminals, then soldered the wires to the modified(drilled) terminals. i've never had luck trying to pry apart the ends of the terminals when the terminals are peened to the guts of a switch---usually end up destroying continuity between terminal and switch inards. anyway, thought i'd check to midyear judging manuals to see if they address the correct original color of the molded wires of the switch's harness. i couldn't find any references to the wire colors. my impression is that the oriiginal midyear harness wires were molded together, were both black and one had a pink stripe and the other a green stripe running lengthwise. i checked my stash of midyear backup lite switches and found multiple examples of both black with a pink stripe and a green stripe. i also have a bunch of over the chevy counter switches i'd bought in the 70's and these from the 70's have a molded pair of wires, one being totally pint and the other totaly lima bean green. i also found i'd bought several switch assemblies in the early 90's and their wires are molded but one wire is solid green and the other solid black, both lacking the stripes running lengthwise. all three switches, original, 70's and 90's have delco remy embossed on their bakelite covers. the 90's switch is dipped in a lite gray plastic that totally covers the switch and about an inch of the wires/terminals. on the judging field, the end of the switch harness that plugs into the main harness behind the ignition distributor is readily viewable and judgable.mike
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
Mike --- my late L78 (#23564) has black w/pink and black w/green stripe wires at the switch (or at least were at the switch, as they were both broken off and coiled around the tunnel clip, when I bought the car in 1988).
In the engine compartment, these switch wires were still connected to the under-dash harness that comes through the firewall grommet, and the latter two wires are solid pink and solid light green. I understand this is the late design, which can also be verified at the dimmer switch connector (the same solid light green color). I don't now what the VIN break point is from one version of insulation color to the other.
I couldn't find any mention of this in the '65 TIM&JG, either; maybe too much detail. -
Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
Doc, agree with what Wayne said. I dug up some photo's taken about 25 years ago. Two very original, unmolested then, cars. Both got restored by some short fat old farmer
Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
wayne: my 396 currently on the lift is vin 22137 and the pair of seperated wires coming off the dash main harness are solid black without stripes. looks like you have the original back-up lite switch and its harness. just follow the post i did earlier and you can repair the harness to the switch. good luck.mikeComment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
dickie: would one of the 396's be the white/maroon coupe that the Rev. Moon Hunt bought just before i got to it at corvettes at carlisle many years ago? mikieComment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
Yup. Last time I heard of the car, Vic Priesler (sp) in CA had the car. You aren't the only one that was after it. I was trying to chase it down, but Arnold Greene got to it.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
Mike - According to the 1966 NCRS TIM&JG which is the font of all knowledge for 1966 Corvettes "The back-up light wiring harness installation in manual transmission cars contains both a lower and upper section. They are joined by a male and female, black, right angled plastic clip assembly. The wires are molded together after they exit the plastic clip. The wires on the lower section have pink and green tracers that run on the "flats", not on the outer edges."
As far as, I know these statements are also accurate for the configuration of the original wiring on the BU lamp switch harnesses on 63 to 65 manual transmission Corvettes and all 66 and 67 Corvettes with manual transmissions.
PeteComment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
pete: when i posted the initial message, i'd checked all my midyear judging manuals and the 66 manua, lfall 93, 2nd edition, lacked any mention of the back-up lite switch harness. maybe i ought to buy more current manuals(as i assume the more recent 66 judging manual addresses the items in question). when my next SS check arrives from BO, i'll order a new 66 manual. regards and thanks for catching my mistake. mikeComment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
Pete --- here's what is (was) on my early '65. The one off my late late '65 car is the same.
Per your '66 TIM&JG quote: ... "wires are molded together after they exit the plastic clip. The wires on the lower section have pink and green tracers that run on the "flats", not on the outer edges."
I might add: the wires themselves are round; but siamesed together so that the pink is on one side of the flat (if the ribbon is held between the fingers) and light green shows on the opposite side. If vewing from either edge, no colors are seen.
Does the '66 manual mention color of wires on the upper section (with the male connector) coming from the inside of the firewall ?Comment
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
Mike - I think you will find the most recent 66 TIM&JG a welcome addition to your automotive library. Plenty of good information and pictures for us old guys, along with TSBs and DRs. It's a Russian best seller with 247 pages. Pete
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Re: midyear back-up light switch harness wires colors
i just took a closer look at the pair of backup lites coming from the main harness thru the firewall. they are solid black with one having a thin green stripe and the othersolid black its molded to has a thin pink strip, color-coded identically to the wires that are part of the backup lite switch assembly. this info gathered from 65 vin 223137.perhaps we should look at the 63-4 manual as well as the 65 and 66 manuals. seems the 67 manual boys have their stuff together. mikeComment
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