68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original - NCRS Discussion Boards

68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

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  • Gary K.
    Expired
    • August 18, 2010
    • 85

    68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

    In the engine bay, cleaning up and re-using the working original harness in my driver-quality 68 427. I have a DeWitt aluminum radiator and need to wrap long wire runs from the dual fans plus a couple other minor wire cleanup issues. Existing 45 year old wrap still nice and tight, neat, black 3/4" kind of thin tape.

    Anyone have a modern day equivalent? Any insights on what was originally used? With age it's a matte finish, so a typical new roll of good tape will not match. Plus today's tapes seem thicker. Any suggestions?

    By the way - anyone in Phoenix (me) or hot places w/overheating problems and not worried about points the DeWitts radiator w/dual fans keeps it so never gets to 200 even on hot days.
  • Mike M.
    NCRS Past President
    • May 31, 1974
    • 8383

    #2
    Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

    paragon has non-stickey electrician's tape , similar to original. mike

    Comment

    • Russ C.
      Expired
      • October 28, 2013
      • 20

      #3
      Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

      This is the stuff you want Gary. I've used it on several EFI harnesses and it's a great product. hi temp, no adhesive, etc.

      Comment

      • Gary K.
        Expired
        • August 18, 2010
        • 85

        #4
        Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

        Boy you guys are fast.... Wow! Thank you very much, a great easy fix.

        Comment

        • Terry M.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • September 30, 1980
          • 15599

          #5
          Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

          Originally posted by Gary Kaye (52086)
          Boy you guys are fast.... Wow! Thank you very much, a great easy fix.
          Gary,
          If your engine temperature never really gets above 200* I would suggest you are doing more harm than good to your engine. The engine needs to be closer to boiling in order to burn off moisture in the oil in order to prevent acid build-up in the oil. Of course one also needs an accurate temperature gauge and checking that with an IR temperature gun at the thermostat housing is also useful.
          Terry

          Comment

          • Duke W.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • January 1, 1993
            • 15672

            #6
            Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

            No problem as long as he's running at least a 180 degree thermostat, and I believe all '68s had 195s because they were emission controlled engines. In cooler climates engines with 180s usually won't get much above that.

            The oil itself should get up to the 200-220 range in city traffic in hot ambient temperatures as long as the engine is operated for at least a half hour and not mostly short trips. The vapor pressure of water at 200 is high enough to prevent significant condensation in the crankcase.

            The electric fan setup will pump more air through the radiator in city traffic, so the maximum coolant temperature will be less than if the engine had the original clutch fan in proper working order.

            Coolant temperatures up to 230F with a 15 psi cap are okay for vintage engines running 50/50 glycol/water coolant, but most of us don't like to see the gage go that high. In modern Corvettes I don't think the fan engages until coolant temperature hits 230. Aluminum engines actually run better the hotter they are - up to a point.

            Duke

            Comment

            • Terry M.
              Beyond Control Poster
              • September 30, 1980
              • 15599

              #7
              Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

              Originally posted by Duke Williams (22045)
              No problem as long as he's running at least a 180 degree thermostat, and I believe all '68s had 195s because they were emission controlled engines. In cooler climates engines with 180s usually won't get much above that.

              The oil itself should get up to the 200-220 range in city traffic in hot ambient temperatures as long as the engine is operated for at least a half hour and not mostly short trips. The vapor pressure of water at 200 is high enough to prevent significant condensation in the crankcase.

              The electric fan setup will pump more air through the radiator in city traffic, so the maximum coolant temperature will be less than if the engine had the original clutch fan in proper working order.

              Coolant temperatures up to 230F with a 15 psi cap are okay for vintage engines running 50/50 glycol/water coolant, but most of us don't like to see the gage go that high. In modern Corvettes I don't think the fan engages until coolant temperature hits 230. Aluminum engines actually run better the hotter they are - up to a point.

              Duke
              Duke,
              I thought engine temps should go to 200-220. I misunderstood.
              Terry

              Comment

              • Gary K.
                Expired
                • August 18, 2010
                • 85

                #8
                Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

                Russ, used the link, got my roll today in just a couple days, yes it is the ticket. Only problem is the 45 year old original tape is aged, new tape isnt, so either super clean the old or just leave as - is and sparingly use the new Elliott tape on the long new wire runs and for any fixups.
                Again thank you...

                Comment

                • Russ C.
                  Expired
                  • October 28, 2013
                  • 20

                  #9
                  Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

                  Originally posted by Gary Kaye (52086)
                  Russ, used the link, got my roll today in just a couple days, yes it is the ticket. Only problem is the 45 year old original tape is aged, new tape isnt, so either super clean the old or just leave as - is and sparingly use the new Elliott tape on the long new wire runs and for any fixups. Again thank you...
                  Good deal. glad it worked out for you.

                  Russ

                  Comment

                  • Joe R.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • May 31, 2006
                    • 1822

                    #10
                    Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

                    Originally posted by Mike McCagh (14)
                    paragon has non-stickey electrician's tape , similar to original. mike
                    Hi Mike,

                    Is this the stuff? It's 1.25 " wide.

                    https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...ness-tape.aspx

                    I noticed that the Elliott Tape ET 501 Super High Heat tape in the ebay listing is 1 " wide.

                    Which tape would be more correct for what year Corvettes?

                    Joe

                    Comment

                    • Alan S.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • July 31, 1989
                      • 3416

                      #11
                      Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

                      Hi Joe,
                      The original wrap on the engine harness in my 71 is 1 1/4" wide.
                      Regards,
                      Alan
                      71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed
                      Mason Dixon Chapter
                      Chapter Top Flight October 2011

                      Comment

                      • Terry M.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • September 30, 1980
                        • 15599

                        #12
                        Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

                        Originally posted by Alan Struck (15579)
                        Hi Joe,
                        The original wrap on the engine harness in my 71 is 1 1/4" wide.
                        Regards,
                        Alan
                        IIRC Bill Clupper once told me there was a change in the width of the tape at some point. I'll ding him up to see if he still remember.
                        Terry

                        Comment

                        • William C.
                          NCRS Past President
                          • May 31, 1975
                          • 6037

                          #13
                          Re: 68 Wire harness is there black insulating tape to match original

                          1.3 inch tape became standard in the late 1960's as the result of a suggestion from a gal who worked in the methods development area at Packard Electric, Earned her a $10.000 suggestion award and was used right up until convoluted conduit was introduced. I think the changeover was the 1969 model year. Earlier would have been 1.0 inch wide tape. Sorry my memory of the exact timeframe is a little weak.
                          Bill Clupper #618

                          Comment

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