Help with Route to Completion

[Smock67]

OK so I am pretty much on the last leggish as far as having a drivable project. Current things holding me up are mainly the last few parts of a wiring harness, gauge installation and a new top. The last obviously has to be done by a pro as im not looking to do a top install again ever.

Which leaves me with the wiring and the gauge install. For pretty much everything on this car i have just picked up along the way but without some real knowledge of what I'm doing as far as wiring goes I am almost at the point of just handing it over to someone to finish off the last couple connections.

So i have two questions really.



1. How much would an average shop charge to finish off a few connections on an AAW harness. Its all laid out just a few bits that im just unsure of where they go and so forth.

2. If it were you would you risk taking longer and not knowing if you are doing something properly or would you rather bite the bullet and get the car done much quicker then you could do it yourself?

I would love to completely do everything myself but without some guidance from a fellow gearhead who knows what they're doing im pretty much stuck with having to send it to a shop.

[chopsmitty]

That's a loaded question with tooo many variables... but if you were in my neighborhood, I'm pretty sure I'd be able to finish it off in a day an your bill would be less than $200 if everything was well prepped and not incorrect to the point you currently have it.

I can't recommend anybody in Tampa, but in West Palm - Errol can hook you up.
http://www.tpswestpalm.com/

[Shiro666]

I was in the same spot as you last summer. Had my immobile Camaro in need of Wiring and a few other details. I employed Jake of Jake's Rod Shop to mop up those "few" details. I figured, well, if I am going to have someone work on it I might as well do front discs. and springs and shocks. and seat brackets. and wheels and tires. and a new gauge cluster. and throw the interior in. It turned out to be a much more involved and expensive project then I thought. I have to say, having a professionally wired car is awesome. It is artwork in itself and unlike my friends, ALL my lights work!

Bottom line, Jake did a great job, and my car is way, way further along then if left up to me. If you can resist the urge to go bananas, I say go for it.

They don't call 'em professionals for nothing.

[AtomicFirebird]

I have a 68 Firebird and did the wiring myself. It took 3 months with working at work and wife and kids. It was my first time also. At first it seemed like it was impossible, but after drinking a couple of beers and look at the wiring book it came together. Plus it is helpful that it's was AAW gear. Tell me, are the wires labelled. If yes, I can help you over the web. If no, wellllll give it a shot or pay someone close to you. What does your gauges look like. Yes, every light works.

[AtomicFirebird]

Just saw your site, Ok, AAW has the original replacement for whatever section of the car. The engine compartment or whatever else you need. It really is plug and play.

[Smock67]

Well here are the gauges that I have Stewart Warner Now im pretty sure I made a mistake because I got Electronic speedo and tach Im sure there a way around that so it will work but i have no idea how to hook them up properly.

My wiring is the AAW classic update kit

For the brown wire for the rear lighting of the car which is the license plate light do I need to drop the fuel tank in order to wire in that?

From the steering column connector I am not sure which wire goes where when transferring the wires to the new clip as all of the wires are faded and appear the same. Huge issue that I haven't been able to figure out.

Also for wire that i won't be using right now but may end up using later whats the best way to secure them and keep them out of harms way.

[AtomicFirebird]

Wow,

Ok, 1st Electronic speedo gauge is a problem if you can not find the speedo sensor for your transmission, but you can if you look online.

Tach is electric from the EFI distributor or the ballast resistor that is connected to the coil

The brown wire is located on the fuel tank and yes you will have to drop the tank, not all the way.

The steering column my be a problem, but lets think this through, The wire can only run one way or the other. What I mean is, if you have a 67 wiring book the color will run white, dk green..blah.blah.... lt blue and black or the opposite way.

There are many ways, but this is what I did. I cut the wire, so no wires were exposed, folded it and tapped it together with the one next to it.

I am not telling you how to spend your money, but trust me, this is an investment for the safety of you, your family and the car. I was reading a story about wiring in the Hagerty insurance magazine, when it showed a mint 67 corvette completely in flames, because of old wires. The show Two Guys Garage, Kevin Byrd talked about replacing old wire because they can not take the load of the new equipment placed on the cars. The wires caught on fire. Please consider newer wire, AAW or M&H has the wire meant for your car. The new wire comes with a wiring diagram so there is no reason to buy another book, but If you are not going to replace the wire. Try to get the 67 wiring book, it can be found anywhere online.

I hope this helps and good wiring.

[Smock67]

I have the full wiring kit from AAW which is mostly completed that not so much the issue as knowing where to connect them

[AtomicFirebird]

Sorry, I did not mean to offend you.

[Smock67]

not offended at all your trying to help and i appreciate it. Im confident in all of the connections I've made so far just not the ones that I haven't. I would rather take longer to do something right then get it done quick and end up having to do it later.

[AtomicFirebird]

Ok, I checked my car and the wire on my steering column is Black, light blue, dark blue, brown, purple, yellow, dark green and white. If you were to run the wire flat against the column to the firewall it would be Black, light blue, dark blue, brown, purple, yellow, dark green and white. Let me find my camera and I will take a picture. Sorry, iPhone pics