Hi All, as per the response to to 67ssagain entitled "wire harness", M&H does NOT include (nor manufacture) the harness - i am calling it the ribbon cable...what is the correct term?? - that connects the dash to the rear lamp harness in the trunk.

Does anyone know where I can purchase this part, made as an OEM type reproduction that would dovetail with the M&H harnesses?

As always, many thanks to everyone for your advice and guidance.

Stephen

To my knowledge, it is not reproducted. I posted here in the wanted section for parts and found an nos one, for my 65. Usually these are the last of any wiring removed from a car. My orginal was hacked into because someone installed a towhitch years ago. I wouls check the local (yards) for any A bodys.

65Camino

Thanks, 65Camino - this is what I am hearing - M&H don't reproduce it - they mentioned that there is one other major factory style reproduction mfgr in NJ - anyone know who that is? Separately, could I go with something from Painless, albeit it won't be factory style? What is the proper term for this item - ribbon cable? (By the way (prepare yourself...NEWBIE question coming) - what does NOS stand for??)

As always, thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

NOS - New Old Stock. Basically old discontinued GM parts in new condition. Hard to find stuff and expensive when you do.

Thanks JYags...anyone have any idea what this particular piece of wiring is called so i can search for it.

As always, thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

The company in N.J. is

Factory Fit
150 Heller Place #17 West
Bellmawr NJ 08031
856-933-0801

I replaced all of my wiring except the flat foor strip, from this same company. My dash harness was also hacked up. If you are going to update anything, like the ignation, they can update the harness with the correct fittings. They do not make a flat floor harness as of 2001.

they still don't make it...anyone have an NOS source for this part (64 chevelle rear lamp intermediate harness)....thanks!!

EDL,

Can you clarify this for me? On my '68 El Camino there is no such thing as a ribbon cable, at least not in the "all wires attached side by side" manner. There was a set of wires wrapped with a flat profile sheath though. Was this what you were referring to?

American Autowire (I really should get paid by these guys as often as I plug them...) sells a flat wire channel product that could be combined with basic wires to make this piece. BTW American Autowire is really just another division of Factory Fit. Check it out here, part 500716:

http://www.americanautowire.com/products/Connectors.cfm

I should just sell you the one I bought and never used...

Another option might be to purchase one for another year and make it work? I see a listing for a "rear body intermediate harness". Of course that is a '68 El Camino, but the connectors may be the same and it ought to be long enough to reach :-)

Steve

Hey guys i may have an extra ribbon harness laying around who needs one? Ralph

Steve...thanks...I am new to this, so bear with me. First, yes, you are correct, the official name for the part is the rear lamp intermediate harness. For 1964 (don't know about other years), this part was 8 wires (to make matters worse, of differing guages, some 16 some 14), laid side by side and fused together...think computers in the 1980s. I spoke to AA (aka Fac. Fit) (Don) today, and he confirmed that neither they nor M&H (which i believe are the only 2 repro mfgrs) make this part - the hard part is the connecter, as the connector for 1964 appears to be unique. He said if I wanted to, i could send my cable up there (which, by the way works...i have not pulled the carpet and don't know the condition, but most of the things that the rear lamp harness drive, work - i just figured that if i was putting in all new wiring, why leave this one 4-6' section of 40 year wire?), and they would put new wire between the connectors (my mechanic also said they could replace the wires -- but i don't think they would have the sophistication to realize the guage (are there other characteristics besides guage for wire??) of what they are replacing as it differs, wire to wire). The universal kits bypass all of this by running one set of wires from the firewall straight into the trunk - as this intermediate harness is nothing more than an extension cord to bring power from the firewall to the trunk.

Hi Ralph - I am the guy that needs the harness - it needs to fit 1964 dash harness/fuse box.

Does anyone know if the 1968 (or other year) rear lamp intermediate harness is interchangeable with a 1964 system?

As always, thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

Stephen,

You know not all parts need to be replaced ;-)

Honestly this part of the wiring is the most protected from heat, sun, wet, hackers, whatever. I would inspect the terminals on the ends and if they are not rusted or corroded just run with it. If the terminals are bad you probably can just shorten things by the 1/2" total or so to put new terminals on the existing wires.

Steve

If yours is the same as my El's, you're looking for the harness that looks like about 8 copper strips, each 3/16 wide, about 3/32 thick, encased in plastic side by side?

I had some corrosion (green furrrr) on the rear connections (where it mates to the rear light harness), but was able to clean with a scotchbrite pad and a penknife. I would think with a little "shade-tree" smarts you could even lop off 1/2" and expose new/clean copper and re-attach the nylon connector body.

As mentioned by vrooom, this piece is about as safe from molestation as any.... what is the reason for wanting a replacement??

John, Steve, thanks for the advice. The main driver in replacing it was that I was replacing all the other wiring...so it just seemed logical to not have a 40 year old "weak link" in the system...of course, at the time, I didn't know it wasn't reproduced...in addition, the mechanic seems to have a lot of heartburn about leaving it in (I know, I'm the customer...and he said he would do it if i wanted, but....).

I think what I'll do is pull the cable (anything special there - tools - or is it just depressing the teeth to the connecor and pullling apart - any clips that have to be removed along the way?), inspect it, clean it up, use some kind of meter to see if all 8 wires are conducting, and plug it back in. If something is messy, as you suggest, I can cut 1/2" - and if the thing has really been hacked up (this one might have as an after market tow hitch was installed), I can simply rewire the connectors.

Sorry to have beaten this horse to death!!

As always, thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

About the only warning or "been there, done that" advise I can give is to beware and use a gentle touch.

The nylon/plastic used for the connector bodies gets pretty crispy & brittle after 40+ years, and the locking barbs/tabs easily snap off!
Most of the locking mechanisms can be undone with a little "tweaker" flat-blade screwdriver, gently slide into/behind the catch.
There shouldn't be any mystery clips or GM tool # XYZ123&)(*&&#^$%## needed for removal. If any "hacking" was done to the wiring, it'd most likely be done to the trunk harness (wires, not flat ribbon) where the trailer outfit had access to the wires.

John...a very sage reminder...thank you! Is there anything I can apply to the plastic to try to rejuvenate it a bit before messing with it - Vinlyex? Vaseline? Other?

As always, many thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

If you want to buy flat cable you can get it from Draka Elevator products.

These are the ones that would work great for car use.

P/N 18-212-07------------12/16AWG
18-224-07------------24/16AWG
18-009-07-------------9/18AWG
18-010-07------------10/18AWG
18-020-07------------20/18AWG
18-024-07------------24/18AWG


You can also get flat cable that has a combos of 14ga 18ga Shielded pairs, coax.


1-877-372-5237
www.draka-ep.com (http://www.draka-ep.com)




Rocky

Rocky...great tip!!!! I'll look into it and let you know if it works...know I have to get someone with access to the blueprint to tell me what what gauge each of the 8 wires on a 64 rear lamp intermediate harness needs to be...!

As always, many thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

John, Steve, thanks for the advice. The main driver in replacing it was that I was replacing all the other wiring...so it just seemed logical to not have a 40 year old "weak link" in the system...of course, at the time, I didn't know it wasn't reproduced...in addition, the mechanic seems to have a lot of heartburn about leaving it in (I know, I'm the customer...and he said he would do it if i wanted, but....).
Sounds like your mechanic is trying to build up his income to me. As to weak link, this is just not that critical a part in the system nor is it a part with a high failure rate. If these things failed they would be reproduced.

If you just have to take it apart... the female terminals require a thin square "blade" to press the locking tab back inside the connector housing. If you look at the end of the connector you will see an extra little notch. That notch is the size of blade you need and where you insert it. Push the wire in to take the load off the locking tab, insert your special tool all the way, and then pull the wire out.

The male terminals can be compressed with needle nose pliers to unlock from the connector housing. Just squeeze the ends of each blade together and gently pull the wire out.

You should be able to do this without breaking any plastic parts. It really does not take much tension to pull apart. If you have to pull hard you are not doing it right.

Steve

Thanks, Steve...I pulled it today - the bulkhead side connector is broken (but 1/2 of it is still there) - the other end is fine...the cable looks fine...I need to clean it up...and then we'll see...

As always, many thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

I rewired my car last year and found a used replacement cable for a 64 Chevelle at True Connections. Sometimes these cables will also appear on E-Bay.

James...many thanks.

Stephen

Note, that the dome lite wire conectors on a 64 will not interchange with the flat floor cabe off a 65.

65C, thanks much - to be clear, is this to say that the dome light wire runs off of the ribbon cable up to the dome light? I thought there was a separate wire that goes from the bulkhead to the dome light???

As always, many thanks for everyone's advice and guidance.

Stephen

Yes, at least on the El Camino flat wire floor cables that I have.