Does anyone have any ideas for how to re-insulate the wires of the ribbon cable that connects the tailights to the dash harness?

I am working on my fathers '67 Elcamino harnesses and the guy that we bought it from was a nightmare, spliced the tailight harness in several places, then twisted and taped the wires! Also changed the water pump to long-style which changed alternator position to passenger side, added BARE COPPER wires to the harness then black-taped them individually! I could go on and on, anyone ever worked on a car like this?

Anyhow, he shorted the tailights at some point, melting some of the insulation along the ribbon cable. What do you El Camino guys do to replace the ribbon cable? I saw no replacement in any catalog.

Here are some pics:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z143/warrenscott1968/DSC00230.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z143/warrenscott1968/DSC00229.jpg

Try the brush-on electrical liquid "tape". I have seen it at various auto parts stores and in some catalogs, It should recoat and insulate the bare spots - maybe even do the whole ribbon. OLDED

That is a very interesting piece...

I presume there are connectors on the front end to connect up by the fuse box and on the back end to connect to the rear light harness? How far back does that thing go?

I would call the folks at American Autowire and see if they have anything to help you out with. Their Factory Fit division does an extensive variety of reproduction electric harness products.

Depending on connectors you may be able to fabricate up a replacement using an intermediate harness for a '68 El Camino. American Autowire does have a molded rubber channel to run normal wires through on the floor, resulting in a flat bundle much like that ribbon cable.

Correct Steve, it runs from the fuse block connector under the drivers seat, through a hole and grommet in the interior wall right behind the drivers door, and through inside of the drivers quarter panel and attaches to the tailight harness behind the drivers tailight.

I considered just making another harness with regular 16ga wire (I'm a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to wiring) but this one still has good continuity, just needs some shielding.

I had guessed it would be pretty close to how they did it on my '68. Big question was how and where they transitioned from the flat ribbon back to regular wire.

Like you, my first inclination would probably be to run new regular wire and be over it. That was part of why I mentioned the rubber channel idea. Note that you can get terminals to insert into the standard GM connector bodies as well. That is basically how it was done on the '68, using regular wires in a flat plastic sleeve.

But I have to admit that the liquid electrical tape is a very interesting and probably quite feasible idea to make your existing flat ribbon functional :thumbsup:

I had guessed it would be pretty close to how they did it on my '68. Big question was how and where they transitioned from the flat ribbon back to regular wire.

My mistake, its a ribbon from the fuse block to the tailight harness. I think I may try the liquid tape idea. Thanks guys.

I've seen that stuff that you dip your plier handles in to give them a rubber coating and would also work on that ribbon as well.

If you are not interested in origional materials you can try trailer wireing. That wire is flat, insulated and you can buy it in bulk.

I considered it John, but I couldn't find any 6-wire trailer wiring. Oh, I also found a spot near the front where someone drilled a hole through the harness and cut through 2 of the wires. ONe more thing to fix.

Keep looking around evilbay. I've seen a few of the ribbon cables for the 67 on there. Nothing on there right now, but they do show up every now and again. I have decided to sell my complete (100% perfect and unmolested) 67 Camino harness (sorry, except the ribbon) because I would have to hack the crap out of it for the gauges and fuel injection, and all the 'updated' things I'm putting in the build. If you need a perfect underhood or under dash / fusebox-harness (lights not gauges) PM or e-mail me off board. We'll talk.

I have replaced the ribbons with regular wire on probably 20 Chevelles ( I currently have 5, and a Caprice that I did the same thing to). You need to route the round wiring right along the base of the tunnel so that it won't show, but that fixes all of the goofy problems from the Mickey Mouse ribbon.

GM wiring from the 60's wasn't that swift to start with, and we're working with cars that have frequently been subjected to some pretty crude modifications and repairs. Add 40 yoars of age into the mix, and it's a recipe for smoke coming out of defroster ducts or a car that looks like a light show from behind at night.

I've been using harnesses from Lectric Limited, Inc.,6750 West 74th Street - Suite A - Bedford Park, IL 60638 - U.S.A.
Phone: 708-563-0400 Fax: 708-563-0416

They don't show an intermediate taillight harness in their catalog, but they will usually cook something up if you call them. I used to make all my own harnesses, now I just buy them. They look good, you can get stuff like HEI, one wire alternators and EFI wiring integrated, and I have NEVER had one that didn't work perfectly.

G'luck with te fried wiring-welcome to Chevelles!

Mark