73 charger, wires melting/melted

[Lewis]

Sounds amazing so happy it's a start! Back of the engine smoking when engine left on idle for longer than 10 secs need to figure what that is, also only idles on acceleration and it cuts out so I'm thinking jets and the little tower with to holes that puts the fuel in the primary's? Not enough fuel getting in in time? But getting there, I spent about 20 mins trying to get it off before I came to the conclusion I need a puller, I was thinking of making one since I used to work in engineering so figured I'd make one easier than spending hours trying to locate the right one over here

[nascarxx29]

There is on back of engine a oil pressure sender could be that maybe valve cover leaking.?

[nascarxx29]

Carb check motor off move throttle lever look for sqirt inside carb if accelerator pump or fuel pump is not right you wont be able to idle .idle can also be vacuum leak or timing.or carb idle adjustment needed

[Lewis]

I'll check that actually could be oil burnin it's that sort of smell! I looked in the carb and it squirts but not straight away so I have a feeling it's not putting enough fuel in, I don't know if this matters but it's a lot colder over here so am I going to need bigger jets and the little squirting tower bigger so I get more fuel in to keep it going, also no choke or choke lever the flat bit on top of the carb is missing, don't I need that to control out the amount of air going in so I get the right air to fuel ratio? Carbs aren't my strong point!

[Lewis]

If it's not to much trouble could somebody post a picture of their starter relay, mines wired up wrong and looking at the wiring diagram I've kind of figured it out but just want to make sure, mine starter relay at the ment is just being bypassed don't know why but it's not how it's meant to be!

[ODZKing]

 

[Lewis]

Thank you that's so helpful!!!!! I can re wire mine now!

[Nacho-RT74]

I love wiring!!! well, mostly.

The big problem on the pics you posted is the lack of individual parts available.

Ign switch for example. Plug comes with new assemblies, but not the plug on underdash harness section.

Being outside USA makes even harder. I usually have to reuse old harnesses I'm able to find around and restore terminals. Sometimes even use Glue to keep terminals on cavity.

For underdash harnesses, you can find easily good condition ones in $80-150 rate on ebay. If you are a handyman, you can even get a standard cluster underdash harness which are the ones usually going cheaper and reuse the needed parts and wires. Wires usually ca be replaced from end to end once you remove all the tape, and will save from splices, making a cleaner job, but of course is time consuming. Personally I get fun making that, don't know you.

For engine harness is true that get a full harness is the best investment. This is usally the worst of all the car due the heat. Used ones around can be complete and unhacked, BUT still dried.

Forward light harness use to be find in really good conditions. They are easy to fix to. Hard to find a really bad section on these.

Another good investment is the tranny one. Gets damaged for the heat too, and individual plugs price to rebuild usually gets higher than the full harness itself, so go for a new harness.

CONSIDER THE YEAR of each harness. All 71/74s gots differences. Some are minor, some are big. 72/73 are the closers ones

[Nacho-RT74]

and honestly... I don't see a big deal on what you found, but the tipical weak spots. Alternator wire on bulkhead, ignition switch plug... I bet scarving more you'll find ammeter studs rusted and wires arriving melted, AC/Heater Blower lever plug must be melted, Red battery wire on back of bulkhead close to be melt. Some are able to be saved for future upgrades, but the first step is get it to original stock conditions and restart from there. That's what I would do at least.

One first advice... upgrade the alt for a good iddle output power ( able to give no less than 45 IDDLING if needed, but more if you can ) AND splice any new accesory to alt stud NEVER TO BATT ( that's a big mistake on ammeter equiped cars ) or get a buss/junction point between alt and ammeter to power everything added. Just like factory did on fusebox where the batt buss is actually an alt buss, just linked with the batt through the ammeter

[Nacho-RT74]

BTW, the plug in your hand... I can't think on anyhing around using that plug. Just Proportioning valve brakes block and water temp sender uses to use that kind of plug/terminal ( temp sender being angled )

[Lewis]

Thanks that's really helpful, just trying to fix it all and find a way which is easier and cost effective, main problem is bulk head I have bypassed a few wires due to bulkhead melted which makes it harder to identify wires as they are not numbered so got to label them all, it's got a 68 engine in it so what do I do regarding engine Harness do I buy a 73 or a 68 harness? And yes possitive to bulkhead is a mess! Cannot plug battery in with alternator wired in just starts melting so I am currently running a car with no alternator till I figure out what's going on! Also back of dash is pretty neat no rusting/ loose wires it's all in amazing shape it's everything underneath that, I don't know a lot about the 73 as I bought to learn so it's a struggle one thing I am confused about is that all the other rallye dash's I have seen have a clock on the right next to the speedometer but mines an alternator so is it not s rallye dash? Also the plug I don't know what it does I thought it was something to do with the air con it's also wired up to the part just below to the left not sure what it is! Thanks for the help

[Pete in NH]

I would get a 73 harness. You might have a few emission control wires for things on a 73 that you won't have a place to use on a 68 engine but, that shouldn't matter.

[Lewis]

Okay that's great thank you! Going to do a carb rebuild on the weekend! And flush the tank and maybe replace the fuel lines!

[Nacho-RT74]

71 and lates harnesses are TOTALLY diff monsters... in fact 71 to 74s even allmost same car, got changes too

[Lewis]

Okay what sort of changes? Are they big differences?

[Nacho-RT74]

on a quick over view

71...
-3 pins driver side door jam switch accomodating diff signals to accesories like ign key warning buzzer, lights on buzzer and dome light
- two pieces wiper switch plugs ( for diff switch althought same wires )
- seatbelt warning light ( if equipped ) controled by the time delay flasher same as ign key courtesy light
- no NSS ground signal into the cab

72...
-1 piece wiper switch plug
-2 prongs door jam switch provision ( warning buzzers shares same prong source this time )
-ground from NSS to drive seatbelts relay warning system, and all the wiring related to this. Includes buzzer for this and separated light from the previous setup

73...
-all Same as above.
-Less plugs for accesories not anymore available... one accesories mold source instead two, deleted provision for concelead lamp harness.

74...
-is a WAY DIFF harness monster due the interlock system, although can be used with a little job.

beside this, some wires where turned around on bulhead.

Also there is a Change on AC harness between 71/72 and 73/74. Both drives same wires BUT plugs to control switch change.

If you try to get a new one, search for 72/73 which are the more similars ( considering if rally or standard cluster of course ), and CHECK your engine bay wiring setup just to be sure. I recall there is not a difference btween them BUT just in case.


For donor parts, any 71/74 harness should work to rebuilt your one, even these mentioned differences. Some of them are REALLY easy to save.

[Lewis]

Okay wow I probably would of never picked up on those things, thanks for the help it'll make it easier now for me to get what I'm looking for my dodge chargers build date 72 but I've been told it's a 73 can that be true ?

[Nacho-RT74]

its a 73, definitelly.

[1974dodgecharger]

take your time and find the, 'main' power line that goes into the car once you can find that line and trace it all together everything comes off that line.  Like everyone saids our cars are pretty simple when it comes to electrical system.  Here was my electrical mess I dealt with, but I was able to find a schematic everything and I traced it all out and found what each wire did what.  Don't ask me if I remember it though...


just re-read the thread again....good job

[Lewis]

Thanks great photo! I will be stripping the wiring soon as in taking away a lot of wiring I don't need, so all lights on interior except from Dan I will be removing easier to add at a later date, also is there a website that sells the slapstick console piece with the numbers of which gear you are in my has faded really bad and has fallen to pieces so need a new one, can't seem to find one anywhere!

[Pete in NH]

Lewis,

Go to mymopar.com and look under MyMopar Tools & Reference Categories. Under Parts and Accessory Books You will find a 1973 parts book down load it. Once you learn how to use it you will find the factory parts numbers for any part you need for your car. With that part number you can begin looking for the part. Sites like partsvoice.com are very handy for finding obsolete parts.

You 1973 could have been built anytime between the late summer of 1972 and spring of 1973. That was the way model years run back then.

[Lewis]

Thank you Pete that was so helpful!!! It was build if I'm correct late summer 1972

[ODZKing]

Lewis,

Go to mymopar.com and look under MyMopar Tools & Reference Categories. Under Parts and Accessory Books You will find a 1973 parts book down load it. Once you learn how to use it you will find the factory parts numbers for any part you need for your car. With that part number you can begin looking for the part. Sites like partsvoice.com are very handy for finding obsolete parts.

You 1973 could have been built anytime between the late summer of 1972 and spring of 1973. That was the way model years run back then.

I have a clean printable copy on my website as well Lewis.
http://www.retrorarities.com/ChargerInfo.htm
http://www.retrorarities.com/images/73MoparPartsCatalog.zip
http://www.retrorarities.com/images/73DodgeServiceManual.zip

[Lewis]

Ah okay thanks for all the help guys! Don't know why I would do with out it!!