Got my 68 Charger - wiring is a complete RATS NEST. Many questions.

[Corellian Corvette]

Got my 68 charger finally delivered yesterday.

Some things better than I expected, some things worse.

The WORST part of the whole car is the wiring. It's a complete rats nest. Wires spliced in 3-4 times, hot leads wrapped together then taped up. Wires just clipped off and dangling... It's a fire waiting to happen.

Instead of trying to figure out what goes where, I just ordered all new wiring harnesses from YearOne. Out with the old, in with the new.

HOWEVER, the one question I have is regarding the Positive battery cable. I was looking at ordereing one from The Paddock then I realized WHOA! Those things are expensive! Also, they list several different types for 68

67-68 POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SINGLE PRONG TRANSMISSION SWITCH (EARLY '68), HEMI.
Product Number PBC5

68-69 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 3 PRONG TRANSMISSION SWITCH, HEMI.
Product Number PBC6

How can I tell which one is right for my car? What part of the 'transmission switch' are they asking about?

Also - is there a cheaper source for these cables? $200+ for a battery cable seems steep!


Next question - where is the fuse panel? I looked under the dash and I didn't see it. Is it hidden?

[mikepmcs]

Welcome Aboard! 

I would try Evans, i bet they get you in the right direction.

http://evanswiring.tripod.com/

or you can try these guys, www.itsasnap.com , i'd try evans first.

fuse panel might be in the glove compartment.
v/r
Mike

[dkn1997]

kiesler engineering, ie: 5 speed guy, makes cables too, I think they are under 100 bucks. 

[8WHEELER]

If you have not found it yet, the fuse box is just under the glove box, in the left rear as you are looking at the outside.

Dan

[mopar1968]

Got my 68 charger finally delivered yesterday.

Some things better than I expected, some things worse.

The WORST part of the whole car is the wiring. It's a complete rats nest. Wires spliced in 3-4 times, hot leads wrapped together then taped up. Wires just clipped off and dangling... It's a fire waiting to happen.

Instead of trying to figure out what goes where, I just ordered all new wiring harnesses from YearOne. Out with the old, in with the new.

HOWEVER, the one question I have is regarding the Positive battery cable. I was looking at ordereing one from The Paddock then I realized WHOA! Those things are expensive! Also, they list several different types for 68

67-68 POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SINGLE PRONG TRANSMISSION SWITCH (EARLY '68), HEMI.
Product Number PBC5

68-69 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 3 PRONG TRANSMISSION SWITCH, HEMI.
Product Number PBC6

How can I tell which one is right for my car? What part of the 'transmission switch' are they asking about?

Also - is there a cheaper source for these cables? $200+ for a battery cable seems steep!


Next question - where is the fuse panel? I looked under the dash and I didn't see it. Is it hidden?

I know some people can only use concourse quality parts, but, I just took my old positive cable out and measured the length and noted the type of ends.  Then, I drove my happy self down to Pep Boys and bought a new one that was almost identical for around $10.  Then I replaced my Ground too for around $8 so they both would match.  I did have 1 wire to the starter relay to splice to the new cable, but some time and solder and some heat shrink, it turned out like a factory installed piece.  Oh, the positive cable I purchased had an 8g spare wire just for what I used it for. 

As for the tranny piece, I just bought one from Year One and it has nothing to do with the Power wire.  It is a small harness that carries the neutral safety switch and back up lamp wires to the trans.  If you have a later 68 then you can use that harness.  If you have an early model 68, then the backup lamp switch is located inside the steering column near the firewall, and the neutral safety wire is a single wire going to the trans from the starter relay.  I had the switch in the column until it stopped working.  Then when I replaced my trans, all newer transmissions come with the new 3 prong switch installed.  That's when I ordered that harness so I could have backup lamps.

If you still feel the need to spend $200, you can buy your wire for less than $20 and send me the other $180???      jk.

[Corellian Corvette]

Thanks man. I haven't hunted around my undercarriage yet - so I think I'l end up doing what you did

[SeattleCharger]

  Is the cable so spendy because you have the battery in the trunk or something?   Appears that is where the battery was in my car.  I don't know where I will put it when the engine goes in.

[mopar1968]

  Is the cable so spendy because you have the battery in the trunk or something?   Appears that is where the battery was in my car.  I don't know where I will put it when the engine goes in.

Sorry to answer for him, but Year One and others charge unreasonable prices for "concourse" quality pieces.  It's one of the biggest problems with owning these cars.  Everyone wants to screw you out of large amounts of money for simple pieces.  That is why I only order what is absolutely necessary from these companies, and everything else I engineer myself or find someone that makes something close that is far less money.

my .002