Fuse box Fun!!

[silverriff]

I have a 72 cutlass hackjob that I am trying tp put together. After 2 weeks of battling the uncooperative weather, and rats nests of old wires, I got a really nice 71 non-a/c floor shifter harness into the car. Hooked up the battery, and it was dead. No lights, no nothing. After a few tears and curse words, and pulling the fusebox apart, the first of hopefully few curveballs made itself obvious. The main power line (thick red wire) from the engine harness was feeding into a blank slot on the new harness, thus, car wasn't getting any power. My question is this....being this is my first venture into something like this, is it common to have to "re-map" the wires in the fusebox to line up? Stupid me thought that everything would be where it should, and I would be cruising around in no time. But NO! I am trying to clean this poor car up as much as I can, so I want to make the wiring as kosher as possible, including taking out all of the ex-a/c wires that are left swaying in the engine bay, so is having to rearrange the fusebox cool? Or should I break down and start all over with matching harnesses all around? Any help would be great! Thanks for listening to my post-electrical installation grief.

[silverriff]

Just to be alittle more clear, the car was an orignal column/A/c car that was converted into a non-a/c floor shifter. The harness that I put in was from a like car....non-a/c floor shifter. It was from a 71 i was told, but I didnt think that would make much difference. I guess I know now!

[hamm36]

To cut, or not to cut is the question ? I am in the same boat, per say. I believe I will hide the A/C wires, not cut. And remaping is a good idea if you can make it work. They do sell a Wire Map on eBay for $18 + shipping, if that will help. I was thinking about running a trick starter switch through the fuse box untill I looked at it close. I think I will run it through a hole in the fire wall and hide it in the loome. I hope this helps. I often try to make it nice, but it seams to always trun out worse. lol

[Oldsguy]

You both need to get yourself a good factory service manual with the wiring diagram. It will help you do your job so much.

[hamm36]

I have a 1972 Cutlass Assembly Manual, but not a lot of wiring diagrams in it. And nothing with wiring color in it. It showes the basics, and it was a big help getting the dash off. Any body got a wiring harness for a 72 ?

[joe_padavano]

I learned the hard way that the wire locations in the fuse box/firewall connector did change from year to year. I used a 1970 engine and fwd lamp harness on my 69 442 and many of the wires were swapped around in the connector. I had to remove them and reinstall them in the correct locations for a 69. You need the Chassis Service Manual, not the assembly manual, for this info.