I am in need of an engine wiring harness for a 76 cutlass. I have found a 74 model, but I question will the engine wiring harness work for the 76 Cutlass, as this was the same body from 74-77.

Does anyone know, whether this will work, or are there other plug and play models from other GM cars that are compatable...i.e, chevorlet, pontiac, buick or others during this model period?l

 

Don't waste your time buying a used wiring harness and tyring to make it fit in your car. Either buy an aftermarket harness and install it in your car, or wire a new harness yourself. You will need a Factory Service Manual for a good wiring diagram.

The problem with an old harness is it is going to be just as deteriorated as the one in your car now.

 

Thanks for the feedback, but i have been unsuccessful with finding a new direct fit harness for these years. My only option is used as there is no reproduction available/made . My harness was damaged in a minor engine fire.

 

If you are considering replacing the harness with an original out of a parts car you would have to splice or solder it into your existing harness. If you have basic electrical skills then putting in new wires with a wiring diagram wouldn't be too hard.

 

I'll have to look in the CSM and see if there are any extra wires or different wiring between 74 and 76, but right now I'll say except for the 1974 seat belt interlock you should be OK with any 73-77 Olds A-body engine harness. Most 74 cars have had the seat belt interlock wiring disabled long ago, but it's done inside the car.

Your other option if it's minor damage is to get the 1976 CSM with its color wiring diagram and then repair each wire individually. Done it many times. Use uninsulated butt crimp connectors and shrink-wrap tubing, but stagger your cuts/splices so you don't end up with a big gall in your wiring harness.

 

I can almost guarantee that there will be differences from 74 to 76. As an example, I tried to use a 1970 A-body forward lamp harness on a 69. The circuits and wires were all the same, but the wire locations in the firewall connector were different. I had to remove and repin about 6-8 wires to get it to work.

 

Thanks for the feed back

 

Boy was Joe ever right. Neither the underhood wiring plug at the fuse block, nor the fuse block itself are the same between 74 and 76. For that matter the engine bay side fuse block plugs appear different every year 73-77, thought the 75-77 fuse block layout is the same. The 75-77 fuse block/wiring is also different between automatic and stick transmission.

Chevrolet takes their main and accessory power feed from the starter post instead of from a junction block as Olds/Pontiac. I believe Buick does it the same as Chevy, so doubtful either of those would work for you.

How bad is this harness buggered up? Looks like you need a 1976 Cutlass harness or repair what you have.

 

Wow, looks like more work than I thought. I was hoping, just hoping since I was having a hard time finding an engine wiring harness for the 76, one from another year may work, but I see that I'll have to continue to look. Thanks for checking and researching.

 

Try these guys, they made the wiring harness for my 72 442. They had the engine wiring harness in stock but had to make the one for the lights,horn,

http://www.wiringharness.com/

 

Does anybody have any recommandtions who sells a good quality harness?

 

What's wrong with the original harness that you feel that you need a complete new one? Unless the car has had an engine fire, it's usually much easier and cheaper to just replace the bad wires than to replace the whole harness. You can get the correct Delco Packard terminals and correctly color-coded wire from most of the automotive wire harness vendors, not to mention places like Waytek Wire. Get a good crimp tool and this is a piece of cake. I just bought a correct crimp tool for Packard terminals for $31 from ebay.