Hey folks,

So this weekend, after doing one of the fattest burnouts in my life with the 88, it died around the corner. Much swearing and towing later, turns out I had no spark. Forward a day of diagnostics and messing around, I am looking to replace the engine harness, since some of the wires are bad, and there's no color coding anymore due to the PO doing such a fantastic job of "prettying it up" with black spray paint everywhere. I was looking at the Year One harness for a Cutlass https://www.yearone.com/Product/1964...***-442/l16630 and I was wondering if it'd fit my car. I have no interest in A/C. If I can't find a good source for a harness then my other option will be buying a few rolls of wire and replacing wires in the current one.

--
Dante

 

Nice looking 72, congrats on the burnout! Bummer it died on ya though.

The harness to the fuse block is a single 5/16" bolt (IIRC) right in the middle of the connector, so it shouldn't be too hard to loosen and remove. You might have to go from below or move the brake booster to get at it though. Anyway - once you can access that bolt it's pretty easy to remove.

If you decide to replace the wires individually, take a digital pic of their location on that connection block first.

I found that Year One pricing tends to be a little high at times, and one more thing to consider - they usually only carry the A body harnesses. I honestly don't know if the engine harness they or any of the aftermarket vendors have is compatible with B body. Lectriclimited? I realize not too many companies make harnesses for the B body cars. I checked all the usual suppliers including Fusick and USA Parts Supplies (these guys have B body catalogues) and no one lists a harness for your car.

One other thought - there's a guy relatively close by - John McNeel (2blu442 this site) who parts out Oldsmobiles. I know he had a 72 a while back - check with him and see if he can help out? He's in Medford Oregon. Not sure but I think the 71/72 engine harnesses are the same - donor could be either 88 or 98?

 

Thanks Allan! I'll keep an eye out for donor cars. Lectric Limited seems to be a pretty good resource, I'll check their prices too. For now I got the car running again by replacing a couple wires and the coil, so the entire harness is now a 'would like to have' instead of 'need it now'.

--
Dante

 

Cool. Nice when you don't 'have' to replace and the fix is simpler and more cost effective. I know that on some models, Lectriclimited needs the whole old harness and fuse block, but that's more for interior harness on 60's series cars IIRC. Glad you got it running and good luck with future burnouts!

 

Where is the video of the "Fattest 88 Burnout Ever"?

 

LOL, most of the fattest burnouts ever done in my car were trying to get the heck away from someone or someplace....no time to stage that if you know what I mean.

 

There's no video, but there's a leftover trail...

 

If you unplug the harness and take all the tape off it, you may just get away with a couple of wires. There aren't that many wires to it to start with. Also under the tape, you'll see the colors.

 

There wasn't much tape to begin with, so most of it is covered under black spray f'n paint. So much butchering.

Right now the car runs, I just need to replace a couple more wires due to damaged insulation, but overall it's in better shape.

Also, where can I get that resistance wire? Auto parts stores? The one in there is "spliced" so I'm not sure about the effectiveness.

--
Dante

 

I use American Autowire.
They made the wiring harnesses for all the GM cars throughout the years.
I am sure they make a engine harness for B bodies.

Derek

 

you can replace your bad resistance wire with a ballast resistor. They are 1.3 - 1.4 ohms and can be had at your local auto parts store:

 

Yeah I remember the ballast from my '85 Diplomat days... I might go that way.