Wiring novice asking some Q's - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Mulletbird · 03-03-2009, 02:31 AM

So, does anyone here have a good idea of what proper wiring is for this car? Right now, the wiring is an absolute nightmare, I think the relays and everything from the switch controls in the car itself works, but idk about after.

It has 12 (count 'em, 12) 22-gauge wires running from the starter relay to the starter itself. This guy used nothing but 00-gauge and 22-gauge, which leads me to believe he had a lifetime supply of both, no other proper explanation. So, what gauge wire SHOULD be used for the starter? Obviously the old one is the wrong gauge, the shielding has evaporated or melted off.

Really, an absolute nightmare. And I'm not the best at wiring, nor do I have the budget to go into a Pontiac/Buick/GMC/Chevy dealer and buy a new set of wires off of them (who does?) So, I'm looking to hopefully go to Home Depot, get some similar wire, and wire it on my own.

Here's what happened:

Got in the car, turned the key to ACC, and all my lights came on in the dash (okay, the tach and other autometer gauge lights ... factory gauges are all junk). I pumped the gas pedal twice, to get a little fuel in there (she starts lean, then goes rich... whole 'nother problem altogether) and then I turn the key to start. NOTHING. Not even a solenoid click, and then all the lights go out. (this was after 2 days on 2-amp charge, then I removed the charger, put on the jumpers from my turbo-diesel chevy, and tried jumping it)

I concluded it was not for a lack of battery (which it turns out was bad anyways) or alternator. After all, it would start on the truck's dual 1180-amp batteries regardless! I then got out, walked around, and to my surprise the jumper cables were now arc-welded onto the battery terminals. Took a little wrenching back and forth, but I did finally get them off, and then put the car away for the following month until it warmed up enough for my taste (unheated garage FTL).

So, anyone know the right gauge wires to use for the starter and other "primary" systems? Also, anyone have any ideas of cheap (I'm on a college-student budget here) fuse boxes I can use? Not the factory under-the-dash one, but something for under the hood that I can just bolt in (maybe where the washer fluid tank is ... no need for that on a race car).

Thanks!

- JR / KC2UFP

WildBillyT · 03-03-2009, 04:01 PM

JR-

It would be in your best intrest to get a new harness in its entirity from a junkyard or something like that. You will not be able to get the correct wires from Home Depot (been there, tried that) and buying all of the correct wires a la carte will start to add up.

BonzoHansen · 03-03-2009, 04:06 PM

what car is this for?

Mike · 03-03-2009, 04:08 PM

87 firebird sbc swap

BonzoHansen · 03-03-2009, 04:15 PM

I wasn't sure what vehicle it was. I might have a lot of a harness form an 85TA car

Mulletbird · 03-03-2009, 06:40 PM

carb'd engine btw. If that changes anything.

//<86TA>\\ · 03-03-2009, 07:11 PM

does the car still have emissions equipment? working computer? A/C or anything else? or is this a drag car? What all do you have to hook up?

Tru2Chevy · 03-03-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by //<86TA>\\

does the car still have emissions equipment? working computer? A/C or anything else? or is this a drag car? What all do you have to hook up?

I'm gonna guess no computer since it's a carbed 389 sbc. I think the LG4 computer would have a hard time keeping up with that....

- Justin

Mulletbird · 03-04-2009, 07:39 AM

Justin's right, no A/C, no computer (I gave that away for free actually...) and no emissions. It's a drag car only, maybe if I wind up back in Michigan I'll put it on the street, but their inspection is "Do you pay your taxes?"