Thatguy427

Great replies all! Along with wirebarn.com you can also get GXL wire by the foot at https://4rcustomswire.com/. Yes, car technology was good then but look where it is now. 3 speed tranys vs 10+, crazy HP out of much smaller engines so on and so forth. Not only that, some of the stuff I'm looking for just doesn't exist any more. Can't run to the parts store for tube fuses and no more radioshack. Although I did recently notice they are back online, but they are moving to sell crypto. They do have some of their old stock though... I'm getting 1.5v through some wires that look great, when I should be getting 12. That is a big reason I've decided to rewire. Not only that, some previous owner(s) really did some sloppy work in the engine bay. Some of the terminals I've checked in my light sockets are literally crumbling. I guess I'm just the type if I'm going to do something I want to make sure its right, at least to the best of my abilities. I recently changed all the vacuum lines to silicone. The system worked, well after I put tape around an obvious break at the trunk. When replacing all the "working" vacuum lines there were so many cracks in every segment. It was all just waiting to fail. I will most likely use the silicone tape that you have recommended. Possibly with wire loom as well, depending on the location. Fortunately for me, no big belt buckles to worry about Xframe, can you expand on the bussed switch circuits vs live circuits? Do you mean circuits with fuses and circuits without? I read another tip on this site to, "Change the wiring so that the power to the headlights is drawn from the battery through relays rather than through the headlight switch. That is, the switch activates only the relays rather than drawing all the current for the lights. It will give you better, brighter lights and save your switch." I've haven't started looking at forward of the firewall yet, or at least more than trying to see what color wires there are." Like many of your great suggestions I have it in my notes for this part of my Riviera project. Any specific reason for the third brake light? The flashers make a lot of sense. Thanks again guys!

Yes, definitely a big job. Thanks for the tips! I haven't seen any wires smaller than 18 ga. luckily. I've got my 56 connectors already. I should be getting my, what I call, pin connector for the window switches shortly and I've been able to source a few other light connectors. I did order a new crimper with a couple dies as the one I currently have isn't for 56 connectors. I'm planning on getting GXL wire, just still verifying colors and sizes and if I'm going to use a color equivalent, which it looks like RIW can provide the colors and stripes I need. I'm considering upgrading the fuse box to a more modern type. Any thoughts there or reasons to keep the original besides for originality sake? Thanks for the tips and help!

Here are those pictures I promised. FlatTop, I do need those connectors but those are the ones I found easily. Yeah, the tool you linked is a must. I have a kit of three I got years back to fix some wiring issues on my '95 vette. I'm considering foregoing the factory type tape and just going with wire loom I have around. At a minimum I will also use tape and wire loom in the door jamb to help reduce bending and what not to prevent future breakage. That is a good idea to hold the connectors. I'll give RIW a call. From their website it doesn't look like they have anything for my year, make and model, but at a minimum it looks like they can produce the wire in the colors I'm having trouble finding. We will see if they have the connectors I need as well.

Hello all! I recently bought a 69 Riviera with a lot of wire splices and bad voltage drops among other things. I've decided to rewire the car. If anyone has any general tips or suggestions, please share. So far ive mapped out the driver's side and passenger side window harnesses, harness to the rear and rear bumper. From going through this process I've learned very quickly that many of these terminals are very hard to find. On top of that, finding bare terminals for the light sockets has been almost impossible. If I'm going through all this work I would prefer straight wire all the way through just like she rolled off the factory line. Do any of you know where to source light socket terminals? I've attached pictures of two terminals that I've been unable to find (ill update this post when i get home, having problems uploading pictures). There is a third, I think I've found (side rear riviera lights) so I will leave that out for now. Here is a description while waiting on pictures: partial moon shaped terminals at the tail lights, and C shaped terminal for the dash lights If I am unable to find these terminals what are your thoughts a splicing with butt connector or solder and heat shrink vs adding weather pack connectors? Thanks for your thoughts!

Sorry to bring back an old post. KRmanr, you said you rebuilt the wiring harness? What did you do at the window switch itself? My '69 has a plug with a backing plastic welded on to it so you cannot easily get to the connectors. Also, I've been having problems finding the window pin connectors, let alone ones that connect with a 90 degree angle, even if I did remove the back of the connector. Do you have a source for those? I'm thinking about 3D printing the case if I can find the pins. I'm also just thinking about getting a six pin plug and a single pin plug to put between the door and the switch. Thank you for your help!