This is a new American Autowire engine wiring harness and I have a question regarding the routing/attachment of the wires that run to the starter solenoid. The new harness has a white plastic pushpin type clip attached to the harness (harness tape is wrapped around it and holds it in place)...SEE PICS. Question #1: Where is the overall harness (ie the wrapped portion before you get to the actual bare wires/terminals) routed?? Does it rest on top of the black plastic "block" that holds the positive battery cable inside the cable tray? Question #2: I don't see one of these clip in the original harness from the car but it may have been "messed with" in the past and re-wrapped/taped up, etc so it's possible the original clip was left out. What/where does this white plastic pushpin clip install?? OR...Question #3: Is the pushpin not even supposed to be there for a '70 car?? Thanks very much.
Patton, I'm not too sure about the clip, if there was one on my car it's long gone. The black block should have like a tunnel over where the cable passes through. It's not really a tunnel, but like a 3 sided area of plastic to protect the harness. The wrapped harness fits in it, then the block with cable and harness slide in the metal holder. AA harnesses are very good, but I've seen stuff like that before. Wait...now I'm thinking there is an extra hole in the solenoid shield I've always wondered about. Maybe it clips there? This is an NOS 70 cable/block.
Thank you Frank .....very helpful! I turned on the computer today and thought about this thread wondering "maybe Frank saw the posting" THUMBS UP! The placement of the pushpin puts it inside the plastic block tunnel or VERY CLOSE to the starter end of the plastic block.
Frank, Was Buick the only one to use that plastic shield for the harness? Is there any aftermarket options for it? Mine has been MIA since I've owned the car.
Patton...if you have the solenoid shield check fo the hole for the clip. The wrapped part does start right at the end of the block. I'm not home to really investigate it now. Larry...yes...as far as I know that block is unique to Buick. I've owned BPOC and only seen it on Buicks. It's not repro'ed, you can usually save them and use again with some effort. It really is a good part safety wise. Wheelz had one one for sale recently with the brkt, I think. The bolts are unique, but you could whip some up. Jason or Bruno probably have bins full of these things!
Patton...look at the starter shield in Wheelz post to sell the block that Larry's buying. See the extra hole on 1 side? I think that clip goes there. There was one on my car, but it was broken, and I couldn't figure it out back then. Yeah...I think that's it and I think they get broken the first time the starter is dropped. Larry...I've put blocks on both my cars, sometimes you can pull the cable out. I like to notch the top with a Dremel + wheel over the cable just slightly smaller than the cable. Then you can like snap the old one off + snap the new one in. You can either Gorilla tape over the notch or notches, or silicone if you are fussy, but even without it should stay there.
You mean this piece? If you look closely, the block has a small cutout where that white plastic clip would go.
Oh...yeah...the notch...makes sense! Maybe the extra hole in the shield is a 350-455 thing. Yeah Larry, looks like Jason is totally wiped out of those! He only has enough of them to make a carport. lol
Excellent....EXTREMELY HELPFUL! I was thinking the pushpin clip had to go somewhere inside the tray/plastic block setup due to its location on the harness. Again, I appreciate the help very much and the Assembly Manual pic from Jason is more icing on the cake.....helps with routing the unwrapped portions of the wires to the solenoid. :TU:
@LARRY70GS @pglade Hey guys, I know his is an older thread but I got the same question. My battery cable plastic piece doesn’t have that slot cut in it for the plastic pin of the engine harness to fit. Anyone know the dimension to cut a slot in it? Looks like it may be an inch but wanted to double check. Thanks Nick
Hello Gentleman, I just came upon your thread and it is going to be helpful, later on. I have a question about the positive battery cable. Can the plastic sleeve be sliced open with a dremel? Or would it be better to slide a new cable through and attach the eye for the starter? The complete units ( cable and bracket) are way to much money, in my opinion. Also would it be better to replace the whole engine harness for safety ? Thanks
Some of the wiring companies have been installing the plastic block on a new cable if you supply it. Cut the old cable and pull it out.
