And this black box is a .....

[kdlp]

While trying to figure out why my horn(s) don't work (turns out there weren't any or any wiring either... another subject for another post), I came across a black box attached to the right side of the fuse box, just above the directional flasher.

The odd thing is that it has a two conducter male plug at the bottom and dangling (unconnected) nearby is a female plug that I'm sure was once connected. The wire colors leading into the female plug are orange (larger wire) and green. You can see them with the tape wrapped around them in the pic. The black box is just to the left of the rusty clutch pedal. You'll see the two prongs at the bottom.

This Corvette is an '81 and was repowered by the previous owner. The computer is no longer used and it could be related to that. The other thing I was thinking is that maybe the guy just got PO'd at the anti-theft system and yanked everything related out, and the black box could relate to that.

Thanks for all help?!!?

Kelly
(kdlp)

 

[kdlp]

Let's try again on the pic....

 

[clar2001]

Could be wrong but looks like a buzzer to me seat belt door headlight ?

 

[Dave L.]

clar2001 is on the right track...I found it in my shop manual. Its the seat belt/key warning buzzer.

Dave

 

[Bob Chadwick]

;stupid

Mine was disconnected as well. I plugged it back in and it made this god awful noise so I decided to leave it unplugged.

 

[kdlp]

Thanks for the info. I've traced and tracked so many dangling wires on this car that I'm never sure what's important and what's not.

Thanks again,

Kelly
(kdlp)

 

[Ludigdrums]

Hey kdlp. In looking at your picture, I was noticing your fuses. It seems that you have some 30A fuses in the wrong places. Double check it cause it's no good to have a fuse of a higher amp rating than it's supposed to have. I'm not at my home copmuter right now, but I could get you a list of what they are supposed to be, although the fuse panel should say the rating right on it. Good luck!

- Jeremy

 

[kdlp]

Thanks for the tip! I've got a picture of the fuse panel another forum member sent me that I can use as reference. I've been so busy sorting out loose ends (literally) that I haven't checked the things that are working but may be jury rigged.

One thing I've got a real problem is with the horn circuit. The wiring is in the steering column and the relay is there, but there is no wire in the loom coming from the firewall. And after removing the front clip and crawling around underneath I discover there are no horns!! (And no mounting bracket either...)

At least parts of two looms have been snubbed off at the firewall. I'm going to have to figure out how to get to the snubbed off portions at least to see if I can identify wire color. The only way I can see to get to where they are snubbed off is to remove the brake booster...

It never occured to me to honk the horn before buying the car.... oh well, at least the repower makes the car scoot!!

Thanks,

Kelly
(kdlp)

 

[Ludigdrums]

Cool...I think my car and yours may be related cause someone played around with a lot of the wiring in my baby as well. This forum has been a great help so far as I'm sure you already know. One kink at a time!

By the way...what is "repower"?!

- Jeremy

 

[81 Corvette]

are you sure its not the anti-theft device

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

I know what you mean about chasing down loose ends. When I got my current 78, there were wires going everywhere. I removed over 20 feet of added on wires that didn't go to anything. I still have a few more to trace out.

Good luck getting it all figured out. It just takes time and finding out what kind of strange shapes you can get your body into to get at them.

Gary

 

[82ColEd]

Yep, 20+ years and plenty of techs under the hood (and everywhere else).. Got plenty of wiring dangling everywhere, but i'll wait until i'll get my redone (as in car restored from scratch).. part of the 15-20 years plan.. In the meantime, i am trying not to trip while driving.. :L

 

[kdlp]

Cool...I think my car and yours may be related cause someone played around with a lot of the wiring in my baby as well. This forum has been a great help so far as I'm sure you already know. One kink at a time!

By the way...what is "repower"?!

- Jeremy

Jeremy,

The "repower" is basically a 4 bolt 350 with Edelbrock aluminum heads, Performer manifold, a Federal Mogul roller cam (that I can't find specs for) and roller rockers, with headers. As far as I can tell there are no L-81 remnants. Even the air pump and engine related vacuum hoses had been yanked.

The drivetrain in this car is solid, some of the wiring was really messed up as though they were just interested in getting the job done.

And you're right on, this forum is a GREAT help.

Kelly
(kdlp)

 

[Robin7TFour]

i think any of us who bought a less than perfect car ,have found all kinds of interesting wiring. most of the lights and fuses weren't working on mine.
thus , no power windows. brake lights,etc. the alarm system was all messed up. plus they added another alarm, which also didn't work either.
then,while removing 600 ft of useless wire, i found SIX differnt types of speakers in odd locations. and the radio didn't even work..

they joys of old cars

robin

 

[70 VETTE 454]

sounds like fun.......and all so familiar???

I started to get under my dash 3 months ago once I took the body off, and following just a few wires, got me to the same place, NOWHERE. ad
.....but I did find some wires that weren’t even automotive electrical wires. come to find out, they were some kind of trailer house wire or something ... well that’s what my brother-in-law told me, who happens to be an electrician.
so I left it at that and decided to start on the frame first instead of the body.

but the problem will still be there when I get back to it. so, my solution is to pull all the wires once I get back to the body, and replace them all with a new painless wiring kit (where all the wires are labeled to where they go) and at least this way I will know that every thing works right when im done.
I figured since I was restoring it, I might as well as do it right.....right!!!!
but im sure it will all be worth it in the end.......
Dave

 

[Ludigdrums]

Hey kdlp...I think I might have repower as well. I know that I have an Edlebrock Performer intake, Holley Carb w/elec. choke, Headers (don't know what kind) and my AIR pump was removed too. I don't know what else, like if the cam or heads are different, but it definately has a lot of get up and go. I'd love to know more of what I have, but the previous owner only knew that it had work done and that it was way more powerful than the others that he'd driven. Just thought this was interesting.
- Jeremy

 

[JohnZ]

sounds like fun.......and all so familiar???

but the problem will still be there when I get back to it. so, my solution is to pull all the wires once I get back to the body, and replace them all with a new painless wiring kit (where all the wires are labeled to where they go) and at least this way I will know that every thing works right when im done.
I figured since I was restoring it, I might as well as do it right.....right!!!!
but im sure it will all be worth it in the end.......
Dave

The LAST thing you want is a Painless Wiring harness - they don't make Corvette harnesses, and their 18-circuit harness won't even come close to working. You'll need a replacement harness designed specifically for your year Corvette from Lectric Limited.

 

[70 VETTE 454]

John

just curious as to why you say that the 18 circuit GM universal kit wont work with my vette?!?!?

if GM is part of Chevy or vice versa, then it should work. now, I know that there is not a specific one for my 70 from painless, that's why I got the 18 circuit GM universal set up. 18 circuits is more than enough to power everything that I need it to, with plenty left over to add any extras that I may want later......I also know 2 people that did it in their vettes and its all working fine......

I did look at the Lectric set up before, and there ate too many harness parts and it looks way too complicated to set all up back to original.....plus all my electrical set up will be all after market gauges and stuff (nothing original will be left inside) and also engine mods that may require elect power. that's why I went with painless 18 circuit.
I also know that the connection from the new painless wires to the old stock connections for gauges, lights, and stuff require a different connection than what stock has, so that is another reason I'm going after market on the inside for the gauges.

but in any case, I still am curious as to why it wont work.....

Dave

 

[JohnZ]

Didn't understand that you were completely modding the car - in that case, you can probably make the Painless 18-circuit work; if you were just re-wiring and leaving the electrical system and all the electrical components stock, it won't (that's why the Lectric Limited replacement harness is "complicated", because your car's electrical system is complicated).

 

[70 VETTE 454]

John--
thanks for the advice, but I guess I should of explained myself better in the first place........sorry!!!!

but, yea, I am re doing the whole car. and after seeing what I had to begin with, and knowing that the electrical is now 30+ years old......well, something has got to give at some point..... and might as well address it now since it will be easier to do now at this point than later, once I'm done with the car.

people and restoration places have told me that if it still works fine now, then it will probably last another 30 years, but I just don't really see that happening......maybe its just me.

looking at the stock harness and connections, I did notice too many different harnesses for it (looked expensive too), and since I wanted white face, aftermarket gauges to update the appearance a bit, I found out that the new connectors of the gauges wont work with the original harness... now I could use adapters to make them work, but then I don't want to have the wrong voltage or not enough if something goes wrong in the setup. so I opted for redoing it all and starting from scratch with all new wires and harness, to get what I really want. its going to be time consuming, but ill have help.......

thanks again john for the tip.....that's what I love about this site, someone has been there and done that and can tell you if what you are about to do, will work or wont.......

I really do appreciate all the advice, and since this is my 1st restoration, I still got allot to learn, but I am learning as I go too, and hopefully will be able to help someone myself later.

Dave