C2 Fuse box

['63split]

Hello,

 

['63split]

C2 fuse box

I'm looking for information regarding the fuse box on my '63 coupe. I've taken out all the fuses to clean the rust off of the contacts. The letering on the box is very faint and I wanted to know if there are any photos or diagrams indicating what each fuse represents. Also are there any good electrical schematics or diagrams for the fuse box? The one shown in my shop manual is not very clear. My main problem is that I have no contact at the top fuse but I can't tell what the fuse is because of the worn lettering which is hard to read. Also my tail lights only work when my radio is turned on. :-(

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Ron Miller]

When viewing the fuse block from inside the car, the fuses should be as follows from the top down:

1. Parking Brake Alarm - Gas Gage
2. Heater Blower Motor
3. Radio
4. Panel Lamps
5. Tail Lamps
6. Courtesy Lamps - Stop Lamps

The top three fuses (no.'s 1, 2, & 3) are powered thru the ignition switch, i. e., they only have power when the switch is on. If your taillights only work when the radio is on, "Bubba" has apparently done some re-wiring, or you have a problem elsewhere with a short/open ground in the system.

Hope this is of some help!

rlm:cool

 

['63split]

Thank you for your response.

It's obvious that Bubba and maybe his brother-in-law too have rewired the dash. When I bought the car a few months ago it had a toggle switch mounted underneath the dash to operate the back-up lights. In addition another toggle switch had been added to bypass the wiper switch which had stopped working. I and a friend are rewiring the dash harness back to stock operation.

Best Regards,
Mike

 

[youwish2bme]

Sounds somewhat like mine car. I know why a lot of these types of problems occur. Someone somewhere down the line was just to cheap to do it right. IE the reverse switch, mine was that way due to the hurst shifter. I guess once bubba paid for the shifter he couldn't afford the hurst b/u sw. Oh well you can just leave it the way it is and let the next owner call you bubba also..hehehe. Or the way it seems we all are now, and I definately fall into this group... Spend every dollar we have and every waking minute thinking of how to improve our vettes. Good luck man. This place is the best. It sounds like one of the laminated wiring diagrams is in your future. I picked one up in Knoxville last month for 12 bucks. The best 12 I spent there.. Dave..

 

[allcoupedup]

http://65corvette.nonethewiser.net/posts/parts/9-14-03-012.jpg


Here's a picture I knew would come in handy someday.
brian

 

['63split]

Thanks Guys!

What a great close-up shot of the fuse box, Brian. I just cleaned and scrapped the contacts in the fuse box and I will re-assemble it in hopes that everything will work properly. Now I have to fix the fresh air vent that I broke while taking the fuse box apart. It's a never ending quest, but what else would we be doing with our time.

Best Regards,
Mike

 

[Cowtown Dave]

I had the same look under my dash with a couple of random toggles!! I needed to repaint the dash so I took it all apart and put in a new dash harness, best thing I ever did, everything works and no clutter!!!

 

[Ron Miller]

The contacts for the fuses in the fuse box are probably somewhat rusted due to age, and after scraping them, you'll brighten them up again. If you'll get a small tube of dielectric grease at your local parts store and coat the contacts with this grease, it'll help prevent them from further corrosion and will keep the fuses making good contact for a lot longer. It's the same grease used in light sockets, and around spark plugs and spark plug boots.

rlm:cool

 

['63split]

That is a great idea, Ron!

After removing the fuse box from the fire wall, I soaked the fuse box in a mild acid and then washed and cleaned the contacts with water, WD40 and brake clean then blew it all dry with air. The 2 plugs on the engine side of the fuse box have a small o-ring gasket embedded in the bottom. I was going to try and find a source for these gaskets but your idea of the dielectric grease will work in place of these gaskets.
I unfortunately broke the tab off of the fresh air vent grille while removing it to make it easier getting to the fuse box. I priced the grille at a local Corvette parts store and he sells them for $49.00. Needless to say I'm going to JB weld it back together in the hopes that I won't have to replace it. If the grille had been less expensive like around $15.00 - $20.00 I would have bought a new one, instead I'll try and repair what I have.

Best Regards,
Mike