The spankin new headlight switch that came in my harness kit is JUNK. The headlights come on in the park position unless I wiggle it just right and then they go off in the headlight position unless I wiggle it too. My interior lights stay on all the time too and it may be from the defective switch. I'm not sure about that but either way, I need to changes switches. This isn't a 10 minute job to swap out on a '66-67..... I need to drop the whole damn dash down again to put the original switch back in.
Lost in the 60s said
Jul 31, 2011
My wife has occasionally called me stubborn and I guess it fit tonight. I was able to get my hand up behind the dash and fish the switch out. The new wire harness was long enough to allow it to drop down for removal but there was no way I could lay on the floor to put it back and get the nut started too. I had to call her out to the shop for help. We had it back in after only a few tries. EVERYTHING now works as it is supposed to. I'll be calling American Autowire this week about this piece of junk.
The left door is another story. The fit was horrible and took a lot of bending to get it even close. One hole for the vent window was so far off I couldn't put that bolt in. The holes for the handle and lock needed to be made bigger and the holes for the arm rest are too big. Once I got the switch replaced, the dome light still wouldn't go out with the door shut and I had to back the jam switch out almost all the way for the ill formed door to push it in....
jim larson said
Aug 1, 2011
Lost in the 60s wrote:
The spankin new headlight switch that came in my harness kit is JUNK. The headlights come on in the park position unless I wiggle it just right and then they go off in the headlight position unless I wiggle it too. My interior lights stay on all the time too and it may be from the defective switch. I'm not sure about that but either way, I need to changes switches. This isn't a 10 minute job to swap out on a '66-67..... I need to drop the whole damn dash down again to put the original switch back in.
Mitch, do you have an old 66 chevelle service manual? On page 12-16 it has the procedure for replacing the lighting switch with no issues regarding the dash. But then again maybe something is different about the autowire harness.
Are you looking for original doors for future use? Maybe there is a company in the us that makes replacements doors? In Looking at Chris P post regarding front fender braces, it looks like some of there products are made in usa.
-- Edited by jim larson on Monday 1st of August 2011 07:40:35 AM
Clutch said
Aug 1, 2011
The more I work on cars the more I repeat what many older, more experienced guys have said forever. Aftermarket stuff is junk. The goodmark panels I got when I was doing my car were awful. I was really glad that my hood, header panel, fenders, and doors were all orginal parts accumilated over time.
Lost in the 60s said
Aug 2, 2011
The floor panels that I have gotten for both the GTO and the Chevelle have fit and looked good, but patch panels and both doors for the Chevelle have not been good. It's a shame too because I would pay more for an ACCURATE reproduction part that fits and functions as original over the junk I've been getting.
Yes, I will be looking for original parts to use in the future when this car gets a proper resto...
67ss said
Aug 2, 2011
Mitch they guy I got my fenders from had a decent hood and one door for sale? Shoot me a PM I can give you his number if you are interested.
The spankin new headlight switch that came in my harness kit is JUNK. The headlights come on in the park position unless I wiggle it just right and then they go off in the headlight position unless I wiggle it too. My interior lights stay on all the time too and it may be from the defective switch. I'm not sure about that but either way, I need to changes switches. This isn't a 10 minute job to swap out on a '66-67.....
I need to drop the whole damn dash down again to put the original switch back in.
My wife has occasionally called me stubborn and I guess it fit tonight. I was able to get my hand up behind the dash and fish the switch out. The new wire harness was long enough to allow it to drop down for removal but there was no way I could lay on the floor to put it back and get the nut started too. I had to call her out to the shop for help. We had it back in after only a few tries. EVERYTHING now works as it is supposed to. I'll be calling American Autowire this week about this piece of junk.
The left door is another story. The fit was horrible and took a lot of bending to get it even close. One hole for the vent window was so far off I couldn't put that bolt in. The holes for the handle and lock needed to be made bigger and the holes for the arm rest are too big. Once I got the switch replaced, the dome light still wouldn't go out with the door shut and I had to back the jam switch out almost all the way for the ill formed door to push it in....
Mitch, do you have an old 66 chevelle service manual? On page 12-16 it has the procedure for replacing the lighting switch with no issues regarding the dash. But then again maybe something is different about the autowire harness.
Are you looking for original doors for future use? Maybe there is a company in the us that makes replacements doors? In Looking at Chris P post regarding front fender braces, it looks like some of there products are made in usa.
-- Edited by jim larson on Monday 1st of August 2011 07:40:35 AM
The more I work on cars the more I repeat what many older, more experienced guys have said forever. Aftermarket stuff is junk. The goodmark panels I got when I was doing my car were awful. I was really glad that my hood, header panel, fenders, and doors were all orginal parts accumilated over time.
The floor panels that I have gotten for both the GTO and the Chevelle have fit and looked good, but patch panels and both doors for the Chevelle have not been good. It's a shame too because I would pay more for an ACCURATE reproduction part that fits and functions as original over the junk I've been getting.
Yes, I will be looking for original parts to use in the future when this car gets a proper resto...
Mitch they guy I got my fenders from had a decent hood and one door for sale? Shoot me a PM I can give you his number if you are interested.