73 Road Race Cuda

[70chall440]

I am continuing along with the wiring making progress. I keep finding things to address but haven't found anything I cannot handle yet. I am seriously thinking of pulling the frame back out of the car and installing the harness into it. I needed it in the car to get measurements but I think it will be much easier to install the harness into the frame on a stand outside the car. I can do it either way but outside of the car I can install the instruments, switches etc. Still thinking about it.

Goody - did you wrap your harness with anything? I am debating whether or not to wrap it; there are a number of places that sell the non adhesive wrap but if you ever need in there it will be a pain to find anything.

[73440]

Great job you are doing with your wiring , I am trying to understand more about relays and such how they help.
In looking thru the 73 FSM about the wiper switch wiring , it is showing a pink 12 gauge wire at the B terminal on the wiper switch that connects to a 12 gauge wire that runs from the ignition switch connector to the accessory buss bar on the fuse box.
Maybe with all your new wiring and relays and fuse box connection  :england:the 12 gauge wired in is not needed, the other 5 wires are shown as 18 gauge.

I can try to look tomorrow at my 73 what the switch and wiring look like wiring gauge wise.

[70chall440]

Great job you are doing with your wiring , I am trying to understand more about relays and such how they help.
In looking thru the 73 FSM about the wiper switch wiring , it is showing a pink 12 gauge wire at the B terminal on the wiper switch that connects to a 12 gauge wire that runs from the ignition switch connector to the accessory buss bar on the fuse box.
Maybe with all your new wiring and relays and fuse box connection  :england:the 12 gauge wired in is not needed, the other 5 wires are shown as 18 gauge.

I can try to look tomorrow at my 73 what the switch and wiring look like wiring gauge wise.

Thanks for the information; I too looked at my 73 manual/s and saw the same thing. I talked to the harness company today and they assure me that the 16g wire is enough so I went with it. I have all of the switches now wired, getting closer.

[73440]

Sounds good, the 12 seems large , guessing its due to fuse box buss bar connection the way done 44 years ago.
One day I need to go thru my wiring harmesses, the body is a 73 and engine 68 so there are a lot of extra wires in the engine compartment, duplicates of some , haha.
Been following your build , not sure about me wanting to do a complete wiring project , but do want to get the headlight relays installed at least.
You are able to upload photos a lot , do you have to resize , I always have trouble here using ipad.

[70chall440]

Sounds good, the 12 seems large , guessing its due to fuse box buss bar connection the way done 44 years ago.
One day I need to go thru my wiring harmesses, the body is a 73 and engine 68 so there are a lot of extra wires in the engine compartment, duplicates of some , haha.
Been following your build , not sure about me wanting to do a complete wiring project , but do want to get the headlight relays installed at least.
You are able to upload photos a lot , do you have to resize , I always have trouble here using ipad.

To be honest, the wiring isnt near as bad as it seems. Having done this now I wouldn't hesitate removing a full harness and going through it or replacing it.

I take pics with my iphone, then email them to myself. I select medium size which works really well for posting.

[70chall440]

I have been considering developing a thread in the electrical section of the forum with a variety of information I have obtained from my current efforts but am not sure if it is warranted.

Point in case, 70's era Mopar's used a variety of 3 position receptacles (kind of a wedged shaped deal that has 3 round holes in the face, they were red and orange predominately but there were yellow ones as well). These receptacles take bullet connectors, however they specifically take type 56 .180" bullet connectors which took me a little while to figure out. 

I know there are members here far smarter on electrical issues than I am and others with more experience specific to Mopar systems, but I do know that I had to do quite a bit of research to get this far and I have owned and worked on Mopars for over 40 years. One of the first lessons I learned was that if you owned a Mopar you better know how to deal with electrical issues. My point being, there is a lot of confusion, misunderstanding and a distinct lack of immediate information on the subject.

I will take a look at the electrical section and see if it is needed.

[70chall440]

I decided to remove the dash frame and install the wiring harness in it along with the gauges, switches, pad, etc. I will say up front though that it was worth putting the frame in the car and getting measurements. I typically cut my wires long and at times too long which stems from cutting them too short too many times. This usually ends up causing me issues with too long of wires, but I can usually handle this.

I also decided not to wrap the harness inside the car with anything. In a perfect world I would put a sheathing over it but IMO I do not think it is necessary in this case.

I also got the wood grain applique on my console face which I think will blend well into the car.

I have been going through some mental torment over what to do with what used to be the spot for the radio. I have always intended for this spot to contain the push to start button (which it will) but there is a fair amount of space there so I have been trying to figure out what else if anything to out there. I am now thinking of putting in my fan switch which allows me to manually turn the fan on or off. I was thinking of also wiring in a manual fuel pump switch but I have to figure out how to do that while letting the EFI CPU manage it when running. The reason is that like on my Challenger, I have a FP test switch which has proved useful.

Here are pictures of my "spaghetti" and my developing console.

[redo1973]

Very nice.  I'm thinking of putting a plastic loom over the wires while the dash is in the car.  I've not done this before so is it too difficult or best to have the dash out of the car? My wiring assembly is largely stock.

[70chall440]

So long as you are sure you are not going to add wires to your harness, covering it with sheathing of some kind is fine. I just have not gotten to the point where I am 100% done with modifying the harness.

Got the first peice of glass back into the car yesterday; the right rear quarter glass. I discovered that the drivers side quarter glass has been replaced with a window out of a 70 (date code on the glass), plus my car has tinted windows and the replacement is clear, so know I am looking for another 71-74 left (drivers side) quarter window.

[redo1973]

Interesting. That sure seems like a surprise to have clear quarter glass.  I think that we finally adjusted our side windows.  What a bugger that was with a replacement front glass on the passenger side.  I still think that my regulator or glides are a little off but it looks good.

[70chall440]

Excellent, just finished putting in the door glass. I am reusing my glass which isn't perfect but ok.

[70chall440]

Got bot door windows and the left rear quarter glass in. Trying to find that LH quarter window; then I will be good. Also put the door handles in. It is coming along pretty well. I have to get the wiring sorted.

I stumbled across some pictures of a Cuda with a installed filler panel between the header panel and the radiator support. I really want to make one.

[redo1973]

Wow, Your glass went in quicker than mine Thanks for the idea on that filler panel.  I feel a scope creep on my project  but I'll wait until it is on the road.  It's nice to feel that the end is in sight,even if it is to be worked on forever.

[70chall440]

I had a lot of help from another member here (Crash520); he also has a 73 Cuda but his is a real 340 car.

I will be building one of those panels I believe, I really like the way it looks.

[70chall440]

Work continues on the car...  still working on wiring but it is going ok. I ended up buying yet another relay box, this is also a Bussmann but this one allows individual wiring of the relays which I determined I needed to do.

I went to install my road lamp switch and discovered that I needed a low profile switch so I ordered a couple. I did manage to get a new radio plate made which will house 3 switches; 1 for the fan, 1 for the fuel pump and the center for the push to start switch. The fan switch will be a manual on to allow me to run the fans if the engine and electrical is off, the fuel pump switch is more of a test switch that will allow me to run the pump without the EFI ECU turning it on. I have a similar set up on my Challenger and it has proven useful. In general these 2 switches will remain off, but should I need them I will have them.