Bought a new M&H under dash wiring harness for my 67 Charger- Installation tips?

[Dean Prevolos]

Before i start my installation of the under dash wire harness I thought I would ask the Forum members for any tips. Questions I have are:

1. Can I install the harness without removing the windshield? I know the windshield has to be removed to remove the dash but is that necessary to install the wiring harness?
2. If I don't remove the dash from the car, I assume I will remove the gauge cluster, drop the steering column, remove the radio, glove box to gain access but will I be able to reach the bulkhead from the inside without removing the steering column?
3. I have labeled all the new wires from the service manual wriring diagram, are there any recommendations as to where to start the installtion? Do I connect the bulkhead first and then the wires to each component?
4. Besides testing everthing before I put everything back together, what other advise can be offered?

Thank you in advance.

 

[copper67sat]

I replaced the dash harness in my 67 Satellite without removing the dash, windshield or radio. I dropped the column to remove the cluster, but didn't remove it completely. I worked through the cluster and glove box openings with the seats and console in the car. I might remove those last 2 items if I had to do it again only because it's getting hard to contort my body like I used to. The bulkhead connector is difficult to reach and push the locking tabs into position so I tied strings to the tabs - one top and one bottom - and pulled it through from the engine side. I also removed the fuse box and added connectors for new auxiliary items that had been added like gauges, etc. to remove all the old splices while it was on the workbench prior to install. Hope this helps and good luck!

EDIT: It's been a while but I believe I started with the bulkhead connector and worked from there.

 

[gtx6970]

I plan to do this over this winter.
Remove driver's seat
remove steering column
remove instrument cluster

I think I can do it in a day , two tops

I have no intentions to remove glass or dash frame itself . Console is a maybe, just depends on how contorted i need to get my body.
work from the firewall bulkhead connection back

 

[AR67GTX]

The kick panel on the driver said anyway needs to come out as there are a couple plug connections behind it. I replaced my bulkhead box in my 67 last year and did not remove the column. I lowered it. I did a whole dash harness in my 66 a few years ago but I had the interior pretty gutted at the time. The bulkhead is a bit of a pain to get to. I believe I hooked string twine through the clips and into the engine bay, put some dielectric grease on the clips and pulled it through to latch into place by the twine. I would remove the drivers seat but you can probably do OK leaving the console and pass seat in.

A couple suggestions, when you get the old harness out, go through each plug and compare the new one with the old one. Twice, installing new harnesses I’ve found 2 wire positions accidentally switched in a plug. It can ruin your day the first time. The second time it was a simple correction before installing.

Check grounds and wire crimps on all grounds, and also on other terminals. I had a headlight circuit ground issue up front on my 66 that was giving me fits until I found that the ground ring had been crimped in both crimps on the insulation. The furthest crimp is supposed to be on the bare conductor but they accidentally crimped it on the insulation.

Good luck.

 

[RedBeard]

I added some and repaired some of my wire harness by doing exactly like you thought you could. And yes, remove the front bucket seats.

 

[440 4 speed]

Before i start my installation of the under dash wire harness I thought I would ask the Forum members for any tips. Questions I have are:

1. Can I install the harness without removing the windshield? I know the windshield has to be removed to remove the dash but is that necessary to install the wiring harness?
2. If I don't remove the dash from the car, I assume I will remove the gauge cluster, drop the steering column, remove the radio, glove box to gain access but will I be able to reach the bulkhead from the inside without removing the steering column?
3. I have labeled all the new wires from the service manual wriring diagram, are there any recommendations as to where to start the installtion? Do I connect the bulkhead first and then the wires to each component?
4. Besides testing everthing before I put everything back together, what other advise can be offered?

Thank you in advance.

Yes to# 1 and 2

 

[Billccm]

I plan to do this over this winter.
Remove driver's seat
remove steering column
remove instrument cluster

I think I can do it in a day , two tops

I have no intentions to remove glass or dash frame itself . Console is a maybe, just depends on how contorted i need to get my body.
work from the firewall bulkhead connection back

I'd be happy to test/reflow solder/replace the IVR on your cluster!

 

[Belvedere408]

I just did this last summer, once you get started it'll be smooth sailing. The M&H harness are so nice and pretty self explanatory. I didn't remove windshield but did remove radio, I had steering column down and front bench seat removed.

 

[Dean Prevolos]

Before i start my installation of the under dash wire harness I thought I would ask the Forum members for any tips. Questions I have are:

1. Can I install the harness without removing the windshield? I know the windshield has to be removed to remove the dash but is that necessary to install the wiring harness?
2. If I don't remove the dash from the car, I assume I will remove the gauge cluster, drop the steering column, remove the radio, glove box to gain access but will I be able to reach the bulkhead from the inside without removing the steering column?
3. I have labeled all the new wires from the service manual wriring diagram, are there any recommendations as to where to start the installtion? Do I connect the bulkhead first and then the wires to each component?
4. Besides testing everthing before I put everything back together, what other advise can be offered?

Thank you in advance.

Thanks to all of your suggestions. I did trmove my drivers seat so I could access under the dash better. I am 72 and my back is not what it used to be. I like the idea of pulling the bulkhead up with strings from the engine bay side makes sense. And the dielectric grease is also a good idea. I was concerned about getting that fastened in place on the bulkhead. I will lay out the original harness and check it against the new harness. I have already found one connection that made no sense until I called the M&H TECH in California and he told me to what to do for my car , which is a 4 speed manual verse the automatic. I feel much better with all your recommendations and will start this weekend.

Thank you ALL!

 

[Dean Prevolos]

I'd be happy to test/reflow solder/replace the IVR on your cluster!

I already had that completed by Todd Castner(Todd's restorations). Everything actually worked except for the light in the fuel gauge, which he fixed. Thank you for the offer