1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Spun Bearing · 12-05-2018, 12:14 PM

This is my first post - thanks in advance for any help.
1964 C10 stepside that I bought on Halloween. Original wires all cut up - many missing.

I bought the American Auto Wire complete harness kit.
Reusing the original grommet for the front light harness, I'm having a heck of a time getting the sockets into each other to meet at the firewall. Having one on the inside and one on the engine side and connecting thru the firewall - like the original.
I'm I doing this wrong? Should they both be on the inside and use a new different style grommet ?

Andy4639 · 12-05-2018, 02:09 PM

One side of the grommet should have a grove for the fire wall made into it.

Spun Bearing · 12-05-2018, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy4639

One side of the grommet should have a grove for the fire wall made into it.

There are two grooves, one wider, and I'm putting it in the correct way. When I push the connector from the engine side, it pushes the other half back into the cab.

Maybe I need to make a special grommet.

ray_mcavoy · 12-05-2018, 08:13 PM

Are you working with this type of connector?

If so, the procedure I use to install them is:

(1) Working from the engine compartment side, put the grommet into the firewall hole with the tapered side facing inward. Make sure the grommet is fully seated in the hole.

(2) Working from inside the cab, push the cab half of the connector into the grommet. The outer ring on the plastic connector shell should snap into the grommet's inner groove, securely holding the connector into place. In fact, once these are snapped into place, getting them back out can be very difficult (especially with an older grommet that isn't as soft and pliable as a new one). Warming them up with a hair drier (or heat gun on low setting) can make the grommets a little easier to work with if necessary.

Spun Bearing · 12-05-2018, 09:03 PM

This is very similar to what American Auto Wire provides. I'll see if the new connector has a groove for the grommet.
I was considering assembling the two halves on the engine side and then pushing it into the firewall.

Thanks for the advice.

Spun Bearing · 12-08-2018, 10:36 PM

I warmed up the grommet just a little bit with my heat gun, installed it in the firewall, applied some white grease, and the inner socket slipped right into the groove of the grommet.

**damnyankee36** · 12-09-2018, 10:12 PM

The old grommets are gonna be hardened from age. You're way ahead of the game if you use new grommets.

12-05-2018, 12:14 PM	#1
Spun Bearing Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 27	1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty This is my first post - thanks in advance for any help. 1964 C10 stepside that I bought on Halloween. Original wires all cut up - many missing. I bought the American Auto Wire complete harness kit. Reusing the original grommet for the front light harness, I'm having a heck of a time getting the sockets into each other to meet at the firewall. Having one on the inside and one on the engine side and connecting thru the firewall - like the original. I'm I doing this wrong? Should they both be on the inside and use a new different style grommet ?

12-05-2018, 02:09 PM	#2
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: 1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty One side of the grommet should have a grove for the fire wall made into it. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

12-05-2018, 08:13 PM	#4
ray_mcavoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sherman, ME Posts: 2,354	Re: 1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty Are you working with this type of connector? If so, the procedure I use to install them is: (1) Working from the engine compartment side, put the grommet into the firewall hole with the tapered side facing inward. Make sure the grommet is fully seated in the hole. (2) Working from inside the cab, push the cab half of the connector into the grommet. The outer ring on the plastic connector shell should snap into the grommet's inner groove, securely holding the connector into place. In fact, once these are snapped into place, getting them back out can be very difficult (especially with an older grommet that isn't as soft and pliable as a new one). Warming them up with a hair drier (or heat gun on low setting) can make the grommets a little easier to work with if necessary.

12-05-2018, 09:03 PM	#5
Spun Bearing Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 27	Re: 1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty This is very similar to what American Auto Wire provides. I'll see if the new connector has a groove for the grommet. I was considering assembling the two halves on the engine side and then pushing it into the firewall. Thanks for the advice.

12-08-2018, 10:36 PM	#6
Spun Bearing Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 27	Re: 1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty I warmed up the grommet just a little bit with my heat gun, installed it in the firewall, applied some white grease, and the inner socket slipped right into the groove of the grommet.

12-09-2018, 10:12 PM	#7
damnyankee36 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Alamogordo, NM Posts: 676	Re: 1964 AAW harness thru Firewall Difficulty The old grommets are gonna be hardened from age. You're way ahead of the game if you use new grommets.



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