Your Corvette wiring harness was made of copper with a plastic insulation. The plastic insulation was porous. Contaminants, like oxygen, moisture and airborne pollutants, eventually pass through the insulation to attack the wire; a condition called oxidation. There is no practical way to completely seal off the circulation of air and moisture between the individual wire strands. Once the wire strands become oxidized, the internal resistance of the wire increases substantially. This can cause electrical gremlins like shorts and malfunctioning gauges. If your wiring has progressed to the next stage of deterioration by becoming brittle and cracked, it is in immediate need of replacement. At this stage, a short circuit to ground is eminent. In a worst case scenario, it can cause a fire. Even if you are lucky enough to find an N.O.S. wiring harness, the wire strands will have deteriorated over time just by sitting on a shelf. For this reason, it would NOT be wise to purchase an N.O.S. wiring harness. The same corrosion factor happens to the wire's terminals over time.
Make | Model | Years |
Chevrolet | Corvette | 1963 - 1966 |