[tjs72lemans]

I finally got my engine wiring harness mostly figured out and wired (It was pulled by previous owner). I know there is suppose to be a metal tube for the starter wires to feed down to starter, but the boxes of parts I got with car didn't have one. Is it straight, curved and where do the wires go down? I assume maybe between the exhaust straight down to starter, but not sure. This is a 400 with auto and air if it matters.

[DavesGTO]

Mount it under the negative battery cable.
Franks Pontiac parts





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[HWYSTR455]

Ram Air IV engines got a curved one that mounts on the front of the head, most others got a straight one between cyl #5 & 7.

The long straight ones mount on top of the engine mount.

Year and body style makes a difference too, earlier than 1970 there were several tubes available.

There's a kind of 'flat' or oval tube curved one, and a round tube curved one that immediately comes to mind, I use the round tube oval one on the back of the driver's side head and route that way. Requires longer start wires, but I use a Ford sol on the firewall, so non-issue for me.

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[HWYSTR455]

Is it the original harness to the car, an aftermarket one for the car, or a used replacement one for a 'series' of cars across GM?

Easiest way to tell which one you have is to mock it up and see what length you have for the starter wires. The Ram Air IV ones are longer, and are wrapped with the wires that go to the alt.

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[redgoated]

Looks like if your build date is after 12/20/71 the tube was moved to the front.
That's where mine is.

[DavesGTO]

Mine was early build but moved it there anyway. New harness was long enough, didn’t like the old tube location.


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[tjs72lemans]

Looks like if your build date is after 12/20/71 the tube was moved to the front.

Yes, mine is late 72. Original harness. I mocked it up and I have the wires running along intake/valve cover to alternator. It looks like the starter wires could then go in front of head into tube and below original exhaust logs. My rebuild eliminated the stud head bolt since I have ARP bolts now. So, it looks like an original tube won't bolt there. I may have to fab my own to bolt to the front of the head where my negative cable would have to bolt also. Redgoated, I don't see if yours runs down the front.

[tjs72lemans]

Does the positive battery cable only go through the metal tube? I assume the starter wires route separately from front of head along and under the exhaust?

[MescaBug]

The positive battery cable goes in the tube at the front of the head. The starter wires are wrapped together and goes down at the front of the head/block. Both goes thru a retaining bracket that's bolted to the block right beside the motor mount. That's for standard cars. I think HO's are different.

[tjs72lemans]

Thanks.