'68 Turn Signal Half Moon Connector Location

[Six862m6]

Hi all, another hopefully quick question here (again, did both a Google and Forum search and didn't come up with the info I was looking for).

I am in the middle of replacing the main under dash harness on my '68 GMC. Purchased the factory correct harness for '67-'68s from AAW, been a breeze really. Man was my old, original harness in terrible shape from years of PO abuse (and even me just making things work for the time being when I got the truck over 10 years ago).

Now my question is this; does the turn signal switch half moon connector mount/clip somewhere under the dash (it looks as if it does have a slide in clip in the middle on the top of it) or does it just free hang back here behind the gauge panel?

[LockDoc]

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I have never seen one that was actually clipped to anything under there.

LockDoc

[BigBird05]

should sit on top of the column.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

should sit on top of the column.

That's what I thought as well given the shape of it but there is absolutely no way, it's much too short to reach the column and be connected to the light and wiper switches. My old harness wouldn't have been able to sit there either. AAW prides themselves on being very true to the factory specs and from everything I've seen from them so far (this harness as well as a new engine and front lighting harness under the hood) they've been spot on.

[Palf70Step]

That is the connector for the steering column wires other end should be coming out of the column, if yours is factory that is. Most of mine free hung, unless I zip-tied the bundle up some.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That is the connector for the steering column wires other end should be coming out of the column, if yours is factory that is. Most of mine free hung, unless I zip-tied the bundle up some.

Yep, I just haven't connected it to the column side yet as I am replacing the current turn signal switch as well. It's a new style (flat connector) that has an adapter to the half moon connector on it currently. My column is stock, non tilt.

Was just curious if it the connector just hung freely or clipped in place somewhere was all. As another member mentioned, it looks like it should sit on the column given it's shape but there is no way it would reach.

Thanks!

[pjmoreland]

I believe it should be hanging from that metal tab that's on the firewall directly above the speedometer cable. You have your main cable bundle hanging from it, but I believe the main cable bundle is supposed to be attached to similar tabs on the rear of the dashboard above the gauge panel.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I believe it should be hanging from a metal tab that's on the firewall directly above the speedometer cable.

Nice! I'll take a look at that this evening or tomorrow when I get the chance! Thanks and thanks for the pic!

[pjmoreland]

I modified my response above based on your photo.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I modified my response above based on your photo.

Hmmm, interesting. I'll check into that too. Thanks!

[pjmoreland]

Here's a better photo that shows one of the other tabs up above the gauge cluster where the main bundle is routed.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Here's a better photo that shows one of the other tabs up above the gauge cluster where the main bundle is routed.

Good call on this pjmoreland! I rearranged my harness like how your picture shows and I think it will work out nicely. Puts less stress on the wiper switch wires too.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Six862m6

Good call on this pjmoreland! I rearranged my harness like how your picture shows and I think it will work out nicely. Puts less stress on the wiper switch wires too.

Looks nice, and looks like you're at a convenient point to make adjustments.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Looks nice, and looks like you're at a convenient point to make adjustments.

Any chance you can tell me how your wiring from the turn signal/hazard switch on the column is run? I know it runs down the little metal channel on the bottom of the column but I'm more concerned with once it reaches the dash? I've posted a couple of pictures of how I think it should be run under there (the hand brake for the parking brake should mount over it I'm thinking? And then up and around on the left side toward the connector on the main dash harness?) once I get my new turn signal switch in. Any pointers?

Thanks!

[pjmoreland]

I have it running through the small space above and to the left of the column just behind the gauge cluster. Mine doesn't have a straight connector with an adapter on it though, so I can just barely wiggle the curved connector through that opening with the column and gauge cluster in place. You might have to do some partial disassembly to get that larger connector through.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I have it running through the small space above and to the left of the column just behind the gauge cluster. Mine doesn't have a straight connector with an adapter on it though, so I can just barely wiggle the curved connector through that opening with the column and gauge cluster in place. You might have to do some partial disassembly to get that larger connector through.

Gotcha, thanks for the info, I'll take a look at that! No worries on the flat connector; the new switch I have coming has the correct half moon connector on it (main reason I'm swapping it out) so no adapter either!

[pjmoreland]

You can see the wires coming through the little opening in this photo.

[zosoppp]

Here's a photo of mine taken through the I/P hole before I removed it from the cab to recreate/replace the dash harness. The clamp is on a metal flange behind the dash face to the left of the steering column.

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by zosoppp

Here's a photo of mine taken through the I/P hole before I removed it from the cab to recreate/replace the dash harness. The clamp is on a metal flange behind the dash face to the left of the steering column.

So there is a clamp! I thought the top of that connector looks like it slides on to something. I will have to see if I can find that, thanks!

Also.... I'm trying to orient your pictures and description in my head; in your second picture on the upper right, is that your steering column with the white band around it? Are we basically looking to the left of the column, through the dash where the instrument panel would be, the dark area behind the wires being your cab floor/wall?

[68 P.O.S.]

Wow, this has piqued my interest. I found this thread on it as well. https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...d.php?t=783502
I wonder if these clips are reproduced?

[Six862m6]

Originally Posted by 68 P.O.S.

Wow, this has piqued my interest. I found this thread on it as well. https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...d.php?t=783502
I wonder if these clips are reproduced?

Yea I'm not sure if they are anywhere or not, I've never seen them while looking through the various online catalogs. Doesn't mean they're not somewhere though, I have another post on here concerning the windshield wiper washer motors and one of the items in the post was that no one seemed to be able to find a replacement diaphragm for the original pump. One of the forum members chimed in and had found one, it just wasn't listed under these trucks. I think it was for Corvettes of the same vintage.

I've also become more convinced that those clips for mounting to behind the dash as in the pic on this thread and the one you posted are for slightly later than the '67-'68s. I don't see anyway I could get my harness (the main dash harness part, not the signal switch) to that location and it not be in the way of the dash or even to reach that area. Also the user '68OrangeSunshine chimed in on that post saying he had never seen that either and I'm guessing from his screenname that he's running a '68.

[Six862m6]

Just a quick update on this post of mine.

I finally got around to replacing the turn signal switch over the weekend that was installed in my truck with the new AAW switch with correct half moon connector and hazard button. Admittedly, it was a bit of a trick getting that hazard button through it's hole (it does not come off via screw like the round style that was on the previous turn signal switch) while fighting the new wires. I had to refer back to my old switch's wires to see how in the world they got them through the too small hole in the bottom of the cup that then allows the wires to run along the bottom of the column. The wires are all stuck together in a flat plane, fairly stiff. This was causing some major headaches in the cup area that the switch fits. Turns out, I had to break some of the wires loose from each other in the area that would be in the cup and pass through to the part behind and then twist this area so that they would fit. As mentioned, I learned this by referring back to my old switch. Once I figured that out, everything else went pretty smooth.

I decided to pass my switch harness all the way down my column then back up instead of closer up to the instrument panel area. My 68's hand brake bracket will cover it as you can see and this seems to work a lot nicer with that stiff, wide harness that doesn't like to bend. That being said, the new dash harness and switch harness come up just a little short to hang on the hook back in there that I've seen other's hooked to. It is what it is I guess, won't hurt anything it it's well back and out of the way. I've included some pictures showing the final installation of where this will fall in my truck.

*The black "wire" you see running next to the column is actually the fiber optic cable that runs from one of the dash light sockets up to my column gear position indicator.*