Wires And Gauges: A 1967 Chevy II Nova Makeover
Classic cars are awesome when they’re working right. But intermittent issues can turn a weekend drive into a nightmare. This 1967 Chevy Nova II looked pristine when it arrived at our workshop, but it wasn’t cranking over.
One look at the wiring revealed why this was the case. Kyle Kolke gives us a rundown in this video of what needed to be done to get the Nova back on the road again.
Classic Car Wiring Issues
This bright red 1967 Chevy Nova SS is a stunner. Unfortunately, when it came to our workshop, it was just a static work of art, as the engine wouldn’t turn over. The issue was quickly traced down to a badly damaged wiring harness. We found that it had been modified and damaged over the years.
“The wiring had been butchered over time, cuts, splices, add-ons…even back to the taillights.”
– Kyle Kolke, Karl Kustoms
This is one of the more common issues with older classics. Many have been modified over the years to accommodate newer radios, updated lighting, and ignition systems. The result is a mess that can leave your vehicle stranded.
This particular Nova’s wiring harness had been cut, spliced, and modified in several places all the way back to the taillights. Even if they aren’t cut or spliced, wiring harnesses will degrade over time. Read more about why wiring harnesses fail here.
Classic Car Wiring Solutions
The only solution is to fit a completely new wiring harness. Our wiring harness supplier for this project was American Autowire Wiring Systems. They offer a drop-in wiring harness that comes with several upgrades over the original setup:
- Drop-in harness replaces all old wiring
- Glass fuses replaced with blade fuses
- Allows for add-ons like radios, lights, and electric fuel pumps
Karl Kustoms offers a variety of wiring harnesses for many makes and models. Read about why our standalone wiring harness is the perfect solution for an LS engine swap.
Classic Car Gauges
The original gauges in most classics look great. But they rarely work properly and are often inaccurate. Unless originality is paramount, a replacement gauge cluster is the perfect way to enhance and modernize your classic.
“With the new wiring harness in this car, we also switch the gauges out to a Dakota Digital VHX series gauge cluster.”
– Kyle Kolke, Karl Kustoms
For the Nova, we chose the Dakota Digital VHX series gauge cluster. These clusters are perfect for older classics. They adapt well to the older engine and transmission designs while still being very accurate. They also integrate well with the replacement wiring harness.
Where the old speedometer cable was linked to the transmission, the Dakota unit uses an adapter to turn this into a digital signal. The water temperature and oil pressure sensors are also far more accurate. If you need something a little different, we also stock a wide range of replacement gauges for vehicles of all makes.
Karl Kustoms Is Your One Stop Customization Specialist
Updating the wiring and gauges on your classic car is a great way to improve reliability and performance. It can also help ensure that your weekends are spent out driving and not in the garage troubleshooting issues.
Karl Kustoms also has a machine shop, custom shop, and service shop. So, to ensure that this Nova was ready for the road, we resealed the oil covers and oil pan and installed a new water pump, alternator, and fuel tank.
“This thing’s ready to rock. He should be able to jump in this thing this summer and just take it out.”
– Kyle Kolke, Karl Kustoms
If your classic needs a bit more work to get back on the road, we also do restorations, custom upholstery, custom painting, bodywork, accessory installations, and more. Contact our expert team for more information on wiring, gauges, or anything else you may need for your car.