Oopsy daisy...
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2
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From: New Westminster BC
Car: '82 Z28
Engine: Small Block 350
Transmission: Turbo 350
Oopsy daisy...
I own an '82 Camaro Z28 with an aftermarket 1979 small block 350 in it. So kind of embarrassing but I hooked up my battery backwards. I lent the battery to a friend who had the bolt style connection instead of the post so we unscrewed the posts. I did not know that the posts are different sizes when I put them back on. I was surprised they didn't fit so I thought I must have the cables on the wrong side. Anyways, I switched them, and as soon as I made the connection, I heard sparks and a big cloud of white smoke came from the starter area. After some expletives, I realized what I had done and switched them back and nothing. No ignition lights or anything. I checked all the fuses in the box, they were all good. Is there another main fuse somewhere? Or could I have fried the starter solenoid? The battery seems ok and has proper voltage. Thanks for any help!!!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: New Westminster BC
Car: '82 Z28
Engine: Small Block 350
Transmission: Turbo 350
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,754
Likes: 996
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Oopsy daisy...
Correct
Last edited by Tuned Performance; Aug 31, 2018 at 12:01 PM.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,754
Likes: 996
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Oopsy daisy...
18 gauge wire = 5-8 amps
16 gauge wire = 10-12 amps
14 gauge wire = 15-17 amps
12 gauge wire = 20-25 amps
10 gauge wire = 30-40 amps
8 gauge wire = 50-60 amps.
Fusible link colors
Link Gauge Color
20 Gauge Blue
18 Gauge Brown or Red
16 Gauge Black or Orange
14 Gauge Green
12 Gauge Gray
16 gauge wire = 10-12 amps
14 gauge wire = 15-17 amps
12 gauge wire = 20-25 amps
10 gauge wire = 30-40 amps
8 gauge wire = 50-60 amps.
Fusible link colors
Link Gauge Color
20 Gauge Blue
18 Gauge Brown or Red
16 Gauge Black or Orange
14 Gauge Green
12 Gauge Gray
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 2,436
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Oopsy daisy...
DON'T do what's in that photo... use it ONLY as a reference for what you're looking for looks somewhat like.
Each Big Red Wire needs its own fusible link. The links are sized according to the size of the wire they protect, and are color-coded by their rating. Generally the FLs are 4 gauges smaller (larger gauge #) than the wire they protect; so for example a 12 ga Big Red Wire would use a 16 ga FL.
AFAICR there are usually 2 FLs in these cars, and both are normally "rust" color, a sort of dull orange/brown, which is 16 ga. One for each Big Red Wire.
You may also find yourself needing an alternator, ECM, or various other electronic components. Let's hope the FLs did their job quick enough and blew before anything expensive did. No guarantees though.
Each Big Red Wire needs its own fusible link. The links are sized according to the size of the wire they protect, and are color-coded by their rating. Generally the FLs are 4 gauges smaller (larger gauge #) than the wire they protect; so for example a 12 ga Big Red Wire would use a 16 ga FL.
AFAICR there are usually 2 FLs in these cars, and both are normally "rust" color, a sort of dull orange/brown, which is 16 ga. One for each Big Red Wire.
You may also find yourself needing an alternator, ECM, or various other electronic components. Let's hope the FLs did their job quick enough and blew before anything expensive did. No guarantees though.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,754
Likes: 996
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
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Re: Oopsy daisy...
The pellet is just a plastic shell molded over the crimp. The fusible link is the wire itself. When they go, the insulation usually melts and there's a flash of light, smoke, all kinds of good stuff... Never let the magical blue smoke out of anything with electricity. The blue smoke is what makes it go.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,754
Likes: 996
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Oopsy daisy...
Last edited by Tuned Performance; Aug 31, 2018 at 07:39 PM.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 2,436
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Oopsy daisy...
Genuine Lucas harness smoke!!! Doesn't get any better than that. Straight from The Prince of Darkness himself.
D00d, you're a millionaire, and just don't know it yet.
D00d, you're a millionaire, and just don't know it yet.
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