some behind the dash help

Ok so when I bought my 73 nova the prior owner decided he wanted to rip apart the dash and only partially put it back together before I got it. I have the wiring diagrams for the entire car and I can follow them for the most part. I guess what Im looking for is some pictures to show how all the wiring is routed. Im still chasing hot wires and trying to figure out where some of them go and my dome light works when it feels like working. Really frustrated about trying to put this all back together and I dont have any one around that has any more knowledge about this than me other than this site. Any help and or words of encouragement would be great. Pictures would be awesome. Ill try to take a picture and show you all just what Im working with.

Oh yeah could anyone talk me through putting the horn back together the steering wheel. That was another thing that was taken apart and some pieces lost. thanks in advance.

If your using the stock cluster it should be plug and play.
If not, (I used all aftermarket) my aftermarket came with sending units that just needed a wire that was hot when the ignition was on. As far as the dome light, sounds like you have a bad wire or bulb connection somewhere. As far as wire "routing" I say hide and tuck it the best as possible, keep it out of sight!:D
I know ..... Its not much help, but keep up the spirit, wiring problems suck!

In all honesty I ran new wires for all of my guages using the sending units supplied, fused a hot wire from the fuse panel for all of them, i am waiting for the fuel tank to run empty so i can change the sending unit. All in all do one item at a time until it works properly, It will be so gratifying you'll be ready for the next!:D

I am using the stock wiring. Ive really thought about getting a new complete wiring system for the entire car but the funds for that arent there and Im not sure about how much time I will have to do it either. Its the small things like figuring out how the plastic piece fits on the steering column. The wiring being half wrapped in electrical tape and the other half being unplugged from everything. I have to fix it all to pass inspection here in Germany and I have 30 days to finish that, the complete exhaust system, changing jsut about every seal on the car and the wiring and horn. I know I just need to take a deep breath and take one thing at a time. Just wish I had some Nova guys in Germany to work on this or drink some beers with.

Here are a couple photos to show what I started with.

OMG.
Well for starters, there is supposed to be a wire tray that runs along your fire wall, all of the wires should feed thru it and down your fender wells to their appropriate spot. I am not sure what the plug on top of the valve cover is for.
Is everything under the hood working like it is supposed to?
I am looking for a good pic of mine.

top of pic shows it.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p305/bobs72nova/insurance/insurance006.jpg

wow if my engine bay looked that good I would be very pleased!! After all that is the goal. The plug on top of the valve cover is the engine harness that was fried due to a nice short. That harness has since been replaced. I dont know what happened to the wire tray. I was thinking about getting some kind of pipe or tubing to run the wires through to help clean it all up. Thanks for the picture. It helps see that it is possible to make it look decent.

this place is awesome for getting help!!

before:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p305/bobs72nova/nova/nova307019.jpg

oh yea everything is working under the hood. It took about 10 minutes to realize the guy I bought it from had put the wires on the starter backward and thats why it would turn over.

did you have to cut any wires to make them shorter or just routing them through the wire tray made it clean up that good? I hate the way the wiring from the windshield washer looks like a mess on mine.

If everything is working start taking 1 wire off at a time and running thru trays or wire coils, run new wire if the ones you have arent long enough.
The trick is to do one at a time and figure a gameplan on where you want the wires to run. it takes some time and patience but you will like it when done.

Try finding some of that black wire loom, maybe at an autoparts, it does wonders for hiding wires, Cut em if you have to otherwise if you dont want to you can fold them against themselves and hide them in a loom.

The overall theme for the car is to make everything work, then make it clean. I would love to completely take the front end off the car and rebuild it all but getting ready to move back stateside isnt giving me the time to do it. Any recommendations on what to use as a wiring tray?

The black wire loom your talking about is that the plastic tubing that is really flexable and has the single cut to put wires in? If so I think I have a bunch of that laying around in a box somewhere.

The black wire loom your talking about is that the plastic tubing that is really flexable and has the single cut to put wires in? If so I think I have a bunch of that laying around in a box somewhere.

Thats the stuff!!
As far as the tray for now use some small pvc pipe ( paint it black)with maybe a couple of loop hangers to support it.
Loop Hangers: used for wire, look like the letter d your attachment point is at the top of the letter.

This has gotten me all fired up to make it look good again! One more question, where is your temp sending unit? I know with the intake I have on mine its in the front but is yours on the block?

on the passenger side block,
Aftermarket oil sending unit mounted to the passenger side near the tray