Need electrical advise Options

[993inNC]

as I've stated before, I am an electrical ....... dunce. I know the basics and have gone through them and am stumped on where to go from here. Here's where I am. I have half the car pulled apart with regards to wiring. I found the headlight switch to be flaky, but have them working (with pop up function) if I pull the switch just right (ok I'm good with even being there so far). I still have no flashers (have tested the hazard switch and it seems power comes in and goes where its supposed to when actuated (only at the switch though). The blinkers don't work, nor under the guise of the hazzard switch do they work. I have no brake lights and the running lights (next to the back up lights) seem to stay on whether the lights switch is on or not (ignition on).
Also I pulled the front bulbs (looked good) as well as the rear. I pulled the rear housings apart and I when I did, I have lights that come on when they shouldn't, lights that don't come on when they should, and the kicker, if I play with the back up light for instance (push it in harder) all the lights on that side come on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) clearly something is wrong. Almost seems like I have cross pollinating going on somewhere in the electrical system. Like power is being crossed over to everything but only under certain conditions.

So my Q is......where do I start? Where should I look? Should I scrap the entire harness for either new or refurbed from Pelican (or other)? I was hoping to get this car to where it was driveable while I decide how far to take its reconstruction and since I won't have much time until next summer to do this car right, but this will be a huge setback if I don't get it worked out.

Any guidance will be hugely appreciated.

[993inNC]

Ooops, sorry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) signature amended. Didn't have the car when I signed up.

As for the bug/ghia wiring harness, I figured i could alter the ends by cutting the old ends into the new harness (or new ends....either way). Didn't the late bugs come FI'd?

In any case, just throwing ideas out there, see what comes out of it. I can't believe no one has had to replace a harness in these before, and the only choice is a used one from Pelican? What about a custom car? With lights and audio systems, what do those guys do? I just want to get this car going and want to restore it properly. I can just see this becoming a never ending gremlin chase. I'll fix one issue only to have another crop up, and then I won't enjoy the car at all. I suppose I could strip the car (for paint/body work), and deal with the wiring as I put it back together? Pull all the looms apart check each wire and re-loom as I install.......

If I could just get to knowing whether its a relay/fusebox/switch issue or a chaffed wire(s) I'd be a lot happier!

Do the fuse boxes go bad? looks like just a block for holding spade connectors and the relays.

Someone tell me these damn things do, they don't seem to make any changes when removed/replaced.