"Kawaii-Gon Jinn" (kawaiigonjinn)
04/03/2015 at 09:42 • Filed to: None
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"Kawaii-Gon Jinn" (kawaiigonjinn)
04/03/2015 at 09:42 • Filed to: None | 0
| 23 |
debating whether I should splurge on the 7ent or MiniMania harness for my mk3 1000, or try and weave my own using the existing (rotting) harness. Current harness crumbles when worked with. I got it so I have high beams, but at the expense of low beams. deep down, I have a feeling that 400$ harness is not that bad once I factor in the cost of getting 5 spools of wire and all the nicks on my fingertips from splitting and stripping.
anybody ever make their own wiring harness? aside from making sure I have all the connectors *in advance* are there any other tips?
spring is almost here and I *NEED* to drive.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 09:48 |
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Of course. Mostly just for simple circuits. Otherwise I prefer to just modify an existing harness as needed. Trust me, that $400 harness is well worth the time, money, and headache it will save you.
nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 09:49 |
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if pricing out the raw materials is substantially less expensive it may be worth it. But without a peg board it could be a major PITA setting up.
I'd probably go with the premade, save yourself the trouble and risk of accidental screwups / overall frustration.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 09:51 |
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buy the new one.
you'll have no one to blame but yourself if it lets you down or self combusts.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
04/03/2015 at 09:58 |
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yeah, the picture makes me wary. the problem with this job is that a new harness will require the alternator conversion. and if I put the alternator then I just HAVE to install rally lamps to take advantage of the extra output. and if I have rally lamps, then I really need all new shocks and flares.
EDIT: not to mention, if I want to replace the rear harness, I have to remove the headliner, which just seems like the easy thing to fuck up.
http://www.7ent.com/products/wirin…
desertdog5051
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 09:59 |
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Can be done but why not get something proven. You will be a lot happier. Where ya been Owen?
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
04/03/2015 at 10:00 |
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true. my own time is worth at least 75/hr and i'm sure it will take a month of sundays of me cursing in the garage at night.
505Turbeaux
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 10:02 |
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I have spun up full harnesses for air cooled before, I did one for a few MG's. It never looks as good as the kit, but at least you can trust the connections better than those that were spun up in China
roflcopter
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 10:06 |
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I retraced the engine bay harness in my Volvo 240 with all new wires last summer, it was a pain, but I didn't have the money to buy a new ones so I dealt with it.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> desertdog5051
04/03/2015 at 10:06 |
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over at DeadSpin. not enough dickpics over here.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> roflcopter
04/03/2015 at 10:08 |
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how much did it run you? my fear is that i'll end up north of the assembled price because either i'll buy too much wire, or need to buy more, or screw up the connectors.
Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 10:16 |
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Few things scare me more than the thought of needing to make my own wiring harness.
NoneOfYourBiz
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 10:16 |
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Meh. While $400 is spendy, I too have a line in the sand. I'd rather just work a few hours of overtime to make the extra money to buy it since it'll take me WAY more time to make it myself from scratch. "Division of labour" exists for a reason.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> NoneOfYourBiz
04/03/2015 at 10:23 |
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oh I agree. but I'd like to try it since it's a relatively simple car. the money isn't the issue; 400 is perfectly doable (besides the wife rolling her eyes), but i want to do it myself, but not if it's going to cost me more to do it myself because i have to buy something twice.
Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 11:56 |
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I am at this point as well with my spitfire.
I have a 1968 with a generator. I want to upgrade to an Delco 94 amp model and put modern Bosch relays in the headlamps and starter circuit. Also plumb in a electric FP and relay and heated seats.
A lot of british guys have had success with Painless and EZwiring universal kits. They are used in most of the restoration/mod shows you see on cable.
If you do undertake making it yourself I suggest a few things.
1. Find the british wiring harness color chart and use it. It will make checking for faults easier and the car will look stock even with the custom touches like rally lights and the like installed. Ahh, I'll just do it for ya...
http://www.ragtops.com/article_britis…
http://www.mgexp.com/article/lucas-…
2. Use LOTS of relays. These older cars just did not make use of relays to take the stress off of switchgear. Things will run brighter and longer if you put relays in, especially on headlights.
The guys at Advance Auto Wire are nice enough to have their diagrams online. I highly suggest you look at it if you are going to jump into this. I would also read up on what the custom car guys are up to, they have this stuff really sorted.
These relays with integrated fuses are nice for adding in circuits while maintaining your stock fuse box.
3. Use of junctions/terminal blocks.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6auor…
I think this link to my google drive will work. These things are the key to making a nice sanitary harness. You can find various types on ebay as well. If you car has the good old Lucas square type starter solenoid, you can use one of those terminals as a terminal block as well.
Let me know if you need some wiring harnesses to use as cores for proper wires. I can ship you one for a small fee from our stash.
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Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> 505Turbeaux
04/03/2015 at 12:05 |
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Once you know the basics, they are not that hard to mock up.
A big hint that I saw on some car show (Wheeler Dealers maybe) was using a piece of cardboard to mock up the harness in full scale. You can cut holes for gauges and switches and install them so you have things exactly where you want them.
Saved me so much time and energy. Once I mocked up the cardboard, I brought it inside and worked on it in the comfort of my den with plenty of warmth and light.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
04/03/2015 at 13:13 |
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Always nice to hear from a fellow sucker connoisseur of English automobiles; you're a gentleman and a scholar.
and, to pick your brain on a different topic entirely: you ever hear of anybody electing to use motorcycle oil in a Mini? considering a mini's engine and gearbox share the same lube, I always wondered if I could use it in a pinch. out in rural west MI, there aren't a lot of exotic oils available.
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roflcopter
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 13:43 |
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It ran me about $65 to do what I needed to, that was just wire, unshielded butt connectors, and shrink tube. I reused all the connectors that were reusable, it was mostly the insulation on the wires that was shot.
I also re ran all of it in one color of wire... Someone is going to curse me for that one day.
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Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 14:30 |
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Man, English cars rock. I far prefer them to Italian (I have owned Alfas, so I know what I speak of) cars because of variety and availability. And honestly, a crappy Brit car is crappy because a previous owner didn't to their job. There is just not that much that can break on them. Most of the electrical problems can be traced to either bad grounds or corrosion, especially in the fuse box.
I am going to do a little write up on Sprites this weekend. A little something to kick off the drop top season!
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
04/03/2015 at 14:39 |
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maybe i'll document the wiring harness saga. space in the garage is not a problem. if I start now, it will be ready when the weather finally turns.
everything mechanical/electrical on my mini is original so I only have myself to blame if it doesn't run well. it's had body work done to fix rust behind the wheel wells and after my dad hit a deer with it. of course, while they body shop was working on it, one guy was sanding while another was welding and they set fire to the carpet, so I lost that pretty dark green carpet.
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Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 14:46 |
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Oh, hey...about the trans/engine oil. I have heard that plain old 10/40 is the way to go with a dash of zinc additive. Nothing special is necessary.
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Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> Kawaii-Gon Jinn
04/03/2015 at 14:48 |
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If you go for it, remember my hint about using cardboard to mock things up. Makes things so much easier.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
04/03/2015 at 15:08 |
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my plan was to mount pegboard to the wall and then string the existing wiring harness to get the basic pattern down. then figure out which connectors i need and which can be reused. the car isn't going anywhere as the weather is absolute shit and will be for the next few weeks. i might be able to start tomorrow.
I might take you up on your offer of a harness. what's a "small fee"? i'm pretty attached to my firstborn.
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Kawaii-Gon Jinn
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
04/03/2015 at 15:11 |
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and i just noticed the hint on cardboard. didn't see it before. will give it some thought.