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Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:16 am

I just ordered a complete wiring loom from bus boys and will presumably spend the entire weekend installing it. Does anyone out there have any useful advice ( i.e. tricks of the trade, particular tools, etc.) that will help me and save me some frustration. This is my first attempt tackling this type of project and ANY advice is much appreciated.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:58 am

When I was installing a new wiring harness in my 1957 bus, I pulled the front end of the harness out from the bottom behind the nose panel, pulled it out of the clips at the right front frame rail, then tied the front of it to the rear of the new one using thin wire (wrapped around). Then, I pulled on the old harness at the mid-point of the frame rail and pulled part of the new harness through, and went to the rear of the frame rail and pulled it out until the end of the new harness was sticking out. I unfastened the wire that was holding the two harnesses together and pulled out the rear of the old harness from that enclosed section above the frame rail. The hard part was threading the end of the new harness through that enclosed section at the rear. Maybe someone has a better way to do it.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:32 pm

don't get angry, if at any time you feel like smashing your fists into the dash , step back take a deep breath , relax and then continue

I have anger issues, working under the dash really gets to me

Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:51 pm

Have patience for sure, and hopefully it won't take up your entire weekend.

Make sure you have the correct fuse box and some extra fuses.

Good luck. :bus_green:

Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:36 pm

atx_bus wrote:
Make sure you have the correct fuse box and some extra fuses.

X2

Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:33 pm

will a shop do it

Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:45 pm

dillon schuh wrote: will a shop do it

sure at 150 per hour

Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:28 pm

jsnoles:

Dont freak out its not that hard to install just follow your wiring diagram. What year bus are you installing it in? If its a 6 fuse block it might get a bit tricky, you will have to cut and solder some of the wires together. Unless someone is making a 6 fuse block wiring harness i dont know about.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:29 pm

All that you need is a wiring diagram and some time. It is a bitch to get all of the wires properly connected to the speedometer, though. I had the battery's ground cable disconnected and the speedometer tilted up out of its pod when I connected the wires to it. It was still a bitch. :x

Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:33 pm

which wireing harness is the best and easy to use
for the first timer

Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:34 am

Thanks to all that responded with some useful info. I had no trouble at all running the new loom through the bus but when I got to the end I had forgotten what I had pulled apart and from which terminals. My main hang up right now is I have a black wire with a black plastic casing around the connector that is supposed to go to (#15) the ignition coil/carb. I'm pretty sure I have it in the correct place but do I have to run a seperate wire from the coil to the carb? Also, the wire that goes to the B+ terminal of the voltage regulator has no connector but is soldered- how do I attatch it? Everything else to this point has gone well- knock on wood.

Again, any help is much appreciated!!

Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:48 am

My bus engine's blue coil has three tabs (male connectors) on the posotive side and one wire goes from a tab to the electro-magnetic cutoff valve on the left side of the carburetor, and a wire from the other tab goes to the choke on the right side of the carburetor. Of course, a wire goes from the tab on the negative of the coil side to the points in the distributor.

Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:24 pm

Thanks Campy.....as you said I have to run a wire from the + side to the electro-mag, and another from the + to the choke, so I assume the wire in question ( black wire w/ a black plastic casing coming from the fuse box) goes to the other terminal on the + side. Right? It seems like the only logical solution, but I've been wrong before!!!

Also, as far as the headlights are concerned, if I'm not using an assembly with a running light can I just tape the grey wire back to itself?

Everything else continues to go well but I'm starting the instrument harness next and I've not heard good things about doing those. Wish me luck.

Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:01 pm

I have a 67 splitty and I used the wire works harness. They used the same color. It took me all day to do it and that's taking my time. Just make sure you have the correct fuse box....flasher....switches....relay....
It looks overwhelming and intimidating at first but once you get started.....next thing you know your done.

disconnect battery....no brainer!

I tied a string on the rear harness and pulled it out to the front...

Then I tied the new harness to the string and pulled it out to the front...

Double check the fuse box connection and make sure it is not backwards...like I did :lol: I double checked everything before I checked it out of the list. At the end I went thru it again for the 3rd time. That is how I found the mistakes.

Switches and flasher relays...I had the wrong ones...the previous owner re wired a later flasher and switches and they did not hook up correctly to the new harness... Lucky for me I was able to locate them.

Bought new flasher and relay at wolfsburgwest.com

Buy some new bulbs for your dash lights...mine were blown

I also cleaned out my fuse box and bought all new fuses.

Take your time...it is not that hard and actually easy once you get started.

The good thing is that when you are done you will know your whole electrical system inside and out.

Good luck

Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:54 am

dillon schuh wrote: which wireing harness is the best and easy to use
for the first timer

SOOO....great feedback and tips....but????

Who makes the best harness? the best for the money? who harness should you stay away from?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:30 pm

installed a wolfsburg west one in a 63 westy. went easy.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:38 pm

bill may wrote: installed a wolfsburg west one in a 63 westy. went easy.

thanks bill....i figured go with the tried and true WW....but I've been hearing about the "Wiring Works".....what's the word with that harness?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:08 pm

tnc19 wrote: Who makes the best harness? the best for the money? who harness should you stay away from?

From what I understand most of the harnesses sold are from Bob at Wiring Works. I bought mine directly from him for about what they sell at other locations and shipping was free with pre-payment.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:26 pm

Bob at Wiring Works does a great product. AND he will actually answer his own phone and talk to you.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:28 pm

so there is no noticeable difference between Wiring Works and Wolfsburg WEst?

Anyone know cost difference?
Quality wise are they on par?