TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:01 pm

Early ghia wiring has little brass caps or ferrules. Anyone know a source for them?

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:07 am

They're called bootlace ferrels, but I think they might be a real nightmare to find these days.

If you find a source would you please post it here? I could use a few of them now that you have me thinking about them.

edit--

I found this link on google, but they're in the UK and sell them in quantities of 1000 which might be a bit much:

http://www.csedistributors.com/acatalog/Bootlace_Ferrules.html

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:26 am

Maybe kinda hack but I bet you could make your own from the capillary tubing used on the back of refridgeraters,and window ac's. You could find a supply at your local dump.

Bill

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:29 am

If anyone wants to splice wiring, I have a harness from a 1957 with the ferrels intact and will supply them at no charge.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:32 am

Believe it or don't, a well-stocked Hobby Shop
will have various I.D. brass tubing which you can
easily cut to make your own ferrules.

There's one near me and I visit often for hardware
and other needs, including an almost endless variety
of bottled touch-up paints. :ghia_blue:

Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:01 am

Try looking up "Wire Ferrules" at www.mcmaster.com (McMaster-Carr). The uninsulated, crimp-on ones are correct. However, instead of crimping, they are soldered on, in conjunction with tinning the terminal end of the wire.

McMaster sells various gauges of these ferrules, from 24 AWG all the way up to 3/0 AWG.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:25 am

I posted this picture in the gallery here some time ago... this is what I used in the double cab.
As I said in the gallery text:
Quote: These wire connection ferrules are the closest thing I could find to match the originals VW used on their wire harness for my 59 double cab. You can see the Digi-Key part number and phone number. You solder them to the end of the wire. (They were from Germany :-) )
Note the wire on the right side was tinned and had no ferrule. Some wires have them, some don't. Inspect the old wire harness when re-wiring your car.

btw, I do collect old harnesses to scavenge wire from... who'd a thunk?