There's a snake in my van...

[SWbySWesty]

I tried, honestly, to properly install my rear speakers by using an electrician's snake to route the rear speakers wires the factory way through the pillar! The snake got stuck! Full on stuck.

I ended up cutting the dang thing off at the bottom of the front pillar and now there's a snake leftover in there. haha

D'oh. I thought it was good Monday humor.

*Note: I did get the rear speakers installed my own way though.
_________________
1986 Westy - Billie Jean
A Westy with a Jeep heart (Pura Vida)
www.theadventurebrigade.blogspot.com - Latest update: Johnson Valley - Nov 22, 2011

[offset]

wish i had some advice. that would drive me nuts.
_________________
1983.5 Westfalia EA827 -Sold
1973 Thing EJ20?

[danfromsyr]

I ran a 2n'd int light wire up the pass pillar..
it was A VERY DIFFICULT PITA of go fish...

I ran a stiff copper wire down from the top but had to 'catch' it through a blind hole the size of a small finger.. PITA.

and I still haven't hooked up that light..
_________________

[Ahwahnee]

I ran mine outsdie and along the bottom of the van, then back in under the closet. Lots of other stuff running around down there so I just followed all that and snuck thru the same grommets.

[SWbySWesty]

[Vanagon Nut]

A recent foray into installing a slider door light found me using the fish.

In hindsight, a coathanger wire would have been better. I used #14 covered copper.

A flashlight duct taped to vent hole at bottom of p-side pillar, and dental mirror, helped me snag the loop on end of fish. ("snagger" was coat hanger wire through door switch hole.)

Also, my Westy has "factory installed" (Westy outfitter?) covered wires through the driver side upper end of pillar, running to rear defogger and kitchen light. I ran slider door light wires through same hole on other side. Figured if it was good enough for the factory to do.....

Pics of my adventures. Not directly related, but may help someone else:

https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/InstallSlide...uLkpK0xAE#

"Factory" covered wires through upper end of driver side pillar

_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[MKIII and Sons]

what would samuel l jackson do?
_________________
broke.status

[presslab]

Jaws of Life should get that snake out, no prob.

Seriously though, I find it easier to fish wires down the A-pillar and not up. Also you can remove the grab handle (pass side only) to get access to those wires through the little holes, it can help sometimes.
_________________
1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti

[keithwwalker]

[78BayDriver]

I use a stainless steel antenna with a hook bent in the end that is thinest. Pulled some damn hard wires with it, and also helps with that quirky fishing and catch'en of wires. Remember to cut off the ball at the end.
_________________
1987 Vanagon GL 2.1 Flat Stanley (present)
1991 Golf GTi Forest Green
1981 Vanagon L 1.6 Diesel
1978 BayWindow Bus
1974 Bus
1990 Jetta
1979 Dasher Wagon
1972 Beetle

[70coupyel]

I tried a snake for the B pillar. No way.
I ran some wires down the B pillar to get to the switch for the sliding door. PITA is too gentle. Took me over 4 hours to just get the wire in. I had to tie a nail to some string. And then wrap the string around a small fiberglass rod and push it over the opening B pillar. I had to make sure that the nail "hung" down into the right hole and then the weight of the nail made it drop down the B pillar. Then tape the 3 wires to the string and pull it on through. I had to do it twice because the string came off the 3 wires the first time.
_________________

[keithwwalker]

Would electrician's fish wire fit down there? It is designed for pulling wire through conduit, mildly sprung steel to feed through the passage ways...

[DrTwee]