1970 Fuse Box Conversions

[Tcash]

To link to this thread

[HarryFD]

Great post but I decided to go a different way. I am really paranoid about pulling out old electrical connectors as I have had issues with being able to reuse them and sourcing replacements can be dicey.

The downside of my approach is that you will need to be sure you let anyone working with your fuse box know that your fuse box conforms to the 1971 setup and has a 1971 flasher in place of the the 1970 style unit.

I obtained a 71 fuse box. I cleaned the contacts with my dremel and a wire brush.

After carefully studying the wiring diagrams for botht he 70 and 71 bus, I noticed the following changes were needed to wire the 71 box into my 70 box with out moving the jumpered connections. I did this by verifying the wire colors and sizes are the same and connected to the same devices.

postion 1970 ... position 1971
1 ..................... 1
2 ..................... 2
3 ..................... 3
4 ..................... 4
5 ..................... 5
6 ..................... 6
7 ..................... 7
8 ..................... 11
9 ..................... 12
10 ..................... 10
11 ..................... 8
12 ..................... 9

As TCash notes: "You will have to connect the Blu/R wire from the turn signal indicator bulbs (you know the ones that both flash together no matter which way your turning, another tech tip) to the large blue wire in pin 12 of flasher relay.

You will notice that there is a brown jumper wire from the flasher relay to the door buzzer. Cut that at the flasher relay pin. Connect the flasher relay brown wire to the grounded wire. Connect the door buzzer brown wire to the drivers side door switch."

As he also notes, I needed to replace the 1970 flasher unit with a 3 pin 1971 style unit as well. My buzzer is wired in but the buzzer unit itself is severely corroded and since it is a nuisance, I decided not to replace it.
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1970 Deluxe Sunroof Bay Brilliant Blue/Cloud White
1973.5 911 Targa
2009 MB C300

[doug-ocon]

In my old 70 westyI got a second fuse box and mounted it on the opposite side( slips right in to the right hand drive location. I then mounted a marine battery with a relay that only linked it to the other battery when the motor was running ( so it would charge). I fed the second fuse box off the marine battery and then ran all the accessories (radio, interior lights , fans, CB , waterpump off the 2nd fuse box /marine battery.... I could run it to dead with the bus parked for the weekend....and then just start the bus and charge it back up

[mike202]

My '70 fusebox was falling to pieces so I got a nice '71 fusebox and used this guide. Apart from all the wires and remembering where they all went it's not too difficult.
Thanks to HarryFD and Tcash for the info.

Mike

[HarryFD]

[Stuartzickefoose]

sweet write up! just did this to a 70...then i found the write up....
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[Whistler]

Tha.me for the write up. My 70 box just split in half just as we had 're done 96% of a new loom. I bought a 72 box, what I don't understand is if I am using all the connectors from my 70 why do wires need to be changed? Surely it's the same connections setup with a different coloured box? What am I missing?

P.s. nice tip with the salt and vinegar, came up a treat!

[busdaddy]

I'm not sure I understand what you don't understand

The later box has different relay plugs and the wires to those are different. Also some of the linked together circuits are in different fuse positions. Not too hard to rearrange it while it's out.
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[Whistler]

[busdaddy]

[Whistler]

Awesome. Confirms what I was thinking

I think I'll stick with my plan and have it a little messy, easier for me in the long run I'm thinking.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

[Bulli Klinik]

I went a different route. I really like the blade style fuses. These marine grade fuse boxes can be configured however you like with jumper bridges. I have mine set up to match the factory wiring diagram. I reconfigured the fuse box mount to hold the new boxes. I'm a stickler for originality, but chasing odd electrical problems and picking fuses up off the floor of the Bus for years was a drag. The box is so buried you cant even see it.

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I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Andy70Bus]

Hey all -

I am planning to go the route that Bulli Klinik describes above, using the same Blue Sea fuse blocks.

In his third picture down, he shows how he configured the fuse block jumpers AND it shows 90-degree male spade connectors screwed on each terminal to connect the stock bus wiring to it. The fuse blocks do not come with these little angled connectors so I was trying to find some, but I can't. Clearly I don't know the right nomenclature to search for, can anyone help?

Thanks,
Andy

[skills@eurocarsplus]

if you must re invent the wheel......


http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/7/category/2
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[Fodder]

Like Bulli, I chose an aftermarket solution, a ProStreet wiring board from Leash Electronics. This consolidated all of the relays, fuses, and flashers into one small footprint. It also turned all my factory switches into low current devices which should extend their life...

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-Ron

[The Quaint Gypsy]

[Tcash]

photo dump
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=1679340

[Bmxmarine]

[quote="Fodder"]Like Bulli, I chose an aftermarket solution, a ProStreet wiring board from Leash Electronics. This consolidated all of the relays, fuses, and flashers into one small footprint. It also turned all my factory switches into low current devices which should extend their life...

just curious, do you have any info about this setup and how it has worked for you?

[mickey mouse]

Hi everyone this is my first post. I have a 1969 bus with the yellow fuse box that a mechanic recently split down the middle. I'm having a really hard time even finding someone to do the electric on it, so I'm thinking of doing it myself.

I have a couple of quick questions please.

1.) There's a lot of talk about 1970 fuse boxes, but is that the same as the '69?

Maybe it's best do adapt a new fuse box in the way I've seen a very clever guy do in this thread. I've never installed a new wiring harness or anything like that, but i can follow instructions.

2.) Is doing this a really awful, tough job?

Cheers!

[HarryFD]