At what point to run new wiring harness?

[Tenknots]

I have a rolling shell of a 1972 SB that has pretty much everything in boxes with it to finish it. I'm trying to come up with a procedure of when to do what so I don't make extra work for myself.

Anyone who has done a complete new wiring harness, at what point did you decide to do it during a rebuild?

There is pretty much nothing inside the bug now and the engine is out. All I really know is that I am going to paint the exterior last.

I'd kinda like to get it over with but I want to make sure I'm not going to wish I'd done something else first.

TIA!

[RLFD213]

I did mine after I put the body back on the pan. The engine and trans and drive shafts were in, but all the interior, glass, etc was out. The wiring isn’t that bad either front of the harness: head lights, turn signal, horn, fuel tank. Back is brake and tail lights and engine, which is 4-5 wires. The interior is where it comes together. It’s better to have an open interior so you have room to work.

[Tenknots]

That’s what I was thinking. That’s for your reply.

[Sloanstavern]

I Just did the same thing with my '74 Super Beetle. The existing wiring harness was sketchy at best, and I could not find a full OEM "like" replacement harness. So I used a Painless Universal wiring harness 10102 from Summit racing ( the 2nd project I have uses this for).

For less than $275 you get a high quality harness, with ample circuits and it fits the bugs needs very well. I installed mine with the body on pan, motor in, and interior out.

Good luck!

[RLFD213]

If you’re gonna go aftermarket rebel wiring is pretty good. I used one and I had a choice of relocating the fuse block to under the back seat. It’s a modern blade fuse block and wire is marked every 6 inches. Easy install too.