B-pillar wiring access

rumitcu · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:34 am Post subject: B-pillar wiring access

Are there any existing cutouts in the driver side B-pillar that will allow me to route wire for the galley light down to the base of the sink cabinet? I have the shelf taken off and the front headliner partially removed and I don't see any obvious access holes. I'm a little hesitant to drill in structural members if I don't need to.
Thanks!
Pat
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85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO

Steelhead · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject:

Don't know of any pre-existing holes, but when I dropped my headliner and ran wire down the b-pillars I did use the fresh air vent in the door well to help guide and manage the wires. I did drill holes to get to my spare battery, but they were easily hidden. Here's a rheostat I put in the passenger side b-pillar (photo taken through the fresh air vent hole).

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper)

rumitcu · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Steelhead. I didn't really think there were any holes, and am also planning on using the fresh air vent to help me snake the wires.
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85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO

lovedavdubs · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

I did the same with all my wiring. It was nice to finally get it up off the floor. I ran a wire for an ON/OFF indicator light from my gauge cluster up the A-pillar and down the B-pillar to my inverter. The hole in the B-pillar is only about 3/16" in diam. I'm no engineer but I don't thing that will be enough to threaten the structural integrity of the pillar. The wire comes out down inside the sink cabinet completely out of site

I also ran my speaker wires up the passenger side A-pillar and along the ceiling to the back cabinet. It was a bit of a pain in the ass to fish them through but I think the outcome was worth it. Wink

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82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.

rumitcu · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:05 am Post subject:

Did you have to drill a hole at the top of the B-pillar also?

I'm not sure how the B-pillar intersects with the top rail. If the intersection is closed, then I will have to drill into the B-pillar, but if it is open, then I can drill into the top rail. The top rail is a little more hidden then the B-pillar access, so I would prefer that location.
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85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO

lovedavdubs · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

rumitcu · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:31 am Post subject:

Sweet, let me try that...
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85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO

lovedavdubs · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:36 am Post subject:

rumitcu · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:55 pm Post subject:

I tried using some 14/2 house wiring as an improvised fish-tape, but was only able to get it part way down the B-pillar before my pre-bent curl in the wire caused it to hang up. I think I'm finally going to buy a 25' fish tape and see if that helps. I have had so, so many times that I could have used a real fish tape over the past 10 years, so I think it's finally time to get one!
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85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO

Steelhead · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject:

rumitcu · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:03 am Post subject:

Finally got it! I tried using my new fish tape reel, but I wasn't able to get it into the B-pillar like I was with the 14/2 wiring. Eventually, I was able to fish a 2 foot piece of 14/2 wiring down into the B-pillar with a piece of string attached to it. Once the wiring made it down into the B-pillar, I used one of those long, remote claw picker up things to grab the wiring from half way up the B-pillar. I also used a small mirror to look up the B-pillar from the exhaust vent hole. Definitely a pain, but it's done now!
Pat
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85 Westy with Bostig V2.0 & private beta turbo
Boulder, CO

lovedavdubs · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 4:34 am Post subject:

rmcd · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

I have an overhead console and I need to run a lot of wires from the area near the mirror. Long story to be covered in my build but for now I need ideas as I've run into a wall.

I need to run a 7/8" + bundle of wires down to the drivers side battery area. Some of these will Continue on to sensors and such in the engine bay.

Plan A was to fish through the existing hole at the top of the channel into the b-pillar and down to the driver side battery box- as described in this thread. Unfortunately the hole isn't big enough. I will have an exact measurement later for history but it is less than 1/2" in diameter.

Any ideas how to do this?

Plan A.2. Is to try to use a whole bit and long flexible drive but I'm thing this will not work.

Thanks.
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VW LT40 build. Like a Vanagon but 30% larger in every direction and 40% slower even in metric.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749359&highlight=

Gnarlodious · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:44 am Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

0cean · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

crazyvwvanman · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

It reads like he's asking about the "B" pillar, not the "A" pillar.

Merian · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

but I'd still like ot see the pics of that "A" pillar opening...
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rmcd · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 6:46 am Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

I am using a snake in the b-pillar but do have a couple wires to run in the a-pillar.

I can confirm that I have successfully pulled a small ish 3/8"-1/2" shrink wrapped bundle "up and through" the b-pillar. The geometry of the hole is such that I could not pull it down from the top. I entered through the front facing hole. It seems that the rear facing hole does not access the same hole at the channel. Can anyone confirm this?

I created my fish tape using some SS wire that I folded in half and then twisted with my drill. It worked 100x better than my traditional flat fish tape real as it could bend easily in all directions.
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VW LT40 build. Like a Vanagon but 30% larger in every direction and 40% slower even in metric.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749359&highlight=

rontv · Samba Member Joined: September 06, 2013 Posts: 35

Hi All

i know its an old post but still to get some feedback

I managed the get the fishwife through all the way up / or down so i can pull the actual air through
But i was wondering what did you guy do for attachment of the wire.
You just let it hang loose in the pillar?

quite curious

Ron

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:58 pm Post subject: Re: B-pillar wiring access

Ron - which pillar?
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader


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