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Destr0
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2017
Posts: 8
Location: Hebron, IN
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 Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:22 pm Post subject: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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Have a bare frame rail and a stock 71 type 1 engine/transaxle - nothing else on my rail but a gas tank.
I need a wiring harness - what is a good one? There is a cheap buggy harness on Amazon that gets good reviews. Still need to figure out what and how to wire dash - I will need all new as this was an off road only buggy and I want to make it street legal (but still off road toy). |
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cbeck
Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2014
Posts: 2495
Location: high ridge, mo
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| I rolled my own. Every rail is just a little different. Maybe get a basic harness and add/modify as needed? |
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Q13931152
Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2016
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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X2
If you're a little unsure how to start, I'd recomend you beg borrow or buy a copy of the earl duty book " how to build a dune buggy"... Amazon or Barnes and noble usually has or can get it for you . The three page wiring diagram in there is about the simplest and easiest one I've ever seen to wire up a buggy from scratch. I used it as a guide when i wired mine about 20 or so years ago, and modified it slightly for my needs. After all these years its still as good as the day i made it.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20378
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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IF your are going for street legal... You probably will need full lighting including turn signals.... At that point easiest would be something like Rebel wiring harness where everything is already provided and all the wires have designations printed on them and comes with generic diagrams that are enough to get you setup and working with your particular...
The Rebel Wire - V W Rail Buggy kit may do trick for you if not step up to next one, Rebel Wire VW Bug Universal Harness -12 Volt...
http://rebelwire.com/rebel-wire-products.php?cat=Wire%20Kits
IF you have experience wiring sure roll your own...Just keep in mind after you buy all the wire (8-10 different colors or sizes and terminals) all the switches and fuse blocks and such, you could have had it all in kit....
Might want to do a little looking here...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=344781
Sure threads are old, and some links no longer valid, but concepts do not change with time, only switching for incandescent lamps to LEDS is about all...
Dale
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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gunslingertom
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2017
Posts: 67
Location: Beautiful S.W. Missouri Ozarks
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jimmyhoffa
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2014
Posts: 1057
Location: St. Louis
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 4:55 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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+1 for rebel wire, the wire itself is also particularly high quality and labeled well.
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1974 Chenowth 2RL #1244 Street Legal
My other car isn't ridiculous. |
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Destr0
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2017
Posts: 8
Location: Hebron, IN
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 7:17 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| Thanks for the info guys! I have done some wiring in the past but only using a "stock" replacement harness. Figured anything "stock" wasn't going to work so well - and by the time I get all the colors needed to not go crazy down the road it would cost as much or more than buying one "off the shelf"- now I know I will probably have to modify anything I get, just looking for a good starting point. |
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Fenix
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2016
Posts: 468
Location: St Louis
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| Destr0 wrote: |
| Thanks for the info guys! I have done some wiring in the past but only using a "stock" replacement harness. Figured anything "stock" wasn't going to work so well - and by the time I get all the colors needed to not go crazy down the road it would cost as much or more than buying one "off the shelf"- now I know I will probably have to modify anything I get, just looking for a good starting point. |
In the past I have always started with Rebels, but as simple as the rails, if you know wiring and how to use standard and switching relays you could probably get away with the Empi buggy kit, then add the fuse bock, relays, and flashers you want. That's essentially what I am doing, I just needed the wires and it was cheaper to get the wires like that. Unless you have an electronics or ham radio store that still sells all the colors of wire you need/want by the foot.
For flashers and hazards...don't forget there are DTDP flasher relays (EP27L) that allow you to use the same relay for flashers with keyed power and Hazards with a single relay and one 3-way toggle switch and a 2-way switch or latching push button.
Basic wireing from one of the Rod building resources I've used.
Headlights can be a switching relay with an (on-off) toggle and latching momentary push button or (off-on-on)toggle switch and momentary latching push button (if driving lights are required). Or if you have a foot switch laying around from the jeep.
So no expensive headlight pull switch, or universal flasher assembly unless you want to.
Last edited by Fenix on Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:38 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Destr0
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2017
Posts: 8
Location: Hebron, IN
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:23 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| I was actually thinking I may try the EMPI kit - in my box of spare Jeep parts I have a 7 blade fuse box that I never used (new). I also have a bunch of new relays and such - I am planning on adding a 2 ton winch to the front of the rail - Midwest wheeling has lots of mud. |
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pullstart
Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2016
Posts: 599
Location: Middleville, MI
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:58 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| Fenix wrote: |
| Destr0 wrote: |
| Thanks for the info guys! I have done some wiring in the past but only using a "stock" replacement harness. Figured anything "stock" wasn't going to work so well - and by the time I get all the colors needed to not go crazy down the road it would cost as much or more than buying one "off the shelf"- now I know I will probably have to modify anything I get, just looking for a good starting point. |
In the past I have always started with Rebels, but as simple as the rails, if you know wiring and how to use standard and switching relays you could probably get away with the Empi buggy kit, then add the fuse bock, relays, and flashers you want. That's essentially what I am doing, I just needed the wires and it was cheaper to get the wires like that. Unless you have an electronics or ham radio store that still sells all the colors of wire you need/want by the foot.
For flashers and hazards...don't forget there are DTDP flasher relays (EP27L) that allow you to use the same relay for flashers with keyed power and Hazards with a single relay and one 3-way toggle switch and a 2-way switch or latching push button.
Basic wireing from one of the Rod building resources I've used.
Headlights can be a switching relay with an (on-off) toggle and latching momentary push button or (off-on-on)toggle switch and momentary latching push button (if driving lights are required). Or if you have a foot switch laying around from the jeep.
So no expensive headlight pull switch, or universal flasher assembly unless you want to. |
wow, just stuck this thread in my favorites because of those diagrams! that's like gold as far as a reference goes. 
_________________
4 seater Appletree buggy, road legal with 002 IRS, 3x3 Appletree kit, 6" over Dan's beam with 10" towers and Fox 2.0 shocks, '00 Subaru EJ25 with KEP stage 3 clutch and KEP adapter plate.
my build page: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662104&start=0 |
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Third
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2017
Posts: 116
Location: Texas Coast
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| Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| Destr0 wrote: |
| I was actually thinking I may try the EMPI kit - in my box of spare Jeep parts I have a 7 blade fuse box that I never used (new). I also have a bunch of new relays and such - I am planning on adding a 2 ton winch to the front of the rail - Midwest wheeling has lots of mud. |
I did that on several Chenowths that I restored to flip back in the early 90's.
Really my only requirement for a harness is to avoid the old plastic bug fuse blocks (learned in the early years that off road, even just cruising sand you'll pop the damned things loose at the most inconvenient time).
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mac2881994
Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2011
Posts: 17
Location: Woodlawn, TN
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Wiring harness for rail - which to get? |
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| I used the EMPI harness a couple of years ago to rewire a buddy rail. Only headlights and essential circuits to make it run. Decent quality and much better than the three wire extension cord that was originally used to wire it. |
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Goshen
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Joined: April 03, 2012
Posts: 833
Location: Miami. FL & Cartagena
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