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Pacmanfever Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2013 Posts: 201 Location: Kansas
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:36 am Post subject: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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The wiring in my son's 67 is spliced poorly in many places from previous owners, and we've had a long suffering short that is frying the wires going to the ignition switch, so the bus isn't runnning now.
Part of me wants to be done with the ugly wiring and install a new harness throughout, but I know that has its own perils.
I install harnesses on a different type of machine almost every day at work, so I'm comfortable with the process, but they're not the same as a bus.
Any tips or cautions from those of you that have done a replacement? Best places to buy? What to avoid? |
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ryans65 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2016 Posts: 1259 Location: Yulee FL
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Its a lot less daunting once you have the old harness out and start running the new one. Just follow the wiring diagram supplied and you should be able to knock it out in a day. |
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nlorntson Crazy VW Lady
Joined: March 13, 2004 Posts: 3783 Location: Twin Cities, MN
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Toss in an inline 8A fuse for the parking lights (gray wire feeding the left and right headlights.) That seems to be a common problem for buses resulting in a lot of smoke and a fried wire from the headlight to the light switch |
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Skim Rants Master
Joined: April 15, 2001 Posts: 17082 Location: GFK 31 Year Vet
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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I bought a new harness from Wolfsburg West and it was pretty easy. I enlarged the hole slightly with a Uni Bit where the harness goes up into the nose from underneath, made life much easier. I taped the harness up really tight with electrical tape to make it pass thru all the tight spots easier. I cut my old harness midway along the frame rail then tightly taped the front of the new harness to the back of where I cut the old one and pulled it through using the old harness to tug, then repeated the same for the back of the harness.
After that I just followed the diagram and connected everything.
I did the same method on the dome light harness. Taped it to the old harness and pulled it through. Taping it to a coat hanger also helps if necessary. _________________ GFK
Samba since before the towers collapsed. Still here.
1953 Kabriolet
1954 Sunroof
1959 Lowlight Ghia vert
1960 Lt Grey Double Cab SMZ LEGIT
1963 Deluxe Turkis Walk Thru 15 Window OG Paint |
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azbob Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2010 Posts: 714 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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I actually enjoyed doing this one. Print the diagram and laminate it, Staples will do both in large enough format. Make sure not to pull the old one out w/o bailing wire, fish tape or the new harness attached (securely) to it. I helped a friend run a new harness through w/o having anything to fish it through with. It had belly pans and was a bitch. _________________ Bus Builder |
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turkis-deluxe Samba Security
Joined: January 06, 2001 Posts: 1547 Location: 94518
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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I just did a complete wiring harness on my 62 crew cab and bought it direct from Wiring Works. If you spend the time to do everything correctly including cleaning and replacing all ground connections, cleaning all your switches connection points and soldering the fuse block you should never have anything to worry about. It's a ton of time doing everything correctly especially if you're doing it by yourself but the results will be amazing!!! I finally have one of my buses where everything works properly..... |
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crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19672 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:47 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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turkis-deluxe wrote: |
I just did a complete wiring harness on my 62 crew cab and bought it direct from Wiring Works. If you spend the time to do everything correctly including cleaning and replacing all ground connections, cleaning all your switches connection points and soldering the fuse block you should never have anything to worry about. It's a ton of time doing everything correctly especially if you're doing it by yourself but the results will be amazing!!! I finally have one of my buses where everything works properly..... |
BOTH brake lights? OMFG!!!! _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
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EeVeeWee Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2015 Posts: 836 Location: Amersfoort, Netherlands
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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I bought a new wiring harness for my 1967 bus at VWlooms.com and was very satisfied with the quality.
You als get a correct wiring diagram with it.
It was fitting well and every connector also was soldered, so very good quality.
When you have questions during the fitting, a guy named Jon Aaron answers your questions in a reasonable time also. |
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turkis-deluxe Samba Security
Joined: January 06, 2001 Posts: 1547 Location: 94518
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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crofty wrote: |
turkis-deluxe wrote: |
I just did a complete wiring harness on my 62 crew cab and bought it direct from Wiring Works. If you spend the time to do everything correctly including cleaning and replacing all ground connections, cleaning all your switches connection points and soldering the fuse block you should never have anything to worry about. It's a ton of time doing everything correctly especially if you're doing it by yourself but the results will be amazing!!! I finally have one of my buses where everything works properly..... |
BOTH brake lights? OMFG!!!! |
hahaha yeah ya dick!!! |
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Bruce Amacker Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 1786 Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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Malokin Martin Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2007 Posts: 3099 Location: E-burg
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Cut your old harness about 1/2 foot before the fuse box and at the the other end also. That way the spades and colored wires are left connected and you don’t have to play guesswork. I would still double check they’re right before you turn the key. Also, I’m sure someone above mentioned tying a thin string to the old harness when you pull it out. Threading it back in is easier that way. Also Soldering connections is always a good bonus step.
I’ve had a wiring works harness for somewhere around 5 years and been happy with it. Most places just resell theirs, so may as well buy direct. |
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Pacmanfever Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2013 Posts: 201 Location: Kansas
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Thanks for all the great tips, I'll follow up and let you know how it went.
Edit: I just ordered from Wiring Works and they've got the full harness on sale for $239.00 with free shipping.
Bonus time! |
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hitest Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 10296 Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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I recently installed a Wiring Works harness following a full repaint- that meant the old harness was pulled several years ago. It took me about 2-1/2 hours flying solo under my '65 double cab. I used cardboard sheets as back surfing boards and slid around feeding some wire, pulling a little, and so on. I fed fish wires from the front and from the back toward the middle- and fished the harness from the middle outward. I'd never heard of that technique- but I knew while doing it alone it might be the only timely way. _________________
EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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DubStyle SBS Hit Squad
Joined: July 26, 2003 Posts: 6250 Location: SBS headquarters: Missery
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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I've been kicking this idea around too. I hope I can use the old harness to pull the new one in, belly pans are my biggest concern. _________________ Anthony
SBS #1
SBS #1 on FB
"The original & best lowered Split Bus website/club" |
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swharris Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2010 Posts: 496 Location: N. Orange County
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Lube!
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aa390392 Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007 Posts: 3602 Location: So.Cal
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Its easy as taking a dump....follow all the above, I did it and am an electrical retard.
Cheers Thomas _________________ .
getting grumpy & less tolerant!
55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet |
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Bruce Amacker Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007 Posts: 1786 Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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You don't need lube. If you don't run a string, a home style "fish tape" works fine to get it through the framerail. Tape up the wires on each end with masking tape to make a point, that will make it easy to feed. I start in the middle and work out, you'll know when it's forward/backward enough by when the starter wires fit right.
Once it's run, hooking up everything is fairly straightforward, the directions are great. Like I said earlier, the biggest mistake guys make is not cleaning everything properly. I've re-done a lot of bad wiring work in my life. _________________ '66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Build threads:
'66- http://www.leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2888&sid=54d8dedfb3822f99c7f2ea430cb4e856
'65- http://leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4263 |
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earlywesty Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2004 Posts: 2357 Location: In the woods, Ontario
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Pacmanfever wrote: |
Thanks for all the great tips, I'll follow up and let you know how it went.
Edit: I just ordered from Wiring Works and they've got the full harness on sale for $239.00 with free shipping.
Bonus time! |
How did you order directly? |
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Reedster Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: The LBC
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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Wiring works
(310)519-8147
2025 S. Mesa St. San Pedro Ca. 90731
I ordered one last week. |
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Dubskii Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010 Posts: 385 Location: So Cal
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Full Wiring Harness Swap, any tips? |
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turkis-deluxe wrote: |
I just did a complete wiring harness on my 62 crew cab and bought it direct from Wiring Works. If you spend the time to do everything correctly including cleaning and replacing all ground connections, cleaning all your switches connection points and soldering the fuse block you should never have anything to worry about. It's a ton of time doing everything correctly especially if you're doing it by yourself but the results will be amazing!!! I finally have one of my buses where everything works properly..... |
Can someone explain, with pics, "soldering the fuse block"? I am about to tackle this myself and will be using a WW 6 fuse fuse block. _________________ 69 Sunroof Deluxe - Montana Red/Cloud White (Sold)
57 Kombi - Dove Blue http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=648240
WTB Early Dove Blue Bus Driver's Side Door
WTB Joe Heishman VW Arlington, VA License Plate Frame or Other Memorabilia |
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