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Hiding wires in a car Neatly..Lets see yours

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by squigy, Jan 7, 2010.

  1. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Tried to post my engine pic here (not too swift at this) but couldn't.
    If you check out my photo album, pic 4 is the engine compt wiring of my '56 F-100 after I rewired for the 429.
    When you do yours, please take your time. I've seen many otherwise nice cars with crappy wiring, and it stands out big time. Split loom is easy to work with, and if you use tywraps (zipties etc) it will help control the wiring. Do nice clean radii (radius plural?) on all your connections.
    When I had to sell my truck, one of the selling points was the neat wiring, according to the guy who bought it. And don't forget fuses. Fuses are your friend. It is impossible to get that smoke back in the wire once you let it out. Takes a special machine. But I digress...:rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2010
  2. radio_king
    Joined: May 14, 2008
    Posts: 403

    radio_king
    Member

    Good point,you can`t hide it all so better make it art like the rest of the car:).Inspiring thread as I`m just starting to rewire mine!
     
  3. von Dyck
    Joined: Apr 12, 2007
    Posts: 678

    von Dyck
    Member

    Tips for the Weller type soldering guns can be easily made from short pieces of solid (not stranded) commercial wires. Obviously you've got to peel off the plastic insulation. Bend it to the shape you want and flatten the tip if that is what you want. Works great.
     
  4. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

  5. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Nice! You nailed it.
     
  6. von Dyck
    Joined: Apr 12, 2007
    Posts: 678

    von Dyck
    Member

  7. Toner283
    Joined: Feb 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,327

    Toner283
    Member

    Yes they stick on, they are an industrial wiring widget for inside electrical cabinets. they have holes for the zip ties to go through either left to right or top to bottom. they have two sided adhesive on them already and they also have a provision to screw them down if needed. we use them at my work and a few fell into my lunchbox. we get them from a company called Spaenaur. it is an industrial fastener & hardware place. Same place I got the wire covering from. they have held up pretty well so far, at work the only thing they don't like is oil - it breaks down the glue.

    http://www.spaenaur.com/default.asp

    http://www.spaenaur.com/view_pdf.asp?Page=G25 - middle of the page

    http://www.spaenaur.com/view_pdf.asp?Page=G36

    Spaenaur is one of my favorite stores, every time I look through their catalog I find another "I can use that for" item. catalog is like 1500 pages & full of cool stuff.
     
  8. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,382

    scootermcrad
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Anyone wire lace there wiring harnesses, like they do in aircrafts?
     
  9. Ayers Garage
    Joined: Nov 28, 2002
    Posts: 1,382

    Ayers Garage
    Member

    I've done it on a lot of planes, but prefer the old style tube wire loom for cars.
     
  10. lostforawhile
    Joined: Mar 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,160

    lostforawhile
    Member

    i would like to learn how to do that
     
  11. FYI Painless sells some wovien plastic loam cover that is split and you cover the wire after you run it. Look at their cat. for pics and prices. No I don't work for them. Bought my last harness from Glen 33......
     
  12. Ayers Garage
    Joined: Nov 28, 2002
    Posts: 1,382

    Ayers Garage
    Member

    I learned it in A&P school. There is a book called the AC43-13 that covers all aircraft repair. I'm trying to find it online to reference for you.
     
  13. Ayers Garage
    Joined: Nov 28, 2002
    Posts: 1,382

    Ayers Garage
    Member

  14. Rivet
    Joined: Oct 16, 2005
    Posts: 280

    Rivet
    Member

    I usually do exposed wires neatly zip tied with very small zip ties spaced equal. It makes for a clean engine bay and makes it easier down the road to diagnose any electrical problems.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  15. 35hotrod
    Joined: Dec 7, 2008
    Posts: 81

    35hotrod
    Member
    from Duvall, WA

    I used a woven heat shield tubing I got from Boeing surplus. Came in different diameters and colors. A little bit of a pain to fish the wires through, works especially well under hood. Where the wiring enters and exits the tube I secured it with a small piece of heat shrink. Looks neat and clean and is easy to route anywhere.
     
  16. hepcat_13
    Joined: Jul 12, 2008
    Posts: 70

    hepcat_13
    Member

    I found the white sticky things on ebay for cheap. Thank you. That made my life easier.
     
  17. wheelbilly
    Joined: Jan 24, 2009
    Posts: 163

    wheelbilly
    Member

    You can get black sticky things too. Depending on your car, may look a little better.
     
  18. SMOKINFLATHEAD
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 503

    SMOKINFLATHEAD
    Member
    from SOCAL

    I know you didn't find them under white sticky things. Come on what do we type in the search box ( what are they called)? Thanks.
     
  19. Steves32
    Joined: Aug 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,280

    Steves32
    Member
    from So Cal

    Go to Home Depot. They sell the pads in the section w/ the zip ties & connectors.
     
  20. SMOKINFLATHEAD
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 503

    SMOKINFLATHEAD
    Member
    from SOCAL

    Should be that easy. Thanks.
     
  21. Zombie Hot Rod
    Joined: Oct 22, 2006
    Posts: 2,452

    Zombie Hot Rod
    Member
    from New York

    I like to use the asphalt covered wire loom. It gives the car a nice original look.
     
  22. olscrounger
    Joined: Feb 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,770

    olscrounger
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    many good tips here--wiring is not that difficult but takes time to do neatly-as stated, always run an extra wire in each run for future, use the twist ties to group your wire/circuits as you go then ties wraps when complete. I use the black tubing that is mentioned by many-comes in many sizes and was used by the factories way back, then seal the ends with shrink on tubing. Make it neat and tidy but don't try to hide it too much--makes it very difficult to truoble shoot later-a neat wiring job is a key point as to the quality of the build-doesn't cost more to do it neatly-just time. Have wired alot of cars of my own and for friends as well. My only issue is to not have anyone helpiing/talking to me in the process as I then get distracted-others here have mentioned all of this stuff as well
     
  23. bluebolt
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 309

    bluebolt
    Member
    from Benton LA

  24. flatheadpete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2003
    Posts: 10,479

    flatheadpete
    Member
    from Burton, MI

    Any more pics? I like to route the wires and wrap them in hockey stick tape. Makes them virtually disappear. And, it's cheap. I bought 5 rolls a few years back, did 2 or three cars and still have 3 rolls left.
     
  25. Fitysix
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 308

    Fitysix
    Member
    from Md.

    Sticky things are callled zip tie anchors
    Fitysix
     
  26. bluebolt
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 309

    bluebolt
    Member
    from Benton LA

  27. Toner283
    Joined: Feb 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,327

    Toner283
    Member

    I put the link to the Spaenaur catalog in my earlier post. Here it is again.

    http://www.spaenaur.com/view_pdf.asp?Page=G25

    If for some reason it does not work let me know & I will try to fix it.
     
  28. first try and keep the wires bunched together without them all crossing over and don't be afraid to use lots of cable ties. I do this where they are out of site and try to use cloth covered wires where they are seen for an old time look.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Fordor Ron and cretin like this.
  29. Beau
    Joined: Jul 2, 2009
    Posts: 1,884

    Beau
    Member

    When I have long lengths of wires, I like to tie them all together on one end and put that end in a vise. Then I put the other ends of the wires in my drill and stand across the room.

    Use the drill to twist all the wires together. You can use less ties, and it looks pretty cool. I have also seen it braided.
     
  30. Excellent advice. I used to race in the '60's and '70's and we wanted wires accessible because of Murphy's law. If the wire is accessible, it's easier to trace problems.
     

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