Need A Wiring Trick

[Don Jordan]

I am always amazed at what people do to their cars. I bought a 47 2 door sedan. I love it. Had the engine rebuilt and it runs and sounds like a hot rod. Always looking for something else to do I decided to rewire the rear half. There were wires everywhere, all either red or blue. I started digging and found the wires go under the back seat to the front and back. I guess that would be okay but I wanted to get more original and go under the headliner. Problem: I can't get the wire down the frame by the door. There was one stray wire up there so I attached fishing line to it and pulled it through. I can't get the harness back through. Very frustrating. I've done this years ago on my 48 but the 47 is giving me all sorts of grief. I know it's supposed to travel down the frame and emerge under the dash but there is some sort of obstruction.

any ideas would be appreciated.

[Don Jordan]

I guess if it's your car it's okay but it sure creates a headache for the next guy.

[Oldguy48]

Don,

This may not help your situation, but when rewiring my P15, in a number of places I used plastic tubing purchased at the hardware store as a conduit of sorts.  It's stiff enough to

stuff thru awkward openings, and allows you to easily push or pull wiring thru it.  And makes it easier to replace or add wiring in the future.  It also provides additional physical protection to your wiring.  Good luck with your project. 

 

Wayne

[Don Jordan]

What a great idea. Now I just need to find something small enough to make it down and big enough to accept the wires. I really believe there is some sort of clip in there and I just need a way to make it expand. I'll give it a try - thank you.

d-

[randroid]

Don,

 

There are four clips on my P-15; One above the rear of the vent window, one above the B pillar, one just rear of the C pillar and another about 6" behind that.  You might get very lucky and be able to pass a piece of stiff wire (baling wire) along the path above them and use it to help feed new wires above them because there's plenty of room up there, especially if you followed Wayne's suggestion and sheathed the wires and passed them all back at once.

 

There's hope here because my clips are spot-welded thin metal straps that have a 1"x1" (approx.) tab above the doors where they're attached to the body, and you should be able to feel them through the headliner.  Depending upon your headliner material you may be able to poke something small and pointed (such as a sail maker's needle) through the headliner to help nurse the wire loom around the clips.

 

Good luck however you do it.

 

-Randy

[William Davey]

I had a similar problem pulling wires on my RV.  Could not get the wires pulled UP through a small channel even though my electrical "snake" went through easily.  After hours of trying and some colorful language i tried pulling the wires DOWN through the same opening.  Went the first time.  Worth a try.

[48ply1stcar]

I just tried the tube; if the tube was 1/2 inch ID tube for the channel in the pillar it was too small for all the wires.  Then I tried a 3/4 inch plastic tube with the slit the length of the tube too flexible.  So I taped the seven wires I needed for the rear harness.  With this I believe I still have room for future speaker wires and wires from a 12 volt battery in the trunk for accessories.