Re-wiring Horror Show

[Ulu]

 

I am currently re-wiring my off-topic car, and I thought I would show off some of the fine craftsmanship of the original builder.

 

Since the ground strap is the most important wire in the entire electrical system, it was gratifying to see the amount of effort and money expended on this all-important link.

 

There was an impressive amount of electrical tape on the ground wire to the fuel pump. Being a ground wire the insulation was totally unnecessary but it gave the wiring harness an opportunity to soak up more gasoline.

 

Of course there is absolutely no reason to use rubber grommets on a plastic car. You simply drill holes through the firewall and jab wires through them until they are full.

 

 

After the ground strap, then a reliable ignition switch is right up there in importance. This one wasn’t willing to soldier on.

 

When I dig through someone else’s old car I always refer to it as automotive archaeology.  So please post some photographs of your electrical automotive archaeological exhibitions.

 

 

[Sniper]

lol, I think we both got our cars from the same source. 

 

Some of the hackery I found 

 

http://www.yourolddad.com/hackery

 

Then there was the non functional parking brake 

 

https://youtu.be/Zcm_KH8UYS4

 

Then there was the wiring.

 

http://www.yourolddad.com/rewire-it

 

Why?

[keithb7]

"Don't use too much electrical tape. It can cause a fire. Also, its expensive!"....Said no one here.

[Dan Hiebert]

Dayum!  I thought the Mickey Mouse stuff I've fixed in our cars was bad...I'll be sleeping better tonight.

[Tooljunkie]

All the wiring fell apart in my fargo, i could see someone tried to get it running. No success. Im 4 or 5 days into rewiring it, its a lot of work and very difficult to make it not look like a spaghetti factory. 
guessing 200 feet of wire and 25 hours work. Added signals, stereo and backup and brake warning lights. 
 

still lots to secure, protecting wires from abrasion is very important. Then i need to do some load tests to verify the circuits and fuses are sufficient. 
 

Did a roadside repair on a hot rod that dropped a couple wires out of the terminals. Obviously the builder didnt do a tug test. 
i like to solder the higher load circuits,some sense of security. 

[Sniper]

When I rewired the 51 I used a universal kit from Speedway.  Every connection is crimped, soldered and heat shrunk.  All light sockets got cleaned and new contacts installed, if not just replaced in its entirety.  All new 12v bulbs installed.  Biggest issue was finding grommets for the firewall.

 

Took me a solid weekend to get it done.  But, I have been doing this kind of thing since 1984 and I had already sourced out almost everything I needed.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Planning and buying supplies and laying them in before the job starts is most wise and should be done before any planned upgrade or repair.  Now of course we all know a limp in temp fix is just that, to get you home...but many make level work as their daily practice...

[Frank Elder]

2 hours ago, Sniper said:

When I rewired the 51 I used a universal kit from Speedway.  Every connection is crimped, soldered and heat shrunk.  All light sockets got cleaned and new contacts installed, if not just replaced in its entirety.  All new 12v bulbs installed.  Biggest issue was finding grommets for the firewall.

 

Took me a solid weekend to get it done.  But, I have been doing this kind of thing since 1984 and I had already sourced out almost everything I needed.

I do believe these two phrases were pounded into your head in the Navy.

1. Pay attention to detail. 

  In every tool room on board ship or on shore that I ever entered had this question on the bulkhead.

2. Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time but always enough time to do it over?

[Sniper]

37 minutes ago, Frank Elder said:

Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time but always enough time to do it over?

 

My son and I had a discussion that touched on this.  He was halfassing a chore and I asked if he thought he was being lazy about it.  Of course I didn't get a response but I pointed out to him that if he really wanted to succeed at being lazy he'd do it right the first time and never have to fool with it again.  After all, it's no sweat off my nose making him do it again and again till he does it right. 

[Ulu]

Main B+ lug bent wonky at the regulator...This beauty of a termination was almost half-crimped with a pipe wrench and literally coming apart.

Only 365 miles on this wiring job . . .

Thank God nobody actually drove this car.

 

 

This under-dash job wasn't totally awful. OK, even with all the quik-taps it was the cleanest bit, right until you see the  broken wiper switch about to short on the column bracket. You can see where the back of the panel was cut out to allow a too-short pull-switch.

 

[Ulu]

BTW, none of the gages has a bracket. They just friction-fit in the holes. ?