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Posted by: Olympic 914 Feb 8 2023, 07:40 AM

Although very expensive, it looks like Restoration Design is now offering whole body wiring harnesses for our 914s

At around €5000+ tax

Posted by: mb911 Feb 8 2023, 09:21 AM

hmm $3500 is what I see https://www.restoration-design.com/store/product/RD-914.612.019.10

Posted by: Olympic 914 Feb 8 2023, 09:57 AM

Yes, that is a little more reasonable.

The email I got was from

Restoration Design Europe.

https://www.restoration-design.eu/rd-91461202115-main-chassis-harness-1973.html

For the extra money, it would be worth it for someone in the EU to have a friend on this side of the pond buy it and ship it over to them.

Posted by: mihai914 Feb 8 2023, 10:22 AM

It's not the same harness.

Ben's link is for the 914-6 harness and Tom's link is for a1973 harness.

Here is the EU link to the 914-6 harness:

https://www.restoration-design.eu/914-612-019-10-complete-wiring-harness.html

And the link to the 1973 NA harness:

https://www.restoration-design.com/store/product/RD-914.612.021.15

So potato/potato tomato/tomato.

$3500 USD or almost 5k euros.

Posted by: 930cabman Feb 8 2023, 12:15 PM

Any way you cut the potato it's alot of dough

Posted by: JeffBowlsby Feb 8 2023, 01:04 PM

The 914 chassis harness is a complicated harness to build. I have documented most of them and each has in the range of 175 circuits and 80 different combinations of wire gauge/color/striping which most are special order. Wire for each of these needs to be bought in bulk quantities and then there are special wire terminals and various special connector housings. The initial $ investment and labor to R/D these, to then acquire the parts and materials, and then actually build one is very significant. Hats off to those building and offering them for our 914s, all things considered these prices are a gift for what you get.

Posted by: bdstone914 Feb 8 2023, 01:08 PM

In addition each year harness is different and there is euro and non euro versions. Even at that price i do not see it as a big money maker.

Posted by: burton73 Feb 8 2023, 01:23 PM

3,500 USD
is equal to
3,260.64 EUR

Source: https://usd.currencyrate.today/convert/amount-3500-to-eur.html

not what i found

Bob B

Posted by: mihai914 Feb 8 2023, 01:32 PM

Sorry, what I meant to say is that whatever type of harness you buy, it's $3500 on the regular RD website and close to 5k euros on their European site.

Posted by: johnorm Feb 9 2023, 01:23 PM

I took the plunge, during Covid, and started to research building my own loom for my 1973 2.0L. I had no choice because my loom was fire damaged, it had PO modifications and I'm cheap. I found sources for quality colored solid or striped wire, the connectors and the tools for proper crimped ends. I can tell you it was not easy and I have made more than a few mistakes along the way. The biggest problem is getting a familiarity with the original loom design for your specific year of 914, understanding each circuit by studying wiring diagrams posted on 914World and the Internet, cross referencing from Metric to AWG gauge wire, confirming the proper length of each wire and determining whether you want to maintain originality or modify for specific needs. Based on my experience you can build your own loom but expect to spend hundreds of hours on research plus the better part of $1,000 on materials and tools. Luckily I'm retired and I worked at it when I needed a break from my 914's restoration. I have installed the loom and plan to be finished testing soon, again I'm in no hurry. I have no electrical training other than the fact I have installed a few after-market wiring looms on other classic cars. Truth is without Covid lockdowns I probably would not have started the project. I have posted the sources for wire and connectors on the 914World's Facebook page in the last month or so.

Posted by: JeffBowlsby Feb 9 2023, 02:20 PM

That’s great to know you built your own harness. Would you be able estimate how much time the harness took to build , not counting the time spent on research and parts sourcing etc? Just your production time?

Posted by: Rob-O Feb 9 2023, 04:03 PM

No need for an exact amount, just eyeball it.

Posted by: johnorm Feb 9 2023, 10:06 PM

Jeff that's a difficult question because I ended up deconstructing my 1st harness that I built because I became more proficient with my tools, I found better connectors and I learned a few tricks that produced a better quality finished product. When I build the 2nd one, for my other 914, I would say it will take a week, maybe 1 1/2 weeks, with harness wrap, connectors including the 14 pin and 12 pin regulator board harnesses but no FI harness. I'm still working on a prototype FI harness (next winter's project). So, if your time was worth $50-$70/hr then the harnesses built by Restoration Design starts to makes sense. I enjoyed the challenge so for me it was a fun learning process. It's no different than someone deciding that they are going to do their own body and paint or an engine rebuild. It can be done but it's a labour of love. I will say that without your personal website, the 914World forum postings and various YouTube videos it would not have been possible.