NOS Wiring Harness? Are they available?, Or does everyone just preserve the original harness? Options

[stevegm]

I am preparing my '71 914-4 for restoration. It has come to the point to make a decision how to handle the wiring harness. Are they available for sale NOS? Or does everyone reuse the original one in the car?

I read that one of the builds used an NOS harness and NOS fuse-box. It said - "both courtesy of Mr. Sager." Although it was a six (Mine is just a 4).

Here is the link:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=78492

Thanks,
Steve

[altitude411]

http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/

[914Sixer]

AA used to have some early 70-71 harnesses. Not sure if they are still there, since 914's gotten hot.

[SirAndy]

http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/

Jeff does *not* have a reproduction of the main body harness ...


As far as i know, there is nobody out there making reproductions for the main harness.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[stevegm]

http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/

Jeff does *not* have a reproduction of the main body harness ...


As far as i know, there is nobody out there making reproductions for the main harness.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Ah, Thanks. So, be very careful when taking it out. Or find an NOS main harness. It looks like AA may have some of the smaller harnesses, NOS.

[SirAndy]

Ah, Thanks. So, be very careful when taking it out. Or find an NOS main harness. It looks like AA may have some of the smaller harnesses, NOS.

When i replaced mine, i went with a unmolested harness from a parts car that was in really good shape.

Here's a good thread on how to remove and reinstall a complete harness:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=13582
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[914Sixer]

Just checked. Shows main harness for 70, 71 $920 or $1250. You would have to look at the PET to find the harness number you need.

[stevegm]

Just checked. Shows main harness for 70, 71 $920 or $1250. You would have to look at the PET to find the harness number you need.

Is that AA? Look at the "PET?"

$920 is pretty expensive.

[SirAndy]

Look at the "PET?"

PET for the 914 as a PDF:
http://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf/origi...914_KATALOG.pdf

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[914Sixer]

Harnesses are getting very rare now. Even back in the late 1980's they were in the $600-700 range. These are BARGAIN prices now.

PET is the Porsche Electronic Teile. It is the parts catalog available on line FREE from Porsche Classic.

[57lincolnman]

I have a '75 1.8L with a wiring harness built by Jeff Bowlsby. It is a quality product and you'll be pleased with that.

[worn]

Just checked. Shows main harness for 70, 71 $920 or $1250. You would have to look at the PET to find the harness number you need.

Is that AA? Look at the "PET?"

$920 is pretty expensive.

Not for what you would be getting if it is new. Not even Porsche level expensive.

[mepstein]

Just checked. Shows main harness for 70, 71 $920 or $1250. You would have to look at the PET to find the harness number you need.

Is that AA? Look at the "PET?"

$920 is pretty expensive.

George told me he sold his last one some time ago. $920 would be a bargain these days. I looked into having one built and it would be more than that. I did track down a place to have it done if your interested.

[stevegm]

Just checked. Shows main harness for 70, 71 $920 or $1250. You would have to look at the PET to find the harness number you need.

Is that AA? Look at the "PET?"

$920 is pretty expensive.

George told me he sold his last one some time ago. $920 would be a bargain these days. I looked into having one built and it would be more than that. I did track down a place to have it done if your interested.

Ya. Now that I see what it includes, $920 would be a bargain. I was thinking it was just the short middle piece.

[mepstein]

Just checked. Shows main harness for 70, 71 $920 or $1250. You would have to look at the PET to find the harness number you need.

Is that AA? Look at the "PET?"

$920 is pretty expensive.

George told me he sold his last one some time ago. $920 would be a bargain these days. I looked into having one built and it would be more than that. I did track down a place to have it done if your interested.

Ya. Now that I see what it includes, $920 would be a bargain. I was thinking it was just the short middle piece.

I did buy a complete '71 harness just to have as a sample for a one day duplication.

[Mikey914]

Bet we could talk Jeff into doing these (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
They are the vascular portion of our cars. Some day they will be needed.
I know I had to piece one together for my son's car as it had an engine fire, but what are the odds these cars would be prone to engine fires? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[mepstein]

It's a BIG expense for someone to commit to all the different color wire that's needed to build a harness.

[JeffBowlsby]

Thought I should chime in on this.

The chassis harnesses are well protected from engine bay heat and contaminants unlike the engine bay harnesses so they are, all things considered, in better condition than the others. But why is it that some people still hack into these? PUT THE CUTTERS DOWN PEOPLE. There is never a need to cut wiring, ever. The damage can be difficult to fix. I have been restoring original chassis harnesses as I have the time, but it’s a time consuming process and that makes it expensive, but still cost effective by far, than building new. The interest in new chassis harnesses has been increasing from year to year.

I have been doing the upfront work on making the chassis harnesses as I have time, but it is a monumental task. The chassis harnesses are extremely complicated! Each model year USA 914 chassis harness is unique and not interchangeable with other years, so there are 7 for the 914/4 and as far as I can tell at the moment, at least 2 if not 3 for the 914/6. See the comparison chart on my harness website and below for details. They are different in their circuitry and connectivity requirements at dash switches, gauges and lighting, the relay board connector and by their changes/upgrades from model year to year.

Building them can only come after documenting their circuitry, connectivity and layout, which is where I am at currently. I have acquired 1 or more of each model year 914/4 (except the 1971 914/4 – SO MEPSTEIN CAN I BORROW YOURS TO DOCUMENT?) and am in the process of designing the tooling. Each harness is different than the other, but their similarities include that that have about 70 different combinations of wire gage, base color and striping color, combined to make about 170 different circuits. I have most of the connector terminals but others need to be sourced. I have roughly priced buying the bulk wire and to get the correct colors/gages and striping, will cost about $1000. for each harness, and that is only when buying in bulk quantities for discounts, that initial cost would be at least $5000. as of a year ago. Does not include the terminals, outer casing, or labor to fabricate, or the upfront design and tooling fabrication costs. Easily these are $2000. items to build new, each. These are in no way comparable to the $99. Beetle harness from JC Whitney or Painless. One fabricator that I know of charges $2,295. and they only offer one model year of the 914/6 harness on a custom order basis so that is a reasonable price. $2,295 is more than the value of some 914s, so you can see your car better be pretty valuable to justify this expense, as much as we would all like to have new chassis harnesses.

Seriously, I could use some help with building these 914 wiring harnesses so if someone in the SF bay area is genuinely interested in dedicating significant time and committing to consistent, ongoing effort to making 914 wiring harnesses as a long term endeavor, for pay, please contact me to discuss.

[Kansas 914]

I think they are making 914 harnesses soon: http://www.kroonwireharnesses.com/site/914.html

[mepstein]

I think they are making 914 harnesses soon: http://www.kroonwireharnesses.com/site/914.html

I think the gave me an estimate of $4k.