 Anyone built their own wiring harness?, My '75 2.0 has a trashed harness |
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| aggiezig |
 Jul 20 2016, 12:14 PM
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#1
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Porsche Wannabe  Group: Members Posts: 319 Joined: 13-January 16 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 19,557 Region Association: Southern California 
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Hey everyone. New to 914's but not new to wiring harness(es). Curious if anyone out there has built their own harness?
Options for replacement right now look like either:
But, I'm curious if anyone has ever taken the current flow diagrams or schematics and "made their own" harness? My current project has 65-70% of the original wiring in it, but has been trashed from rodents and the P/O cut the harness after the firewall. I'm contemplating "rebuilding" the harness using what I have in the car and a wiring diagram as a template. Meaning, I'd label each wire, pull it all out, and build a new harness side-by-side with the old and diagrams as a guide. Surely, I could do this for less in materials (obviously not counting my labor) than a new $2k+ complete harness? |
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| JOEPROPER |
Jul 20 2016, 12:20 PM
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The answer is "no" unless you ask... Group: Members Posts: 1,207 Joined: 21-November 15 From: White Plains New York Member No.: 19,387 Region Association: North East States
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JEFF BOWLSBY... is the wire harness guy here. Check him out.
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| orbit398 |
Jul 20 2016, 12:23 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 139 Joined: 29-April 15 From: League city, Texas Member No.: 18,681 Region Association: Southwest Region |
QUOTE(aggiezig @ Jul 20 2016, 01:14 PM)  Hey everyone. New to 914's but not new to wiring harness(es). Curious if anyone out there has built their own harness? Options for replacement right now look like either:
I'm contemplating "rebuilding" the harness using what I have in the car and a wiring diagram as a template. Meaning, I'd label each wire, pull it all out, and build a new harness side-by-side with the old and diagrams as a guide. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check with these guys for a used one: Gerold Shaffer; 914eco@gmailcom Brad May; p914ltd@yahoo.com Surely, I could do this for less in materials (obviously not counting my labor) than a new $2k+ complete harness? |
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| Mueller |
Jul 20 2016, 12:30 PM
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#4
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,155 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None
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Yep, done it a few times, stock injection and with aftermarket EFI.
Not that difficult, just time consuming. I think Jeff had access to some new connectors and pins, depends on how deep you want to go with it. |
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| stugray |
Jul 20 2016, 12:38 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,825 Joined: 17-September 09 From: Longmont, CO Member No.: 10,819 Region Association: None |
I have a mostly complete harness that was removed from the car in one piece.
The front turn signals (warts) were cut out and the ignition switch removed and replaced with a switch. It is otherwise complete with relay board and instrument cluster if it is any help to you for parts. I have built my own entire harness but was for a race car so has about 1/10 the total wires as in a OEM harness. But I drew it up, ordered parts, crimped, soldered etc. so I might be of some help if you go that route. |
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| Tom_T |
Jul 20 2016, 12:57 PM
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#6
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TMI.... Group: Members Posts: 8,321 Joined: 19-March 09 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 10,181 Region Association: Southern California
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QUOTE(JOEPROPER @ Jul 20 2016, 11:20 AM) JEFF BOWLSBY... is the wire harness guy here. Check him out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) .... even if you're an Aggie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Tom (`74 Trojan) /////// |
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| mepstein |
Jul 20 2016, 01:08 PM
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#7
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,967 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
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Buy someone's used harness. If you place a WTB in the classifieds and are patient, you will get one - engine or body, whatever you need, in good condition, for $75-150. This will save you a TON of time, money and effort compared to diy. Just the cost of buying the proper color wires and connectors is over the top to make one harness.
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| oldie914 |
Jul 20 2016, 01:41 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 114 Joined: 2-May 10 From: Germany Member No.: 11,680 Region Association: None |
Many years ago, I spliced a rear wiring harness into a 911 that had and engine fire. Not hard to do, just takes time.
Buy a harness from somebody who has installed a new one and go to work. |
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| JawjaPorsche |
Jul 20 2016, 04:03 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,463 Joined: 23-July 11 From: Clayton, Georgia Member No.: 13,351 Region Association: South East States |
QUOTE(JOEPROPER @ Jul 20 2016, 02:20 PM) JEFF BOWLSBY... is the wire harness guy here. Check him out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) |
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| BeemerSteve |
Jul 20 2016, 07:09 PM
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 2-September 15 From: Van Zandt, Wa Member No.: 19,123 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I recently contacted Jeff about a replacement harness for my 73 2.0 and was informed by him that he no longer does new harnesses.
I was told best bet to find a good used one from someone. |
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| Mueller |
Jul 20 2016, 07:14 PM
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#11
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,155 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None
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QUOTE(BeemerSteve @ Jul 20 2016, 06:09 PM) I recently contacted Jeff about a replacement harness for my 73 2.0 and was informed by him that he no longer does new harnesses. I was told best bet to find a good used one from someone. Really? I know he put a feeler thread out a few months looking to see if someone wanted to learn how and possibly take over doing it? |
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| BeemerSteve |
Jul 20 2016, 07:19 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 2-September 15 From: Van Zandt, Wa Member No.: 19,123 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
QUOTE(Mueller @ Jul 20 2016, 06:14 PM) QUOTE(BeemerSteve @ Jul 20 2016, 06:09 PM) I recently contacted Jeff about a replacement harness for my 73 2.0 and was informed by him that he no longer does new harnesses. I was told best bet to find a good used one from someone. Really? I know he put a feeler thread out a few months looking to see if someone wanted to learn how and possibly take over doing it? True dat!!! |
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| ClayPerrine |
Jul 20 2016, 08:19 PM
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#13
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Life's been good to me so far..... Group: Admin Posts: 16,445 Joined: 11-September 03 From: Hurst, TX. Member No.: 1,143 Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
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I took the stock 73 four cylinder harness and did extensive modifications on it for my six conversion. It is really time consuming to build wiring harnesses.
If you can find a good used one, I suggest you get it. There is a wrecking yard in Grand Prairie Texas that has a 74 1.8 in it. I tried to buy the whole car, but it is for "part out and scrap only" so they can't sell it whole. You could get the harness out of it if you want to drive here and pull it. It is at Awesome Auto Salvage. And for those who ask... I could not get the vin. It is up on a big metal stand about 8 feet in the air. |
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| 914Sixer |
Jul 20 2016, 08:22 PM
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#14
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 9,192 Joined: 17-January 05 From: San Angelo Texas Member No.: 3,457 Region Association: Southwest Region
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I can't remember the name but some one in Holland or Germany IS making them. Found it Kroon Wire Harnesses
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| Amphicar770 |
Jul 20 2016, 08:30 PM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,219 Joined: 20-April 10 From: PA, USA Member No.: 11,639 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
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Glad to hear that the rumors of Jeff no longer producing harnesses is false. I have one of his FI harnesses. A work of art!
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| JeffBowlsby |
Jul 20 2016, 08:55 PM
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#16
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914 Wiring Harnesses & Beekeeper Group: Members Posts: 8,974 Joined: 7-January 03 From: San Ramon CA Member No.: 104 Region Association: None
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Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated!
Not true, I am still here! Not sure how this misperception started and has grown legs but its false. Nothing has changed in the 914 wiring harnesses I build for our community. I still make and have no plans to stop making all of the 914 harnesses I always have for the last 15 years...fuel injection, ignition, alternator, MPS rebuilds, etc...everything on my harness website: http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/ The only exception is that I do not now nor ever have made new chassis harnesses, although I plan to someday. I have had to manage the chassis harnesses restoration projects that I accept because they take so much time away from building the other harnesses and I am not able to accept them all. |
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| BeemerSteve |
Jul 20 2016, 09:14 PM
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#17
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Member Group: Members Posts: 239 Joined: 2-September 15 From: Van Zandt, Wa Member No.: 19,123 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I did say a complete harness....but should've said complete chassis harness instead. Sorry if I raised hell from that statement Jeff it wasn't my intention to disrupt your flow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)
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| aggiezig |
Jul 20 2016, 10:34 PM
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#18
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Porsche Wannabe Group: Members Posts: 319 Joined: 13-January 16 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 19,557 Region Association: Southern California
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Wow - lots of replies and lots of great information.
In the VW world, it was common to trash the factory harness and replace with a new kit. In our '74 Thing, we used a kit from Watson's Street Works like this one. It was nice moving to a "GM style" kit as there are not multiple circuits running current through each other, etc. Plus, the wires are all labeled every 3" and very heavy duty. Has anyone done anything similar? The only real difficulties I can foresee would be incorporating some of the original components in like the turn signal switch? This would also eliminate the need for a relay board. |
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| Jeff Hail |
Jul 20 2016, 11:13 PM
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#19
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,141 Joined: 3-May 07 From: LA/ CA Member No.: 7,712 |
QUOTE(Jeff Bowlsby @ Jul 20 2016, 07:55 PM) Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated! Not true, I am still here! Not sure how this misperception started and has grown legs but its false. Nothing has changed in the 914 wiring harnesses I build for our community. I still make and have no plans to stop making all of the 914 harnesses I always have for the last 15 years...fuel injection, ignition, alternator, MPS rebuilds, etc...everything on my harness website: http://bowlsby.net/914/WiringHarnesses/ The only exception is that I do not now nor ever have made new chassis harnesses, although I plan to someday. I have had to manage the chassis harnesses restoration projects that I accept because they take so much time away from building the other harnesses and I am not able to accept them all. Were on to you. Please stop impersonating the artist formerly knows as Jeff Bowlsby. You write like Jeff, get technical like Jeff, use his screen name etc. Have a clone website just like Jeffs. The only way to clear this up is the real Jeff will stand up and make chassis harnesses. |
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| larss |
Jul 21 2016, 08:37 AM
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 431 Joined: 10-September 09 From: Sweden Member No.: 10,787 Region Association: Scandinavia |
The header of this thread is "Anyone built their own wiring" and yes I made a new harness on my own (since PO had chopped the original one into one feet pieces to get it out). Not to hard really, used a piece of board and nails to represent different objects as the rear lights etc for to get the distances right, took some effort but almost no money.
No, I did not get all insulation colors same as the original and it does not look (but function!) like the original. A good thing is that I could put in some spare wires for oil pressure sender etc. Lars S (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.lsmteknik.se-10787-1413564587.1.jpg) |
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