Wrap engine compartment wires in fire retardent split wire looms?

[dimeified]

I know it is a good idea to check fuel lines and keep an eye out for cracks to prevent fuel spray into the engine cabin. I am wondering though if it is a good preventative measure to wrap the wiring in the engine compartment in fire retardent split wire looms and wrap zip ties every 6 inches or so on them to keep them sealed? I think it would save headaches in the event that our 25+ year old cars decide to ignite, and it would also strenthen the cable bundles, and also help the compartment look cleaner. Not only this but it may protect the cables from the heat and prevent them from becoming brittle and and internally shorting and or causing the insulation to become brittle and break apart.

Has anyone done this before? Or am i just trying to come up with excuses for working on the car this weekend?

[911pcars]

Can't hurt extending harness life, but if there's a fire, you'll have to contend with melting alloy metals. The wire harness will be the least of your worries.

MHO,

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I like the various neatening devices like wire looms, though I use spi-wrap rather than the split plastic things. They always remind me of Ford Focus engine compartments, where the electrical tape is already coming unwrapped at the dealership...

[304065]

That will just make more toxic smoke. It also encapsulates the wire allowing moisture to get in.

If you are concerned about old, brittle wires then you should order EXACT replacement wire from the various suppliers YNZ eagleday RI wire (Pelican does not sell wire) and install it with the original factory crimp fasteners and rubber strain reliefs.

Few things scare a subsequent buyer away than buggered wires-- and trying to do electrical diagnosis over the Internet (or in person, for that matter) with a non-stock car is so difficult I don't even bother anymore.

May I suggest a concours wash and wax instead?

[RWebb]

Boeing has some nice braided ones that do not make toxic smoke and breathe + letting any liquids go thru the braid.

It is always useful to dumpster dive behind aerospace mfg. companies...

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I use nothing but aircraft-quality milspec wiring when I replace anything in the 911, most of it Teflon-coated, a substantial quantity left over from the last airplane I built (a Falco). Not sure I buy the encapsulating-allows-moisture-in argument, since we sure bundled aircraft wiring where possible, which is certainly a form of encapsulation considering the quantity of wiring we were bundling.

[304065]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

I use nothing but aircraft-quality milspec wiring when I replace anything in the 911, most of it Teflon-coated, a substantial quantity left over from the last airplane I built (a Falco). Not sure I buy the encapsulating-allows-moisture-in argument, since we sure bundled aircraft wiring where possible, which is certainly a form of encapsulation considering the quantity of wiring we were bundling.

Yeah, I had a bunch of Tefzel left over from one of my annuals that I used to wire up the data acquisition box in the race car. Good stuff and it makes nice bundles with the waxed cord. It's crazy from a diagnosis standpoint however, given the time required to fabricate little wire labels on Excel and use clear heat shrink ("spaghetti") to cover the wire marker.

By encapsulating I sure don't mean waxed lacing cord, I mean that split loom GM garbage. But even big bundles have that issue, water gets in and works through the side of the insulation.

I never thought to use TKT, if it lights on fire I'm going to hit the AFFF and bail.