Rewiring / cable question

[Cooper77]

Hi,

this should be a quick one... but couldn't find anything in the various searches I did.

I rewired some parts of the harness in my 1970 911T with standard wire (same specs as the old wires) . The original wires in the car are usually shielded / wrapped in a tube themselves to protect them.

I am interested in hearing if

a) you just wired yours cars without wrapping the wires/cables in such tubes, or
b) if you protected the wires and if so ... with waht / where to get these tubes.

Thanks for any input.
Cooper

[Bob Kontak]

Most auto stores, Harbor freight and Summit sell kits but the lengths are usually six inches long.

Pelican has kits but I do not see long lengths offered.

Pelican Parts.com - 158 Pc. Heat Shrink Tubing Kit

Here is a supply house that has over 1,000 kits. There are shrink tubing rolls on the second page - 50 and 100 feet - long for a pretty fair price.

This link is the second page so enter "Shrink tubing" in the search field to check out other tubing offers.

Shrink Tubing - Wire Management - Grainger Industrial Supply, Pg 2

[Cooper77]

Thanks, Bob.

I have shrink tube at home... the tubes I mean are not shrunk to the cables, rather a loose second hull around them. Is shrink tube the stuff to use then?

C

[Bob Kontak]

I see what you mean from looking at my car. Various sizes, too. I would not default to shrink tubing just yet until someone with more knowledge steps in. I would use it and it would be functional to a degree but the original ones may have more heft and be more heat resistant for added protection. Besides that, I am not in a position to suggest that shrink wrap is your answer. Sorry.

Let me try some searching for a few minutes.

[D911SC]

Do a google search for PVC cable sleeve. I sourced some locally (in Aus) but I'm sure you'll find some in the US. As an idea here is a link to what you can get:

Buy Cable Sleeves Cable,sleeve,PVC,6mm bore,black,10m RS RS-PVC-6.0-0-CL online from RS for next day delivery.

Threading the wire through the sleeve can be tricky, sometimes a wire coathanger came in handy.

I also wrapped some wire in fabric tape that I ordered on eBay. Do a search for Colorplast and you'll find a few varieties. It may not be factory but it looks much better than the standard PVC electrical tape.

[Classic]

Having just done my 69 harness I can suggest for the PVC sleeves McMaster-Carr

And get some pressure sensitive automotive tape http://www.egitape.com/

If you've ever unwrapped a harness that had electrical tape used on it you know what a mess it can make.

Depending on how far you want to go, you can still get most of the connectors from Porsche and the protective ends, or use heat shrink, your call.

[porwolf]

Frys has a great selection of heat shrinkable tubing in 4 foot lenghts in various colors at cheap prices.

[Porboynz]

I went to a car dismantler and cut a section of wiring from the wiring loom of an old Audi and got correct colour wiring and sections of the PVC outer in various diameters. I did not want to use heatshrink as it has a dull finish compared with the PVC sleeving. Some established (old) Auto Electricians will have that PVC sleeving in rolls in various sizes from the good old days before heat shrink and that awful flexible coil wrap stuff. I used some of the PVC sleeving to replace the sections that fit on the metal tabs that hold your wiring loom in place, looks great new, the old PVC was brittle and dull.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Classic

Having just done my 69 harness I can suggest for the PVC sleeves McMaster-Carr

I like this idea for the outer shell.