SWB Wiring Options

Tylinol · 12-01-2015, 09:33 AM

Hi everyone. I have a '66 that I am putting back together for a cross-country drive next August. It's a basket case right now, albeit straight and mostly free of rust. I have the original wiring harness, however several of the ends have been cut off by the PO, and at 50 years old the whole thing is quite stiff. It is beyond my abilities to restore this harness and feel confident that it won't strand me 1,000 miles from home.

So I have been looking at wiring options. This car is going to be a "reversible rat rod" in that I am putting it together with a "stunt double" 1776cc VW Type 1, leaving the original patina and dents, etc. but not doing anything that can't be completely put back to original when it receives a full restoration. Cost is a concern in that the faster I can purchase all of the necessary parts, the better the chance I have of finishing the car by August.

At the top of the market is a Kroon harness, and while it is no doubt well worth the cost, the cost is quite substantial for a "rat rod".

What are some other options? I have seen universal wiring kits from Painless Performance and Rebel Wiring as well; has anyone ever successfully used one on a street Porsche? Are there others (particularly in the US) who can rebuild my factory harness or produce a new one? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

timmy2 · timmy2's Garage

I have been known to restore and/or build new harnesses.
Pm or email me for more info.

Cory M · 12-01-2015, 09:56 AM

I'm going through this now. The back half of my harness is intact but everything under the dash and forward is chopped off. The Kroon kits are a lot of $$$. I was leaning towards the Ron Francis or American Autowire kits with aftermarket switches. I saw the full instructions for the Rebel kit and they were lousy, though lots of hot rodders like the kits and their VW kit is cheap.

Anyway, after talking to 5 different experienced old-school Porsche mechanics I got a complete used harness out of a wrecked car and I'm going to repair mine. I bought a color wiring diagram from Prospero's Garage and I've got the factory manuals. Still dreading it. I did a Painless kit before in a hot rod and it wasn't that bad but it takes a lot of time and is not my idea of fun...

Tylinol · 12-01-2015, 10:26 AM

Hmm...I'm sort of attached to using the original switches and gauges. Would this rule out the universal harnesses?

Cory M · 12-01-2015, 11:56 AM

it will make your life very complicated. You are probably better off fixing what you have than starting from scratch..

wbyonder · 12-01-2015, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmy2

I have been known to restore and/or build new harnesses.
Pm or email me for more info.

I have had Dennis restore or replace every harness in my 1973 911 and I recommend him without reservation.

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

Imho, YnZ is preferable to Kroon given some issues we've had with the Kroon harnesses.

dicklague · dicklague's Garage

I recommend Dennis too. He does great work and is great value for the money....and a great guy.

Yeah I am biased, he has always been terrific in my dealings with him.

stuartbrs · 12-01-2015, 10:29 PM

I can offer some advise here. I also have a 66 911, and Ive used the Rebel Wire buggy kit as my car is a race car. Its an excellent kit, and once I studied the original wiring loom diagram, and the Rebel one, Ive now almost finished wiring up the car. Ive really enjoyed the job a lot to be honest! I have used an MSD ignition unit, and some race car switches instead of the normal ignition barrel. Its a lot simpler than the original loom, and mine was pretty horrible.

If I had to do it again I probably would have used the Rebel Beetle kit as I imagine it has a bit of extra length which may have been handy for the rear tail lights.

Ive never wired a car before, ever.. but would now happily do it again. Its been one of the most fun jobs on my car.