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speedyxjs - 12/5/07 at 03:27 PM

Strip out wiring loom from donor car

or

Cut wires and buy a new loom (i think there was a post a few months back about a place you could buy a '7' loom).


BenB - 12/5/07 at 03:31 PM

I'd buy a loom.... Quite a few wires from the donor loom are likely to not be needed so unless you're prepared to carry around un-needed weight you'll have to take the old loom apart to remove those wires... And the terminals are likely to be corroded and some of the wires fractured.... The loom is likely to be too long so you'll end up cutting and splicing anyway....

I reckon it's not worth it.....


mangogrooveworkshop - 12/5/07 at 03:46 PM

http://www.premierwiring.co.uk/ will supply one for you that will fit your car perfectly.
The last thing you want is twenty year old wireing in a new car........
Call Alan


Chaz - 12/5/07 at 03:57 PM

Buy a loom, premier wiring dude is mega helpful and knows all problems!


Fatgadget - 12/5/07 at 04:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
http://www.premierwiring.co.uk/ will supply one for you that will fit your car perfectly.
The last thing you want is twenty year old wireing in a new car........
Call Alan


Nothing at all wrong with a 20 year old wiring loom IMO. The only issue I can think of is manky connectors previously exposed to the elements but you just replace those while cutting and shutting to suit, After all it's a Locost isn't it?


mookaloid - 12/5/07 at 04:34 PM

Another vote for Premier Wiring here


PaulBuz - 12/5/07 at 04:37 PM

You're building a locost!!
Make one from an old loom off of ebay.
This is what I was doing this morning(pic) Rescued attachment wiring.jpg
Rescued attachment wiring.jpg


Hellfire - 12/5/07 at 04:44 PM

Make one from an old loom... providing the quality is good (which most is) you will be fine.

Good luck, it's much more 'fun'

Steve


tks - 12/5/07 at 04:47 PM

i did it from scratch, just buy wire
doesn't matter the colour just code it with heat schrink.

just count lights addon + some reserves put it in your flexi tube layit down the tunnel popit in..

its easy..

Tks


zetec - 12/5/07 at 04:49 PM

Get a new loom. Old cable insulation can harden and crack, new coverings are thinner and made from more heat resistant plastics.


David Jenkins - 12/5/07 at 05:32 PM

I designed and made my own loom - but I like playing with electrics!


whitestu - 12/5/07 at 05:39 PM

I used the Sierra loom, but then my car used a lot of the Sierra bits [ignition, clocks, fan etc] so it made it easy.

Took quite a while to chop out all the unwanted bits.

All the imsylation seemed to be in perfect condition though, so no worries there.

IMHO the Ford loom is better quality than and aftermarket one.


Stu


Mark Allanson - 12/5/07 at 06:53 PM

I used HD trailer cable to wire up the front and rear, fitted the EFI ECU and plugged in the harness, got an auto electricial in and said "make all that lot work"

8 hours later I had a fully working car, I earnt more in the 8 hours than I had to pay him. I would have taken me weeks.


DarrenW - 12/5/07 at 08:49 PM

Defo new loom. Old loom may have too much smoke in it itching to get out!

Cant be too careful with wiring i say.

Premier gets my vote. I managed to junk every bit of std Sierra switchgear and graft in a DD2 with premier loom - not too bad of a job.
Fault finding with a butchered donor loom must be a nightmare unless you are a wiring demi-god.


Macbeast - 12/5/07 at 10:16 PM

The insulation in the wiring in a 20-year old loom will be losing its plasticiser, especially with heat, and will become brittle. I think RAC / AA say most common fault in breakdowns is electrical. I would never use an old loom.


chriscook - 13/5/07 at 05:46 PM

I made my own from scratch and thought ahead to likely future upgrades - it made my conversion to injection a lot easier as I already had a fuel pump wire to the rear and various other things which made it very easy. It took a lot of time but was absolutely worth it.


40inches - 30/5/07 at 07:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
I used HD trailer cable to wire up the front and rear,

Same here, done 2 cars this way, takes a few hours rather than days


flak monkey - 30/5/07 at 07:13 PM

I modified an old Mk 2 escort one that cost me a tenner and was in suprisingly good condition. Looms dont move if they are tied in properly.

Cost about another £20 in crimps and connectors from Vehicle Wiring Products. And a week to fully modify and fit. I have since had it apart to fit an immobiliser, and its about to get a rev limiter added too.

Oh and it all worked first time

The BEST thing about modifying one yourself is that you know it inside out, and if you have any problems you have a pretty good idea where to look!

I used some industrial 9 core cable to the rear of the car, got it from work and it cost nowt.

David

PS I also removed about 5kg of old wiring from the loom, which came in handy for extending and modifying with the correct colour wires.

[Edited on 30/5/07 by flak monkey]


myeates - 30/5/07 at 08:24 PM

make on out of an old loom thats what i have done and has turned out all working well at the moment

used 7 core trailer cable for the rear of car instead

would agree with Flak if you make it youself you will have a pretty good idea of what is wrong when it does go wrong

[Edited on 30/5/07 by myeates]


02GF74 - 31/5/07 at 05:24 PM

If I were to make one, I would build my own loom, sourcing wires from a donor.