re-wiring from scratch

drrnsk8ter4 · Post by **drrnsk8ter4** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:14 am

what gauge wire is used behind the dash on a 74 std bug? my wiring is pretty messed up there and i dont need to buy a new wiring harness, i just want to clean it up...i want to just go buy some spools of the right gauge wire that are different colors along with the correct end connections and then just go through and redo all the bad wires and then bundle them all up at the end to clean it all up.

Post by **Marc** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 8:09 am

If you'll look at the wiring diagrams in the Bentley manual you'll see that the size of each conductor is labeled in mm² (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, 4.0, 6.0)
http://vintagebus.com/wiring/1303_USA_f ... 1973-1.jpg
http://vintagebus.com/wiring/1303_USA_f ... 1973-2.jpg
http://vintagebus.com/wiring/1303_USA_f ... 1973-3.jpg
Here's a comparison chart that shows how these sizes relate to AWG:
http://www.alphawire.com/pages/379.cfm
http://www.alphawire.com/pages/380.cfm?partner=0&part=0
You can see that 20 gauge is about equivalent to 0.5mm², 18 to 1.0, and 16 is nearly 1.5 while 14 is about 2.0mm².
12 gauge doesn't quite cut it for 4.0mm² (although it's good enough in most cases) so you might want to use 10 instead. Same goes for using 10 gauge as 6.0mm², it'll do but 8 gauge is safer.
You may have a problem finding the right kind of terminals to lock into place on the modular fusepanel - you should line those up before tearing into this project.

drrnsk8ter4 · Post by **drrnsk8ter4** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:38 pm

is it difficult to go through the rewiring process? if i just go through each wire and replace them one by one is it gonna be tricky? can anyone share their experiences with it?

Freq2002 · Post by **Freq2002** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:42 pm

Another way to do it, w/o all the effort of splicing wires, remove all of the old wires from thier terminals, get them straightened out & start laying them in place one at a time, cut them to the legnth you need them to be to eliminate that spaghetti nightmare you have now. Once they are laid out & fit properly, a few zip ties & some heat shrink does wonders.

Costs MUCH less (bag of ties & a couple boxes of spade connecors) & is fairly easy. I've done a few cars this way & it looks tight & better yet, all of the original color coded wiring is in place so if you have issues down the road tracing wires is a snap.

dping28 · Post by **dping28** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:20 am

I bought a new harness and the bugme video for rewiring and did it in two days. Granted I was really quick and sloppy cause I use it as a daily driver and needed it by monday for work. would have like to take the time and do it nice and clean. But the video was a BIG help

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 5:23 am

Here in oz our wire is rated in its amp carrying ablility. How do I convert the wiring diagram that lists wires as mm to amps?

Raymondo · Post by **Raymondo** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:32 pm

Gavin wrote:Here in oz our wire is rated in its amp carrying ablility. How do I convert the wiring diagram that lists wires as mm to amps?

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

dstar5000 · Post by **dstar5000** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:53 am

Another SPAMMER!

Don

vwvert · Post by **vwvert** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:30 pm

I just finished rewiring my 75 sedan (yes I also have a 72 convertible). Most of the wiring in the car is
14 awg , with just a few 12 awg (main hot wires) and a few 16 awg. Might also want to consider a good terminal lug crimp tool and new lugs. You also might want to consider a good electrical cleaning solvent to clean your fuse panel and any other connections that you are not going to replace. That way you can ensure a good connection.

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re-wiring from scratch

re-wiring from scratch

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