Engine Bay Harness from scratch ... I'm planning to build it ...

[280z1975]

Ok, so after I lost an eBay auction the other day for a NOS engine bay harness I was kinda pissed. I HATE the electrical nightmares these cars cause and I've decided it's time to change the one area my car is lacking. So I am in the planning phase of going ahead with a from scratch build-up of an engine harness.

I want to start with the engine bay because it's the one area exposed to the harshest conditions (and the one that gives me the most problems ). If anyone else has researched this or has links that would be helpful please do post or PM me.

So far for the connectors I have found the following sources:

http://www.vintageconnections.com/index.htm (borrowed from GreenZZZ)

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/connectors.htm (borrowed from GreenZZZ)

http://www.wireconnections.com/index.htm

I plan to make one for me personally (a 280z) then move onto making them for other 280z owners and finally on to the 240's and maybe even for you 260z guys (I know, your like the red-headed step child of the group, but we still love ya). No idea on cost at the moment, but I want to make a little bit for my time. With my current job of cycling (which doesn't quite pay the bills like I would want) it would be nice to have a part-time, sit down, job where I can do something I like and make a little scratch to pay the bills (and help save some Z cars).

My Z was loaded into the container yesterday, it's making it's two week trip here! I can't wait. I miss driving it sooo much ... the weather has been perfect and all the old timer cars are out here, it's great!

Kinda like having a job with some free time ... gives me time to tinker in my pursuits ...

[rewiredz]

This is the place that the wiring kit that i got with my car came from. they use pretty quality stuff and its all pretty easy to use.

Ron Francis wire works

This is just the connectors and some small fuse blocks. they have lots of other parts that could be helpful.

[Go240Zags]

It would be nice to have more options for fuse boxes w/ modern blade fuses, like the MSA one for 240Z, but I can't bring myself to spend $200 on one - not at this point anyway. Since my car can't be returned to stock anyway (orig. engine long gone) I don't mind mixing a bit of the modern w/ the classic. I plan on shipping my harnass(es) to David to have him take a shot at rebuilding one good one once I find all the spares I've collected over the past three or four years. Gary D

[vercingetorix]

You might try here http://eagleday.stores.yahoo.net/blco.html

I got some great quality connectors from these guys to repair my dash harness.

If you decide to build for the early Z's let me know.

Good Luck,

HH

[GreenZZZ]

I bought some eagleday connectors. They are close but don't mate up with the Japanese stuff we have. I believe they are 70's vintage Porche parts.

[ktm]

There is a company that restores harnesses and sells them on Ebay for $550 as a buy it now. They routinely sell the harnesses.

[280z1975]

There is a company that restores harnesses and sells them on Ebay for $550 as a buy it now. They routinely sell the harnesses.

550? :eek: ... I'll be making a definite effort to source and build these harnesses! It may take me a year to source everything and get my quality good enough to put out something I would sell.

After Rust I would put the electrics as the biggest problem for 90% of our cars. Rust still being the reason behind the electrical problems ...

[280~Master]

Are you talking about making the harness that goes to the ECU or a harness that is for the chassis? I would be interested in getting parts together for the ECU harness.

[280z1975]

Are you talking about making the harness that goes to the ECU or a harness that is for the chassis? I would be interested in getting parts together for the ECU harness.

At the moment I am going to take this one step at a time. So it will be for the ENGINE BAY HARNESS which goes from the lights, turn signals etc. back to the connection box inside the car near the fuse box. After I get that one sorted out I will move on to other projects I am sure. I have a feeling this is going to be a 1 year timeline or so for the Engine bay harness to be ready to a quality standard which we all expect out of our Z parts.

[New-to-240z]

if you find anything on the wireing schematics, then please post. I have to re-wire all my headlights, turn signals and rear tailights!! No fun for me!

[280z1975]

You can go here:

http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/electrical.htm

and download a wiring diagram for your year in PDF. You can print it larger than just a simple 8 x 10 in several pages then cut and tape together to make them easier to follow.

good luck with it all ... as far as your headlights, you might consider upgrading to the headlight harness relay offered by member Zs-ondabrain:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20365

Good luck with it all.

[280z1975]

So I checked my e-mail and there was a search result for "280z Wiring Harness"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1&viewitem=&item=160108192912

The guy selling it, for 409 USD, is the same guy who out bid me and got the harness for 256USD ... at a cost of 409 USD I am SURE I can figure out a way to reproduce the wiring harness.