Custom Wiring Harnesses (Part 2)

[hls30.com]

I am still going to create one for my car, but my car may change. I have an opportunity to buy a car with a sound chassis and body, but with a frozen drivetrain. I may sell my car-a '73 in decent shape-I haven't kept up with the little things because I planned a ground-up. The prospect is a '72 that needs the things I want to do to it, it is not close to roadworthy, so I would feel better about bringing it back than taking my car down to bring it back.

Which ever car I do will get a relay for every switch setting, silver soldered connections, an up-graded fuse box, a moved battery, and LED markers and indicators. I will be documenting everyhting I in articles on both my website, and the "articles" post here. I think BambiKiller240 had a good point that the lolgistics of a single harness to fit several year model Z cars could be a real problem because: " Many of the connectors are slightly different. Length of wiring to components is sometimes different. Turn signal switches come to mind. Hazard switches are another. Cigar lighters in different locations = different wire lengths needed. "

Could it be done-Sure, but unless the parts are standardized to one year model, there would be a bunch of different pigtails hanging off at certian points to make it work on all of them.

William Stokes

[frank13]

ZHadMan, what's the haps? :devious:

[ZHadMan]

Originally posted by frank13

ZHadMan, what's the haps? :devious:

Sorry! I've been super busy! I took a new position at work and have been swamped ever since. I'm still here :classic: , but I have had to put some of my 'wiring' projects on the back-burner. My original plan had been to use my own car as my test case, but the project has evolved beyond the original L24 and has de-railed my 'stock' replacement wiring. Sadly, however, free time is a rare commodity anymore.

[wal280z]

Which wiring diagram are you working on in AutoCad? For a '73 or your own custom type that has since been derailed?

I've got a FULL color diagram that I am almost ready to release for the '77 model around the first of the month (May '04), just doing some clean-up on it... it will be a pdf version... Currently working on a '75 Version, however, the warmer weather has derailed me on that project...

It will be posted on my homepage, clicky on the sig...

Wayne

[CrashNBurn]

Has this idea died? Is someone actually working on this? Any developments or is it on the "back burner" ? I'm rather curious because I need to rewire my '73 Z. And trust me, it needs rewiring.

Jason

[wal280z]

Has this idea died? Is someone actually working on this? Any developments or is it on the "back burner" ? I'm rather curious because I need to rewire my '73 Z. And trust me, it needs rewiring.

Jason-

I can't speak for ZHadMan, but I am working on the '72 diagram currently.

Note to others, if you have access to the scanned version of the wiring diagram that came from the FSM, please PM me.

I currently have the '72 and '75 in the works. The '77 has been posted.

Wayne

[bpilati]

Has anyone digitized the original wiring schematic from a Z? It would help in working out where the modifications should be. Some one could take an existing wiring harness that's in a car and note if the length is too short and how much longer would be good, then after the harnes is removed measure the existing length and add the extra desired amount. These measurements could be annotated to the Autocad drawing. Just a thought.

[drunkenmaster]

I wouldn't be interested in a harness made in China either. When was the last time you bought something made in China that was actually well made, durable, and properly engineered?

For me the answer is "never".

Nearly everything is made in China these days and if it isnt, companies are in negotiations to move there. There have been VW/Audi and Buick plants there for several years as well as a lot of other top engineering companies i know of. China has decades of manufacturing experience and there is no reason to say that nothing is made well in china when it is not the case if you look inside any of your electronic devices. The problem is the knockoffs and cheap copies are of poor design and quality but if you buy a fake rolex on a street corner for a fraction of the cost, you cant complain when it breaks.

The funny thing about China is even these cheap low budget operations equivalent to the local guy selling fake watched down a local alley still export globally and have a market overseas.

To stay remotely on topic, one of the most popular and reliable cars in the USA has its wiring harness manufactured in Mexico and I know first hand that the quality issues there have been huge over the last couple of years. This would not be the case in China.

I work in this field but have kept quiet because even though it is my job, I dont think there is a whole lot I can offer to help given my location and the fact that it already seems to be fairly sorted, unless anyone has ideas.

[hls30.com]

The schematic is already a raster graphic in as scanned form, ther are a multitude of programs that readily convert a raster graphis to a scalar graphic that is ediable in virtually any platform, Aegis, Dfx, etc... I think Designcad has a converter built in, all it would take is running the conversion program, and assigning the colorcodes within the graphic. In other words, a good chunk of time!

Will

[Bambikiller240]

Ah, yes. China, world recognized as the leader in quality manufacturing.

[drunkenmaster]

A wiring harness is highly labor intensive, perhaps you tell me then, where would be the best manufacturing country to build one?

The engineering and automotive big names that are now in partnership with china is impressive, and the rate of growth there is amazing. These are multi million dollar companies and i dont think they have all got it wrong.

All I am getting at is it is all a trade off between cost and quality, and from my experience and travel, China would be my choice if I was to set up shop somewhere and i think the statement that I replied to was a broad generalisation which is no longer, if ever, true.

As for the Z wiring harness scheme, if someone could post exactly what the build and drawing process plan is, I would be happy to offer some advice if it is needed.

[Mike]

Look at how long it took MSA to come up with the fuse box and the EXTREME cost of it.

I doubt the MSA fusebox was an extreme investment. It is a simple circuitboard. We design these kinds of things at work all day long and it's a very simple process. Simply need someone with the knowledge to design the board, a program to create the schematic, and a company to create the prototype/final boards. Soldering the components is also easy with the right tools.

Look at this thread, some people want exact OEM, others want this improvement, or THAT improvement. This year, or THAT year, etc. It isn't like one harness is going to satisfy all people, or even "many" people.

But, if we always looked at all the variables and never started with a "Version 1" then nothing would get done. I say we should start with a bone-stock harness. Build it and they will come.

IMHO this is a situation that is best handled by someone with the skills and passion for the job.

No way... I think we should let someone without skills and no passion to get it done. Ship it to India!!!

Heh, just kidding. Anyway, this is a good idea and I hope it comes around someday.