Wire Conduit Egine Compartment to Front Firewall

[JK73Super]

What have others done if anything making it easy to add additional electrical wires between engine compartment and the dash?

I've just repaired my floors (without removing the body) and there were all kinds of wires added by others, placed under the carpet. I don't particularly like this.

So I'm thinking of mounting a rigid tubing (inside, underside?) easily accessible near the dash and the other end sticking out of in the engine compartment.

Has anyone done something similar and or different?
If so, could please share your solution on what path you took to add wires (i.e. for tack, temperature sender, etc..)

Thanks, JimK

[Cusser]

I wired mine out the driver front fender, under the running board, up into the engine compartment. I used nooks and crannies and cable ties and small tubing clamps to wire up my tachometer, oil pressure, and oil temperature gauges.

I've been beta-testing this since 1976 on my VW, so not sure if it will hold up more than 47 years....

_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[JK73Super]

That is definitely functional. Durability? but may last longer than my biodegradable '87 Volvo 240 engine bay insulation.

I'm thinking of using something like black plastic water lines sold in 100' coils at various hardware stores. I used this when my house was framed as guide tubes for wiring from my basement to every room on every lever.

With the bug, I need to decide where to put the opening, so that its readily accessible on both ends, and does not allow moisture to settle in the low points. Thinking of putting it on the underside as the plastic should protect the wires road hazard.

[bsairhead]

Can't you use the tunnel?

[KTPhil]

Cusser, terrible hack, probably wont last, so many things wrong with that idea...

...and I'd do it in a heartbeat if I was in a hurry, which I perpetually am.

Not quite Roadkill class, but on the fringes!
_________________
Current Fleet:
'71 Fastback
'69 Westfalia
Retired:
'67 Beetle
'65 Beetle (x2)
'65 Bus
'71 Squareback

[JK73Super]

The tunnel sounds like a good idea, but there are moving metal things inside which could rub insulation and cause a ground.

However, running a pipe at floor level up against the tunnel is one possibility.

The objective is to easily remove, replace wiring from one end of the vehicle to the other without having to pull up the carpet.

[bsairhead]

[OTTO 1303]

Follow the existing wiring from dash to engine compartment.
I recommend something flexible, unless you are doing a Baja or something where the wires will be exposed.
You may have to bust through some foam over the rear wheel well to get there.
I used the split ribbed tubing and followed the existing harness from bottom of dash, along heater channel to the rear main harness grommet.

The ribbed tubing transitions to heatshrink tubing to pass through foam and continued up and rearward to engine compartment.

YELLOW- factory harness
BLUE- gauge sensor harness
GREEN- vacuum line
Without arrows, only noticeable to the trained eye.

Good Luck
_________________
74 Super Sun Bug - OTTO
74 Super - DANZIG
74 Super - HERZOG

[JK73Super]

Using the current cable harness route sounds like a good idea. My foam is gone. I had to replace the rust it caused with new metal.

The driver's side rocker is already full with the existing cable against the driver side rocker.
The driver's side inner against the tunnel would also be good but the pedal assemble would be interfered with where it would rise at firewall.

I'm thinking perhaps on the passenger side up against the tunnel would be a good route and should have enough room to go across from the battery compartment to the driver's side and then into the another section of pipe between the interior and engine compartment.

This is the best option unless someone comes up with something better.

Thanks everyone

[KTPhil]

Driver side up and over the door may be an option, too.
_________________
Current Fleet:
'71 Fastback
'69 Westfalia
Retired:
'67 Beetle
'65 Beetle (x2)
'65 Bus
'71 Squareback

[bsairhead]

Unless you think you need more than 3 wires a good outdoor extension cord is an option.

[runamoc]

I used EMT and ran it on the passenger side, (shiny black paint) where the battery is to begin with. Bent a 90 and had it come out in the trunk. See the wire harness to the left of the 'drain hole'. Even ran the engine/tail lights out the right side too.

_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[gt1953]

I use a mulit conductor cable..it will give you extra wires for future use. Generally it is teflon sheith on it.
_________________
Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})