TheSamba.com :: View topic - What's the best aftermarket buggy wiring harness?

Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:22 am

Hi folks. I'm going to try to get my chenowth buggy street legal here in NY. I'll first have to put on all the lights and wiring. Does anyone have a specific buggy wiring harness that they recommend?

thanks

Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:50 am

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wire-harness-for-dune-buggy/p2001329.jcwx?filterid=c10483u0j1

Wouldn't say its the best but for the price, and what your working on would be more then sufficient. Add some split loom quality connections, secure it properly. Mabey swap out that fuse block for s better quality waterproof type and you'd be good. Might have to add in turn signal circuit.

Or

http://www.jcwhitney.com/keep-it-clean-procomp-ult...d=c10483u0

If you have a good place for the fuse block.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:26 am

spools of wire and DaleM's wiring diagrams. really not that hard and since your car is not stock then you won't have to cut up a expensive wiring harness to fit.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:41 pm

Yea but by the time you buy different color, sizes, connectors, decent fuse panel turn signal relay you would be into it almost as much as a inexpensive harness. Those harnesses I showed were universal. I have done both routes and I was much happier with a kit then spools of wire. Just my opinion

Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:03 pm

Thanks guys. I'd rather go with a kit so there's no left over wire that I'd have to keep and store.

I'm checking out the universal kit now.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:54 pm

Like parfee said, get a good wiring book if your not to familiar with wiring.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:10 pm

I bought a Rebel Wiring harness for my FG Buggy and really like the quality of the kit. I bought the VW Bug Universal kit for the beetle. I usually buy a cheap wiring kit for $ 69 to $ 89 and add about $ 100 more in relays, additiional fuses, blinker relays, additional wiring. This time I pony'ed up and bought a good kit to begin with and sooo glad I did.

http://rebelwire.com/rebel-wire-products.php?cat=Wire%20Kits

Each wire is labeled every 12 to 18 inches and plenty of length. The Bug kit is set up for a rear engine, front fuse block.

With the empi kits, you get what you pay for. A super cheap fuse block and wires. The fuse block has screw terminals that work loose over time and become a PITA to track down the wiring problem. I know this from the first buggy I used a EMPI kit on, the buggy in my avatar.

The wiring is separated into loom sections. Steering column, front headlights, rear lights and engine, rear charging and starter so forth.

Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:27 pm

It really depends on what you want to run and how much you want to spend. My buggy works great with 4 fused circuits and no relays.

Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:16 am

I should have mentioned that my buggy is already wired to start and run. It has a working 1 speed wiper, working tach, head temp guage, oil light.

It does NOT have ANY lights, horn, brake light switch... all the stuff I'd need to get it street legal.

I love the kit that joescool posted and would prefer to go that route but that kit is to completely rewire a buggy right? I think i'd be going backwards ripping out all that has been wired on my buggy so far and trying to rewire everything.

thoughts?

Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:33 am

D0N1 wrote: I should have mentioned that my buggy is already wired to start and run. It has a working 1 speed wiper, working tach, head temp guage, oil light.

It does NOT have ANY lights, horn, brake light switch... all the stuff I'd need to get it street legal.

I love the kit that joescool posted and would prefer to go that route but that kit is to completely rewire a buggy right? I think i'd be going backwards ripping out all that has been wired on my buggy so far and trying to rewire everything.

thoughts?

Maybe "one" system wired consistently has a advantage over a mismatch collection of wiring schemes done by your self and previous owners....

I personally am a believer in getting several rolls of wire ( 6-8 colors and several gauges) and fuse blocks and wiring buggy with whatever the application needs.... Premade harnesses are good but sometimes do not address all needs and I have a little bit of a problem with prewired fuse blocks if there is a problem with wiring at fuse block....

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=344781

Dale

Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:38 pm

I used the Rebel wiring kit. I had to get the GM kit since I'm running an ecotec in the rear. There was plenty of wire to do the car. each wire is labeled for easy identification. There are firewall grommets, extra connectors, and instructions for wiring. I ran a few extra wires front to rear just in case and it aready paid off.

Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:57 am

Adrenaline Junky wrote: I used the Rebel wiring kit. I had to get the GM kit since I'm running an ecotec in the rear. There was plenty of wire to do the car. each wire is labeled for easy identification. There are firewall grommets, extra connectors, and instructions for wiring. I ran a few extra wires front to rear just in case and it aready paid off.

Where did you mount your fuse block? I would have thought with the GM kit (for a front engine vehicle) that the leads for front lights/rear lights would be too short/too long. I've got a Thing that's getting an Ecotec and MEFI5, would love to know which kit you used. How did turn signal/wiper switches work out?

Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:41 am

Hey guys don't mean to hijack but my rail is a wiring nightmare it has so many wires that start blue and were added on red or something It has no relays besides the turn signals I believe can someone help me out with what relays actually do for mother system? And how long would you suspect it would take me to pull out all the old wires and re wire the whole thing correctly?

Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:56 am

RDAY wrote: Hey guys don't mean to hijack but my rail is a wiring nightmare it has so many wires that start blue and were added on red or something It has no relays besides the turn signals I believe can someone help me out with what relays actually do for mother system? And how long would you suspect it would take me to pull out all the old wires and re wire the whole thing correctly?

IF you want to find out what the relays do, disconnect them and see what stops working.... Label relays when you reconnect.....

To take old wiring out ... About 30 minutes... To do new wiring anywhere for 8 hours to 3 months depending on your skill level and time you have to devote to project.... And how well you understand vehicle wiring.... It all depends on what you what and how complex the project gets.... And keep in mind each a wiring project is different....

Dale

Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:39 am

Are there any good wiring diagrams that include the relays and gauges/ lights?

Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:02 am

May want to look around and purchase somethine like this....

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Electrical-Handbo...l+handbook

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Wiring-Electrical...iring+book

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Electrical-Manual...iring+book

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Relay-Circuit-Gui...iring+book

Not only will it have diagrams (applicable or not) but it will educate you to the why or why not something works and also help you with trouble shooting procedures...

Also there are plenty of schematic and diagrams available on
internet...

Some diagrams and circuits may be found here ( about 200) ... But be aware, at end of May site will probably go dark... Grab & save what ever images you find useful as I am pretty certain I will not be renewing domain in future...

http://www.mydune-buggy.com/gallery/index.php?cat=10001

Dale

Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:11 am

If you have any questions about the Rebel Wire kits, feel free to message me. I work there and have done installs as well. I also have these listed in the classifieds.

Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:49 am

Dale which book would you recommend the most out f all of those also thanks I saved a bunch of the pictures

Sat Feb 02, 2013 12:21 pm

RDAY wrote: Dale which book would you recommend the most out f all of those also thanks I saved a bunch of the pictures

Actually only had opportunity several years ago to look at the HP Books one ( it think it was) and thought it informative....Can't recommend any of them really, because I have never used any of them.....My knowledge base comes from 38 years in telecommunications and about 50 years playing with cars....

Dale

Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:22 pm

real men don't need a wiring harness.... hah.