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Wiring Harness Replacement Guide?
- Thread starter MDrex
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19_again
Jedi Warrior
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When I replaced mine, I used one of Dan Masters' powerblocks and would recommend that to anyone, great product. However barring that and since it sounds like you've already got a harness, I would get the Lucas color codes to be sure you were on the right track (https://www.mgexperience.net/article/lucas-colours.html) and then I would cut the old wires just short of their respective connections so you can tell what color was originally connected (assuming the dpo didn't muck it up too much). A good lacquer thinner wiped quickly will clean the old wire nicely so you can determine the actual color of the existing wire. Get a good combo stripper/cutter and if you know how (I don't) soldering seems to be the favored connection protocol here on the forum. I got a high end bullet skwisher and it worked fine.
Take many pics before you begin and as you go along.
Good luck,
Mike
Take many pics before you begin and as you go along.
Good luck,
Mike
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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Just buy a complete new harness from Moss - the original one (sorry, Mike, I disagree about the Masters kit - it takes the car too far to be brought back to original & lots of the stuff he adds to his harness is way overkill & not needed! Plus, it could require you to change lights and other things that don't need to be changed)
I wouldn't cut/splice/solder on a new harness! Anytime you do something like that to a harness you're begging for problems & are becoming a DPO before you get the harness installed......remember, the main problem with LUCAS harnesses are the connectors & end connections.
What I do is mark each old harness end with where it was hooked to an instrument/switch/etc....I use masking tape for that....I also draw myself several little pictures of what was hooked where (to the tach, etc.).
Then, I remove the old harness.
Then, armed with the old harness that's marked laid out on my garage floor next to the car in the same way it fit in the car), my little photos & the shop manual wiring diagram (I believe in Bentley manuals), I install the new wiring harness working a section at a time...I usually start at the front & work to the rear leaving the dash for last.
I wouldn't cut/splice/solder on a new harness! Anytime you do something like that to a harness you're begging for problems & are becoming a DPO before you get the harness installed......remember, the main problem with LUCAS harnesses are the connectors & end connections.
What I do is mark each old harness end with where it was hooked to an instrument/switch/etc....I use masking tape for that....I also draw myself several little pictures of what was hooked where (to the tach, etc.).
Then, I remove the old harness.
Then, armed with the old harness that's marked laid out on my garage floor next to the car in the same way it fit in the car), my little photos & the shop manual wiring diagram (I believe in Bentley manuals), I install the new wiring harness working a section at a time...I usually start at the front & work to the rear leaving the dash for last.
19_again
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Tony's right about the splicing on new to old, my intention was never to recommend that,only to leave a "tracer" that showed what the original color was to the respective component.
I didn't have to change any lights or anything when I installed Dan's harness, so I can't comment on that. But my lights are a lot brighter!
I agree that without a Bentley you shouldn't start ANY project, but the Lucas color chart does reduce the color codes in a way the Bentley doesn't.
All that being said, I have taken a lot more of Tony's advice than anyone else's. But it sure does feel good to be able to give some constructive advice here about something I've done, I've been a taker for a couple of years.
Next time I'll be more precise. In the meantime, here's my harness experience
I didn't have to change any lights or anything when I installed Dan's harness, so I can't comment on that. But my lights are a lot brighter!
I agree that without a Bentley you shouldn't start ANY project, but the Lucas color chart does reduce the color codes in a way the Bentley doesn't.
All that being said, I have taken a lot more of Tony's advice than anyone else's. But it sure does feel good to be able to give some constructive advice here about something I've done, I've been a taker for a couple of years.
Next time I'll be more precise. In the meantime, here's my harness experience
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tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
& you are doing well at helping - you probably have more electrical experience or more patience than most folks when it comes to building a harness from scratch like you have to with the Master's kit....I know I wouldn't mess with that huge 'glob' of loose wires.
Nice thing with factory harnesses from whomever you buy them (the only difference in most of them is the final supplier's packaging & price since they are all made in the same factory!) is that they're already inside an outer sleeve so the only thing you have to worry about are the ends themselves.
And wasn't there somebody who sold enlarged colorized wiring harness diagrams?
(Oh, I like that steering wheel, Mike!)
Nice thing with factory harnesses from whomever you buy them (the only difference in most of them is the final supplier's packaging & price since they are all made in the same factory!) is that they're already inside an outer sleeve so the only thing you have to worry about are the ends themselves.
And wasn't there somebody who sold enlarged colorized wiring harness diagrams?
(Oh, I like that steering wheel, Mike!)
19_again
Jedi Warrior
Offline
https://stores.ebay.com/Prosperos-Wiring-Diagrams
Here's a product that I use for both the MG and the Triumph, different one for each car (in case Tony's reading this,lol).
as for the wheel, it came with the car. Moto Lita as you know!
I'm debating whether to keep the stock wheel in the GT6, but it feels like holding a twinkie. I'd get another Moto Lita in a heartbeat, they feel great.
Here's a product that I use for both the MG and the Triumph, different one for each car (in case Tony's reading this,lol).
as for the wheel, it came with the car. Moto Lita as you know!
I'm debating whether to keep the stock wheel in the GT6, but it feels like holding a twinkie. I'd get another Moto Lita in a heartbeat, they feel great.
Online
Holy mackerel! I thought someone dropped a plate of spaghetti in the car!
. Wow, that's a lot of work doing it that way. Going to be nice when it's done though. The only thing I'd do different the next time is pull the steering column. The darn thing is always in the way. Not that hard to pull and I think it'll be worth the effort.
19_again
Jedi Warrior
Offline
NEXT TIME????????????????
Paul, thanks for offering to drive up and pull the column, I'll try to give you enough notice.
The job is done and it really is a nice set up, but the GT6 is next and that will be done with the column and engine out and it will be a standard replacement harness as Dan doesn't make a harness for the Gt.
Paul, thanks for offering to drive up and pull the column, I'll try to give you enough notice.
The job is done and it really is a nice set up, but the GT6 is next and that will be done with the column and engine out and it will be a standard replacement harness as Dan doesn't make a harness for the Gt.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
That's where I saw those diagrams.....check Moss' Tourist Trophy wheels; can't tell the difference between them & MotoLita except for the "motoLita" script....plus, they're lighter than the ML's!19_again said:
rick_ingram
Yoda
Offline
I've had good luck with harnesses from British Wiring..in one of my MGCs and my 1978 MGB....and I also have an Advance Autowire harness for my V8.
BTW, Advance Autowire is now owned and operated by Steve Carrick of Michigan.
He took on the company after the untimely death of Dan Masters' son, Mike Masters.
BTW, Advance Autowire is now owned and operated by Steve Carrick of Michigan.
He took on the company after the untimely death of Dan Masters' son, Mike Masters.