what next?

[BenBrooks]

Hi all,

Can i hear your thoughts on the next steps to take for my build as at the moment it seems like i need to spend a lot of money buying lots of things before i can move on.

At the moment i have a rolling chassis with engine and gearbox in; definite next steps are to fix the fuel tank in and run the fuel lines, but what next?

cheers

Ben

[Enoch]

Run the wires from front to back. It's very easy to do before the tunnel is all panelled in but not so easy afterwards.
You will need: brake lights, side lights, left indicator, right indicator, reverse, rear fog, number plate light (same wire as side lights) fuel pump (assuming boot mount pump) and fuel gauge sender, which may be 1 or 2 wires depending on the unit you have, you will also need to weld a bolt on somewhere to act as an earthing point. I had 2 earth points on my car - 1 each side. I also put 2 extra wires in, which I left coiled up, just in case I needed them in the future. I cut all wires a bit over length and then just terminated them as the build progressed.
Don't forget to include 2 wires for the reverse light switch (usually on the gear box) and the handbrake warning light - these both terminate half way down the tunnel.
Dave.

[BenBrooks]

thanks for that, but do i not need all the bodywork to fit the lights etc or should i just run the wires and as you said make them a bit longer than needed?

Ben

[Enoch]

You don't need the body work just a very rough idea of where everything is going. I left all my wires about 3 ft longer than I needed then just cut them to length once I had everything mounted / attached. The way I made the loom was to use the building board - I put a nail in the board anywhere that the loom had to make a turn and just wrote the names of each light etc on to the board. Once it was all laid out neatly you can wrap it in looming tape and the jobs a good un.

[flyerncle]

you could use 7 core and trailer socket as wiring,easier to remove bodywork if needed.

[BenBrooks]

thanks for the help guys.

for the wiring, what do you think of this? looks really good to me but never seen anyone use it: http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/CBS_12_Circuit_Wiring_Module_WRMOD

[flyerncle]

Looks good but do you need it,have you still got donor wiring harness.

£100 is price of a shocker.

[twinturbo]

I was going to use one of these. But funds are tight and I got a free sierra loom a couple of weeks back so plans are changing.

http://www.polevolt.co.uk/acatalog/Modular_Fuse_and_Relay_System.html

TT

[BenBrooks]

flyerncle, i never had a donor car, i've just been picking up bits as and when i need them. If it's going to make life a lot easier/mean theres a better chance of it not faulting then i may invest. would not buying it be considerably cheaper/worth the extra hassle ?

Ben

[ayjay]

I got a loom from Premier looms. £140 or so I think.Its dear but you get instructions how to do everything, which was worth a lot to a technoprat like me.:o

[BenBrooks]

ayjay, was that the whole loom engine lights dash?

[ayjay]

ayjay, was that the whole loom engine lights dash?

Yup-everything.
I broke a sierra for my build and binned the loom because it seemed such a daunting prospect to sort out what I needed and what not.
I spoke to premier-Alan I think his name is(they are now based in Spain)He asked what parts I had and then made me a loom to suit.Everything needed to complete the car. Lighting.instruments,fuse carrier and fuses,relay plugs,steering column,engine-the works.Also step by step instructions.For me it was well worth it. I am doing the same for my next build-tell them what you have and they make a custom loom for it.

[BenBrooks]

sounds like just what i need. I had seen these people before (and others that make custom looms) but thinking they were hundreds and hundreds i didn't want to call up and probably be wasting their time but £140 doesn't sound too steep to me, especially as I'd probably struggle making my own properly.

cheers for all the help guys
Ben