following FFR instructioins on wire harness installation / grassroots build

[indiana818]

I was wondering if ffr / grassroots installed the oem harness w/o any dieting
The manual version that i have .4 does not mention any dieting needed
ps i know there were lengths added to certain circuits such as tail lights.

[rangerbay]

The GRM car used Wayne's harness and ecu. Its much quicker and simpler than dieting the oem harness.

Bill

[RM1SepEx]

and since you may run the wires differently than FFR did, and they don't really define how they ran them, their measurements are useless...

[indiana818]

has anyone used the oem harness as is? i mean just add lengths where needed?

[FFRSpec72]

has anyone used the oem harness as is? i mean just add lengths where needed?

Using the OEM harness as is would seem to be impossible just the weight is enough to make you re think this. There are way too many connectors, ABS, side markers, interior lights, etc. I don't know what you would do with all these just hanging

[drdracing]

I have been dieting my oem harness for over a week. The (to use) and (not to use) piles are almost the same size. Moving the engine to the rear creates some interesting challenges with the wiring. Still cutting, wish me luck. Dr. D

[flynntuna]

I'd love to see a hour video taking the process of dieting the harness step by step. For most of us newbies this is the highest hurdle to get over.

[FFRSpec72]

I'd love to see a hour video taking the process of dieting the harness step by step. For most of us newbies this is the highest hurdle to get over.

I'll donate my harness to who ever wants to do the video, that way I'll have a dieted harness !

[Mechie3]

I'd love to see a hour video taking the process of dieting the harness step by step. For most of us newbies this is the highest hurdle to get over.

That hardest part is going to be matching up MY's and options. Even with the 06 guide I did, you can't follow it exactly if you don't have the same thing. I think there are 8 different options for 06 once you consider 5spd/auto, manual hvac/auto hvac, wagon/sedan, cold weather package/none.

[AZPete]

Yes, it's a big hurdle. The FFR roadster faced the same hurdle many years ago so the first builders did their own diets until a couple of guys offered the service. You'd send in your OE harness and it would be trimmed and resized to what you need. The price was over $1,000 but well worth it for me. I suggested to the popular roadster dieter, Art Cuesta, many months ago that he should offer this service for the 818 but he has not responded with any diet program. Someone will see it as a viable business, hopefully soon but more probable when the demand increases as more 818 kits are shipped. Come on, electric gurus, start a side busine$$!

[RM1SepEx]

I just used a garage bay, stripped off almost all of the wire's coverings and went at it. I wish that I had done it after Craig vs. before! It takes time but isn't as daunting as I thought. When you get down to areas with questions the forum comes thru with flying colors!!!! And yes I also removed about 1/2 of the wire mass...

[Xusia]

For $1000 I would think the better offering would be a new harness.

[EricScottZehnder]

I believe Wayne's harness solution was $1500, though, which is pretty pricy for that. Wayne, correct me if I'm wrong about the price.

The electrical portion of the build is my biggest fear and I'm definitely willing to pay to be relieved of it but I don't know how much I'll be willing to pay when that time comes.

[FFRSpec72]

Yes, it's a big hurdle. The FFR roadster faced the same hurdle many years ago so the first builders did their own diets until a couple of guys offered the service.

I did my diet for my spec racer back in 04' and there is a big difference between the Cobra and the 818, the wire diagrams were really really crappy for the Mustangs, the wire and connector quality was very crappy fro the Mustangs. I recently replaced the entire harness in my spec racer and I purchased a dieted harness from Mustang Medic, and the cost was down to like $150, so was worth getting rid of my *******ization and brittle harness with something that was well done. I have been looking over the 02' harness and it is far better quality and better diagrams (and lables)u, so I will attempt to take a crack at it as right now weighs almost 65 pounds and hope to get it cut in half if not more.

The tags on the harness tell you where they go (what they are for)

81502FE060 - Rear Harness
81202FE000 - Engine bay harness
81302FE000 - Dash wire harness
81402FE000 - Bulkhead harness
81820FE050 - Front LH door Harness
81821FE040 - Front RH door harness
81822FE000 - Rear RH door harness
81302FE000 - Instrument cluster harness
81802FA131 - Fuel tank harness

etc.

[gwarden]

I thought I read somewhere that they were working on a painless harness for the 818 any word on that?