Help on grooming and cleaning dash wiring

[nick7405]

Good morning everybody. I am at the point of installing gauges and starting the wiring under dash and little overwhelming with the instructions and amount of unused wires. Is there any good write ups on how to groom the wiring harness under the dash to make it cleaner and less busy?

I am using the gps gauge with the brown county customs dash. Any help is appreciated.

Nick

[Fixit]

The electrics seem to be the most daunting phase of these builds for most. I'm wierd - I like wiring (I'm a low-voltage tech by trade).

I didn't detail too much of what I did on #9365 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?27544-The-40-Watt-Garage-9365-Waiting-for-Nice-Weather&p=347757&viewfull=1#post347757), but I'll go into how you can make life easier, if you choose to take the challenge.

The harness is used for several cars, and there's (thankfully) extra slack, and a few extra circuits & connectors in it. The one modification I did was removing the turn signal connector used on the Hot Rod. It's a big flat connector that would go to a GM steering column. Ron Francis (RF) uses the connectors in the plugs as splice or "daisy chain" points. A wire will go in to a terminal, then another (same color/circuit) will exit and go somewhere else (to a blunt end) for use on the Roadster/Coupe.

As explained in the build post, the harness didn't want to "lay" right, so I stripped off the split loom, put ty-raps on the smaller bundle break-outs, and was able to twist/coax the main & sub bundles to lay flat, or in the direction I wanted. Also with the harness naked, you can back-trace from an un-needed connector plug to the main harness, follow it and carefully remove the feeder circuit... or splice the in & out to that connector/terminal at the main harness, and continue the circuit to the blunt end.

Another thing that helped greatly was installing ty-rap anchor blocks along the top of the 2x2 firewall tube, and JB-Welding several to the backside of the dash panel.

[SJDave]

A couple things that helped me:

- Take the Ron Francis wiring diagrams to a print shop and get them to print them 2X their current size. Mount them on some Foam Core next to your car up at a height that makes it convenient to sketch on and make notes. Buy 6 different color Hi Liters so you can trace over wire runs that are good and complete.

- Unbundle the main harness as it comes to the fuse box, like John says then you can at least trace some of the wires when needed and separate the harness for better routing for you configuration of build. I resisted this for too long, then finally had a hissy fit and just did it...life was much better after.

- Ron Francis sells an extraction tool for getting their connectors out of the fuse box, I needed to do this to steal some power for other circuits. Also order a few spare connector from them, they're not the highest quality and will not retain if extracted too many times...like 3 times.

- Buy a Weatherpack KIt with various 1, 2, 3, 4 position connector bodies, crimping tool...Summit has them or shop on Amazon.

- I used Molex .093" pitch connector for all dash wires, so I could remove dash quickly by unplugging just a few connectors, don't know if there is a better choice out there then these which I picked 10 years ago, but DigiKey and Amazon and carry this type of product. Need crimping tool too.

- Buy a decent soldering iron and for wires that will never need changing, don't use crimp on connectors, strip them, twist, solder and heat shrink. You'll thank yourself down the road.

- Buy a variety of heat shrink tubing and a decent heat gun (the HF tools one is not bad). Don't use tape use heat shrink.

- There are times you will need a simple spade connector, buy the ones that the plastic housing heat shrinks.

- Buy some rolls of wire from Digi Key or other source in 18 guage in colors that are used in the Ron Francis harness so if you extend wires the color code stays the same. (*** Anyone in SF Bay area that needs wire, I have enough for several hundred builds in various colors, PM me to come by and get some)

- Buy some stick on releasable cable clamps to organize the runs.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074M45SP4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B074M45SP4&pd_rd_w=0Px8u&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=VdxOB&pf_rd_r=BVGH7W7B46FF52WDY97S&pd_rd_r=a049d846-1ace-4ed7-9c66-5d495dac60cf&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNkdLQ09WUzVKVEtEJ mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODIxNjA1M0FOVVJNWjdMNEZEVCZlbmN yeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDUxMDExM1NOSFdSNFFTOU1EMSZ3aWRnZ XROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZ kb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

- FINAL TIP...MOST IMPORTANT: Find a local builder that loves wiring and get his help!!!

Some pics of my dash wiring....there are some examples on here that will blow your mind how beautifully they are done...mine ain't that.

HTH,
Dave

[edwardb]

Lots of good specific suggestions here. I would just add the first step before deciding anything is complete your layout of where you're planning to put everything. Dash most specifically, including location of the fuse panel, ignition switch, headlight switch, gauges, buttons, etc. Then additional items like your battery, master disconnect if you're using one, how you're planning to route the front and rear harness legs, main power connections, and any wires into the engine compartment. Then start laying in the harness. You'll find out pretty quickly what's going to work OK with your build and what might need some adjustment. Agree the harness is used on several models, but it's probably most specifically intended for the Roadster. For sure cut off the Hot Rod leg. Depending on where you mount your ignition and headlight switches, you may find those legs too long and shortening them can help a lot. Beyond that, it becomes a question of how much you want to start unwrapped the harness and making more significant changes.

[nick7405]

Thanks everybody. All the comments help out significantly and gives me a good start.

[Old Timer]

I use velcro type straps to hold wiring together it's easy to add or change things around.

You can buy it by the roll and cut how ever long you need. I also use it for computers and audio video.

https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-BRAND-ONE-WRAP-TAPE-YARD/dp/B071Y3TVNT/

[CDXXVII]

Looks like you have the latest Ron Francis Harness. If you take your time and follow the manual you will be fine. I got a little carried away and rebuilt the older version of the RF harness to suit my needs. Competition dash got me on a slippery slop.

Funny thing is that this picture is the only time I or anyone else will ever see it.

Get a good selection of zip ties and some good shrink tube to safety off the unused wires and just tidy things up a bit. I really like the new version of the harness and it will turn out great.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124834&d=1585198683

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124835&d=1585198767

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124839&d=1563580292

[nick7405]

Looks like you have the latest Ron Francis Harness. If you take your time and follow the manual you will be fine. I got a little carried away and rebuilt the older version of the RF harness to suit my needs. Competition dash got me on a slippery slop.

Funny thing is that this picture is the only time I or anyone else will ever see it.

Get a good selection of zip ties and some good shrink tube to safety off the unused wires and just tidy things up a bit. I really like the new version of the harness and it will turn out great.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124834&d=1585198683

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124835&d=1585198767

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124839&d=1563580292

I know your dash very well, i have saved the photos and my end goal is to have the under dash area as clean as yours. You have another photo of the kill switch on the engine bay side, how did you route that up, it was more busy than what I was use to seeing? Lastly what did yoy end up doing for the power, ground and light for the gps gauges? The daisy chain is difficult to keep it clean and organized

Anyways very impressive and nice job.

[zee]

Looks like you have the latest Ron Francis Harness. If you take your time and follow the manual you will be fine. I got a little carried away and rebuilt the older version of the RF harness to suit my needs. Competition dash got me on a slippery slop.

Funny thing is that this picture is the only time I or anyone else will ever see it.


https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124834&d=1585198683

I am reading all the wring threads to learn about wiring since I know nothing about it (I ordered a bunch of stuff to play with it on my own to learn). That's how I came across this and holy crap man, it's a work of art. That's how I want my wiring to be.

[egchewy79]

I believe 520speedworks offers a custom dash wiring service that is super clean