GTsRFine David Maples Georgia (8 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 01:43PM Main British Car: 74 MGBGT stock |
Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
I know I'm late to the praise party for this kit but I've got to add my appreciation for a kit well worth the price. I'm in the middle of the rewire project and it has gone much better than expected. In addition to the quality of the materials, the quality of the manual was way above expectations and is speeding up the project.
Thanks to Steve Carrick. Tip - find some Velcro tree tie wraps to use as a wire bundle organizer. You can buy an entire roll at various gardening shops, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. or get it online at Amazon or other places. As you are running out the various wire to different locations, wrap the bundles and subbundles with the Velcro tie wrap. It goes on easy and comes off just as easily. It is cheaper and faster than using cable ties. The velcro lies flat and doesn't snag on things along the way. To start, cut off about 10 pieces of 4-5" long and about 5 pieces at 6-8" long as a minimum before starting to run the wires. Use the pieces as you see fit. I used more than the minimum and it minimized the tangles (both on the car and in my mind). [www.amazon.com] There is a back story to this episode. I was one of the people who was caught in the middle of the transfer of ownership of Advance Auto-wire. Steve honored my previous payment and refused to accept my offer to pay any difference or any shipping. Many thanks to Steve. |
74ls1tr6 Calvin Grannis Elk Grove,CA (1151 posts) Registered: 11/10/2007 10:05AM Main British Car: 74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1 |
Re: Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
X-2 on Advance Auto-wire products from Steve Carrick. I was also one of those that got caught in the middle of the company transfer to Steve Carrick. No extra charge here from Steve for me either. I hand out his business cards to everyone at the shows who ask about it. I do stand behind his product.
It was easy enough for a color blind man as myself to complete my project and have had Zero problems with electrical (TR6 Ls1). I liked the product so well that it was a no brainer for me, to order another kit from Steve for my MGB GT Ls1 build. So Cheers to Steve Carrick and Advanced Auto-Wire, he can call me one of his sales reps (out west), and I wouldn't want to get paid for it. :-).....Have you tried to put heat shrink on your wire ends yet (using a mini torch to shrink fit)?...don't worry about burning the sheath to much on the wire he uses. That wire is awesome. The relay block is of very high quality too. Need to give Dan Master and son big Kudos for this product too. David, I used the Velcro strips, and it did make everything easier. Calvin |
ex-tyke Graham Creswick Chatham, Ontario, Canada (1165 posts) Registered: 10/25/2007 11:17AM Main British Car: 1976 MGB Ford 302 |
Re: Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
You can add my name to the list of satisfied individuals who have installed the AAW kit and love the results (and the technical help along the way). The wiring upgrade was well overdue.....the original harness was getting decidedly crispy!
Photo of the power block installed for easy access in the engine bay. Thanks to Steve and Dan. |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6468 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
I used their wire many years ago while Dan Masters was still the owner. Best insulation available anywhere, bar none. Far superior to the ordinary vinyl still used by everyone else. But I do have objections to the way the kit is often installed.
Be aware when you start this job, this is a vastly superior product you are using and as such it is only proper than you take full benefit of it by suitably terminating the ends. Even the best wire will fail and do so quickly if you use century old practices installing it. Take your cues from current wiring harnesses in production autos, which have been using this wire for the last 2 decades. Use gas sealed connectors. Use glued-heat-shrink terminals. Use individual ground leads. Protect the wires properly. Do these things right and the harness will last longer than you will. Do them wrong and you'll be repairing it at some inconvenient time. Jim |
smelfi Steve Melfi Alexandria Ohio (90 posts) Registered: 04/26/2008 07:35AM Main British Car: 1977 MGB 302 |
Re: Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
I've had my Advance Auto-wire kit for a few years now and also am impressed by the quality.
I'm just a few connections away from live testing everything except for the ignition and charging circuits, and I could use some input on how I think I will do my alternator connections. I have a Denso 55 amp four wire alternator, the four wires are - output, sense, ignition, warning lamp. I'll connect the alternator output to the starter solenoid battery connection. I'm not going to use a warning lamp and will not have anything connected to the alternator warning lamp terminal. The alternator sense and ignition connections are the two I am not quite sure about. I intend to connect the white wire that comes out of the power block and is supposed to be used for the ignition warning lamp as the alternator ignition on connection. I want the sense wire to monitor the voltage at the power block when the ignition switch is on. So my thought is to have both the ignition on and sense wires landed at the same location in the power block. Will what I propose work? Should I use any fuses, breakers, or fusible links in any part of the charging system? Steve |
74ls1tr6 Calvin Grannis Elk Grove,CA (1151 posts) Registered: 11/10/2007 10:05AM Main British Car: 74 TR6 / 71 MGB GT TR6/Ls1 71 MGB GT/Ls1 |
Re: Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
Steve,
Contact the wire wizard Dan Masters for your question. I'm sure he can help out! |
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6468 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: Rewiring with Advance Auto-wire
Steve, on the Denso alternators the sense wire should normally take a different path to the battery from the output wire so that you get somewhat higher charging voltage. But be aware that unless there is a switch or relay in the sense circuit it can draw the battery down.
Jim |