Wiring loom sleeving

[Sidney'61]

Hi,
I'm tidying up the wiring loom on my '61 and replacing parts if necessary, I can't afford a new loom! Do you know where I'd be able to get hold of a new sleeving for the main part of the loom that looks vaguely like the original?

Thanks

[aseriesade2]

Hello Andrew just tape it up like the rest of us do (unless its a show car)! you can heat shrink the headlamp wires up together and maybe the main loom it will just look black plastic but !! I have never seen the braiding for sale ever, only on a new loom, but as you have said for a poor impoverished student thats an expense that could be deffered and put into the student bar . I see you are back for the summer and working on your car Ade

[mogbob]

Andrew
PVC sleeving, flexible convoluted sleeving, heat shrink sleeving and even braided sleeving involves disconnecting the wires to get the tubing over the ends.
Tape, as Ade has suggested, is the easy fix but if you have some spare cash spiral binding allows to cut to length and to wrap it around in situ. A neat professional look.
Like Ade I haven't seen "traditional " braiding available to recover a loom but Vehicle Wiring Products do a " modern" black braided sleeving in four different sizes ( as well as the other type of sleeving ).
www.vehicleproducts.co.uk Tel 0115 9305454
Hope this helps.
Bob

[Alec]

Hello Andrew,
the original loom was braided as it was made, it is not a slip over cover.

The neatest, in my view, is tape, as many period looms were made. (I don't like things like spiral wrap or other industrial wrappings, they look too heavy and out of place.) It is not insulating tape and is sold as looming tape by many of the specialists like Vehicle Wiring Products who the earlier link refers to. This has no adhesive and is easy to use for a very neat job. Insulating tape, on the other hand will not sit flat unless a lot of care and time is taken.

Alec

[taupe]

Hi

Autosparks do a correct rebraiding service and charge by the foot!

Only worth doing if your harness is otherwise in very good condition.

Im going to get the run from front to back done on mine.

See link below

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/index.php?content_page=39

[bmcecosse]

Use self-amalgamating tape - it's neat and it works.

[Alec]

Hello BMCE,


it's a good tape but more expensive and not as neat. It's properties are not really required for automotive use.

Alec

[bmcecosse]

But it won't come unraveled in a few months time - or go all 'sticky' !

[Alec]

Hello BMCE,

there is no problem of it coming unravelled if you start at the end and work in, nor does it become sticky as there is no adhesive. As I said, it was the standard way of looming subsequent to braiding.

Alec

[bmcecosse]

No matter which end you start - there must always be a 'free' end - it's my experience that it starts to unravel no matter how careful - and the glue somehow works out between the wraps making it 'sticky' - but I'm talking over a few years certainly.

[MarkyB]

Wiring that's been wrapped with insulating tape is horrible.
I don't think the glue is up to the heat under the bonnet and it gives up on holding the tape and concentrates on making the wires a sticky mess.
Self-amalgamating tape sounds ideal.

[Alec]

Hello BMCE,

"and the glue "

What glue, there is none on looming tape?
Self amalgamating tape is between twice and three times the price for a little gain. O.K., a roll or two of tape is hardly going to break the bank but it is the principle. Looming tape is specifically designed to wrap automotive looms, why re-invent the wheel?

Alec

[bmcecosse]

Well - not familiar with 'looming tape' - I guess it will do what it says on the box.

[RogerRust]

I used looming tape with a bit of insulating tape at the ends to stop it undoing. The big advantage is that you can undo it to add extra wires.