OK After wasting even more time over the last week fixing more VW wiring I have decided it time to make a product which actually works.

I will have a prototype out shortly but have a few questions…

The looms will be made out of high grade automotive wire with good quality connections. Heat shrink will cover all joins and most wires will be spun into a loom. All looms will come with a complete wiring diagrams and step by step instructions. Every wire is labeled or colour coded with industry markings, not some damn pen marks on masking tape.

Now the question is should I provide switches or build them to use the VW ones ??

It is only viable if I make one style of loom at this stage.

So what do you think ?

There is about $150 cost difference if I go with all new Hella or Narva switches as compared to telling people to use VW stuff. By switches I mean ignition, indicator, headlight, wipers, horn, spotlights.

Cost wise you are looking at $550 - $700 depending on which way I go. These are plug in and go looms and there is next to nothing to do to them apart from pull through the tube and terminate on one end. I will be testing them on a few buggies shortly.

Beetle looms are the same sort of setup accept they have a few extra wires for door light switches, internal lights etc. Also the beetle ones come with a swing down cover and you need to remove the old fuse boxes etc.

I am not trying to make a resto loom here. I have no interest in matching the factory specs for wire colour and style.

My gut feel is buggy looms should have all switches and beetle / baja looms should use VW stuff.

Anyway lets here your feedback.

[Edited on 18-2-2004 by Buggy Brad]

Well, I assume that most people are probably happy with their current switches, so I would suggest just doing the loom without the switches.

using VW switches is pretty easy as they are all labelled. Problem comes in with the ignition / indicators being differant over different years and most of them having had the crap hacked out of them.

Well I can only say what I would like for my buggy which is getting built and that is I would be willing to pay extra for new switches but then again everything else will be new like gauges.

[Edited on 18-2-2004 by Andy42]

For beetle I'd definitely go for ones that utilise the stock vw switches etc. It is a good idea since there are very few places that offer such looms here in Oz for RHD vw's.

I reckon that the buggy looms should have the new switches. The last thing that you want when you are out on the beach is to have any electrical problems, the trouble will be getting the buggy owners to pay for them.

Can you post a few pictures of some of these switches?

yep new, if your going to the expence of building a buggy (or even rebuilding) spend the extra on new switches, reliability is important to me and thats where my manx has let me down once or twice over the years

Yes I would agree with the VW switches on Beetles etc and New switches on Buggies... Seems like You are going to a lot of trouble to make these wiring looms..
and most VWs I have seen have had wires, added here & there, chopped here & there.... PVC tape everywhere... which comes unstuck in the heat.... I have just rewired My beetle.. a Very BIG long drawn out job, and pain in the neck...
Best of Luck Brad

Lee...

def go new switches- whats the point of new wiring if ya using 40 year old hard wear unless you want a resto finish? I agree - new for buggys -old for beetles
:thumb:thumb:thumb:thumb

don't s'pose anyone'd have a scanned copy of a wiring diagram for a '68 type 1 would you? my baja's a mess.

Secoh,
Have a look at these very good large wiring diagrams. You will have to check to make sure the wiring diagram You are looking at is the one for Your Car.
As VW [in their wisdom??] made a different wiring diagram for different countries... Ours are totally different from the ones on US Beetles.. I saw some with 1967-70 Australian beetles then 68-69...
You can usually tell by the relays used & the sealed beam US diagrams.

Click on: http://www.vintagebus.com/ 
then click on Wiring diagrams and then keep going DOWN the page until You come to Beetle diagrams...
Most are in colour...
One of these should help You.
regards
Lee