TVR - help my Merc Please

[Top Gear TVR]

As well as my S2 I have a w124 e320 merc coupe with serious engine loom failure. A replacement is many pounds or euros, so i am contemplating a 'table top rebuild' before the Turkey gets cooked.

What spec of cable would you guys recommend for use in hostile hot oily fuelly engine areas about as nice as the 2.9 s series injector area?

silicon? pvc BS / ISO ???

help much appreciated.

[Jakko]

When I restored a 1972 M series, I used a company called AES (Auto Electrical Supplies). They do mail order and have a useful catalogue of all the wiring products you may need. They do the correct color coded wires in all the sizes you may need. I rebuilt my wiring loom by laying it on a large board, identifying each location (by component name) and replacing individual wires one at a time. This makes it easier to keep track of where you are up to. If you want more info I am happy to give a more detailed description of he methods I used.

[Top Gear TVR]

the board idea was what i had planned - but just worried about what spec of cable due to state of original. thanks

[Jakko]

AES sell cable of the right spec for automotive use. The main consideration is current carrying capacity and colour code ( if you want to follow the same) Capacity is a function of the number of individual strands and diameter of the conductor strands. A suspect a merc uses a metric measure. It would help if you had a wiring schematic for the car, they usually indicate cable sizes (I think). If not you could work it out using Ohms law as the guide. I would start by removing the harness tape and determining the amount of damage. There are only a few conductor sizes used in the main. will see if I can find my copy of their catalogue tomorrow to see if it gives any guidance.

[GadgeS3C]

As well as AES these folks are very useful - http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...

[phillpot]

A.E.S. cables

Another supplier I've used is Vehicle Wiring Products.


AES do look a little cheaper (quite a lot cheaper on 100m rolls)

0.5mm probably enough for wiring to sensors, injectors etc or maybe go for 1mm to be sure?
Thicker cable I find easier to work with, and should you cut out a strand or two when stripping ends there's still plenty left.


ETA ] Great minds think alike Gary !

[Top Gear TVR]

cheers - just standard pvc? or something else?

[Jakko]

I would have no problem using standard PVC in most areas. Cannot think of any "special" cable cover used other than for things like ballast resistor circuits. I would also recommend using non adhesive PVC tape to recover the cables. It is much easier to use than the sticky stuff. You can get this at the same place as new cable.

[Top Gear TVR]

thanks guys

[Barkychoc]

I would stick to original cable sizes or the diameter of your loom could end up much bigger.

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi All
I have always used these http://www.autosparks.co.uk/index.php?cPath=89, price is good always in stock. The new thin wall cable is thinner and will Carrie more amps. They have a British colour reference chart http://www.autosparks.co.uk/index.php?content_page...

Alan

[Jakko]

Dug out an old AES brochure and it does give guidance about cable sizes for typical circuits. I suspect that other vendors have similar information within their catalogues. It should be enough to help you choose the correct materials. Good luck with the rewire.