Strange loom idea

[Azman]

Right guys I have had a bit of brain ache over night at work and come up with something I want to do. Especially if I am going to hike as much as I can out of the car and make it trackday ready.

Right.

1. Cut out and fully remove the battery tray in the engine bay.
2. Weld a plate over that area.
3. Cut the loom in half - labelling every wire with a number at the same time.
4. Take out the engine bay side of the loom
5. Replace all the engine side of the loom with new wires,connectors etc
6. Cover all parts of the loom with Fiberglass sheath.
7. wire each section to a connection block that can be secured to a hole in the plate.
in the fashion of injectors to one block, temp sender etc to another.


Sound like a good idea. Basically it will mean where the battery tray was there will be terminals secured to the bulk head and the engine side can be plugged and unpluged from these terminals if the engine had to come out and work done. It would also mean the loom in the engine bay would be new and flexible. It WILL be a PITA to do but it may make life easier in the long run especially if parts were to get knackerd somehow.

Suggestions or abuse please

Cheers

[Audi Parts Guru]

Nooooooooo

You're asking for a whole load of trouble

[mcandmar]

I dont see the point mate, if the engines coming out to work on your going to have to unplug the loom from it anyway

[Fat Audi 80]

^
Wot he said....

[Keeper of The Kitten]

You're thinking of a split in the wiring that is quick disconnect, and contrary to the folk above I would tend to agree that it is a good idea ...but maybe only in theory! The work involved is the sort of thing that is best left to the serious electrical guys.

Usually the method would involve using "Deutsch" type or similar mil-spec multi-pin connectors, you would need versions to carry higher current on at least some of the pins. The mil-type connectors have a 1/4 turn ring on them to secure the two halves.

On some of the bits we used to do, we would fit connectors without the ring and use the clamping action of two major components fitted together to hold the connectors together. This requires locating pins to ensure alignment of the connector halves during fitting (eg removable bodywork with headlights or tail lights).

I think it depends on whether you intend to be removing stuff frequently, or not. If you need it there is no reason not to use quick disconnect, but for most of us the extra electrical integrity of a continuous wire is preferable.

__MDC__

[Azman]

Sorry guys its just that parts of my loom after the engine change have fallen onto the hot side of the turbo (tied up now) and have been burned through nearly all the way. So I need to be replacing sections of wire anyway. And as I am there I may aswell do the whole flaming lot to give it
1. some extra heat protection
2. New cabling all round = healthier power flow.

[Azman]

@ keeper - I am currently talking about the car I now own which is due to be stripped out to become a trackday car so the engine may be out quite frequently also see my above post as to the integrity of some parts of my loom.

[aelred]

I would agreee with a military high spec connector (usually gold plated pins and water proof) and the idea, racing cars and rally car use this method. My 6R4 was like that, all the looms in the car front mid and rear looms were on plugs bitween bulkheads except for the battery lead.

[Azman]

Just gonna take a bit of work. The stuff inside the car is fine as I have checked it over. It is just the brittleness of the parts inside the engine bay that worry me so if I replace them worry is gone to.

Cheers Guys

Aaron

[Azman]

Any idea where to get them plugs from then??

[WabTheKing]

rs componets

[Azman]

Forgot about them. DOH.

Cheers Will.
P.S. You get my pm

[Keeper of The Kitten]

RS? Do they sell mil-spec?

I would think of going direct to someone like Deutsch.

__MDC__