Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Can you make old wire softer/playable?

John D · 2K+ Club

I've never heard of a product to re-new old insulation. By the time this would be considered, I'd guess it's cracking and chunking off. As long as you're careful on removal, and don't do any hard bends you shouldn't cause any damage. The copper is still good, but the connectors should get some attention. Take a look here

After 55 years all the "stuff" has off-gassed, baked, whatever out of the plastic. It's pretty much set in the position it's been in for a 1/2 century.

Lost in the 60s · President

I think Karl said Ron had soaked his harness in WD-40 to re-new it ??
The problem will be, as John said, getting it out without having it break apart.

When I got my '66, the PO had re-wired most everything under the hood.....with the same spool of Red wire...

I immediately bought an American Autowire update kit. They do make a replica, plug and play, IF the car has all original type parts.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
I think Karl said Ron had soaked his harness in WD-40 to re-new it ??
The problem will be, as John said, getting it out without having it break apart.

When I got my '66, the PO had re-wired most everything under the hood.....with the same spool of Red wire...
I immediately bought an American Autowire update kit. They do make a replica, plug and play, IF the car has all original type parts.

Everything is out and free except I want to remove the brake booster to get at those large plugs at the firewall side of the fuse box.

do you know if Karl revolved all the old tape?

jim larson · 2K+ Club

John D wrote:
I've never heard of a product to re-new old insulation. By the time this would be considered, I'd guess it's cracking and chunking off. As long as you're careful on removal, and don't do any hard bends you shouldn't cause any damage. The copper is still good, but the connectors should get some attention. Take a look here

After 55 years all the "stuff" has off-gassed, baked, whatever out of the plastic. It's pretty much set in the position it's been in for a 1/2 century.

Thanks for the link John. Everything worked well last fall. I don’t see any cracks in the insulation so far, just a lot of black paint. All connection are separated except those 2 at the firewall. A lot of good tips in that link.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

I will check with Ron on his methods on wiring.
I know he did strip ALL old tape.

Remember, the assembly of white ElCamino has been his project.

I Coach, Cheerlead, help with some of the $$$.
Some consulting on fitting, otherwise he is the Driver and Pit Crew on this project.

In Fact, Title was transferred to Ron last week.

Technically, I only have ONE (1) ElCamino in my name All others are in Scots, Rons' or have open titles.

I will get back to you on his thoughts.

Karl

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Wondering what kind of tape he used to wrap the wires to re place what he removed. Also wonder if he found those clips that hole the wire to the radiator support, etc. I think I will have to scrape most of the paint of three wires, then plan to use acetone with a rag to remove the rest of the paint. Wondering how long he soaked the wire in W-D 40.

Lost in the 60s · President

American Autowire has tape like the original stuff. It isn't really "tape" in that it isn't sticky. You wrap the bundles, tie off the ends and after a few heat cycles, it shrinks tight around the wires. It's very much like heat shrink tubing, but, obviously, much thinner.
The glue on black electrical tape will melt with heat and turn into a gooey mess in time.

If the wires with paint will be covered by the tape, I wouldn't worry about them and I don't recommend using acetone to clean anything that can absorb the flammable chemicals. Even after it is dry, the accelerant is still in the fabric and can burn easily.

https://www.americanautowire.com/shop/harness-tape There's a vid to explain how to terminate it at the end of a run and how to deal with branch offs.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Ron had the non-sticky OEM style tape.
Chose to use the Regular "sticky" electrical tape.

Back to easiest to put on and have stay on.
No way will our Elcaminos be subjected to the conditions they survived for the first 40 or 50 years of their lives.

Even if the glue "bleeds", not a big deal, maybe that is the time to rewrap on top of sticky stuff.

Karl