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WIRE LOOMS: VERSION I (PRE 2006) & VERSION II (POST 2006)
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The one thing I saw at the car shows when I first started out...
The engine compartments were all reloomed in colors, usually ones that either complimented the exterior of the vehicle or used a trim color that was carried throughout the vehicle. I looked at mine. It was amazingly clean for its age, but the vacuum lines were shot, the stock black looms were dry and brittle.
So I was faced with 2 options...
1: reloom the whole car
2: relocate all the wiring and vacuum lines so they were hidden
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Version I: Pre 2006
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Well the first go around I loomed it all, as I did not have the expertise or time on a daily driven car to move all those lines and keep the car driving everyday. It went from black to red. I wire loomed all that I could in red. It was not easy to get everything loomed. Robert, Laurence, Maria, and I had our arms in places that we really could not fit in. I cut my hands and arms all up during this as I reached into some tight places.
Red wire looms were added to anything I could put them on...Brake lines & fuel lines were all wire loomed, since they are steel lines & could not be polished...
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With the top end of the engine out
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Here are some pics of the bay with all the factory wiring simply covered up in my red wire loom... Amazing what the factory has just slopped into the bay. The red really brings it to life!
Here is the driver's side...
The passenger's side...
With the intake & heads off you can see the heater lines and the wiring that runs down the frame rail.
Now its time to unclutter things and simplify the looks of my bay!
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Version II: Post 2006
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Then the 2nd go around, as now I have a new daily driver, I went for the hide it all approach....
Completed pics coming soon...
Check out the in process chaos on page 18!
Some highlites:
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Where to Purchase Plastic Looms
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As far as the price on wire looms, they can be fairly cheap...
They carry some at Autozone, Advance, Pep Boys, and the like...thou the quality they carry is not that great, colors are limited, and look muddy. The parts store looms, cause it such a small amount, are quite pricey, esp when you are redoing your whole bay.
Your best bet... JC Whitney, Summit, Barnett Performance... These guys carry Taylor's wire looms. The colors are vibrant and the material strong and lasting. They are one of the leading companies for looms, and they are much better quality then Steet Glow, who is discoing them by the way! Nopi did carry both, but has discoed carrying them as well. Also, there is a repeat vender @ the Super Chevy shows that have a great selection of colors, sizes, and quantity.
NOTE:
Now the aftermarket looms are not as heat resistant as the factory original looms! Biggest trick to make the looms last...keep it away from your exhaust manifolds/headers. They produce enough heat that they will melt the looms. So tie the looms up and away. Get some tie wraps at any parts store, Home Depot, Lowes, Autozone, or Wal-Mart...or you can order them as well from where you buy the looms. Taylor carries color matching zip ties, as does the Super Chevy vendor!
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Heat Resistant Looms
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Now if you have to run looms close past the exhaust manifolds/headers there is a product available you can cover the wires in to protect them. Its mode by Thermo Tech and is called Thermo Shield. It�s a high temperature wire loom. Its silver in color. Summit & Barnett sells the stuff. It comes in different diameters. It�s a solid tube that you cut to the length you want. You can slit the tube to cover the wire, or in some cases, slip the loom over the wires. It definitely does the trick to protect any wires running near the exhaust.
Here you can see the loom on my starter wires (silver)...
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Some Vender links...
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To buy looms in individual sizes in longer lengths. Might be good for 1/4 (most common):
JC Whitney listing
Or to buy one color in multiple sizes of 10 foot lengths (best buy)...
JC Whitney listing
I got like 2-3 of the multiple packs, and still needed more, but I took it to an extreme!
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How to loom...
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(***Looming techniques will be illustrated using pics from my Pulsar, so the loom will be orange, not red as on my Bird)
I would not detach any wires. Just don't. I did not it gets just too confusing in there. A few places, I disconnected one at a time & then reattached, but weather packs are brittle and can crack, (the plastic connectors) if they are older. I would not unless you are in a place where it is an absolute necessity.
Ok I would very simply pick a length of wire and trace its full length. When the bundle of wires stays roughly the same diameter from point A to B, you should use one whole length of loom. A bunch of cut looms butted together looks like crap.
Any wires that branch off.... Orient then so they exit out the slit of the loom. This way you don't have to cut it each time you meet a branch in the harness. Then you can cover the one that branches off in another loom. Most of the time the branch off will have less wires and will use a smaller loom. You can tuck its end into the other larger looms slit...
You want to go with the smallest diameter loom you can so it will look clean and neat. See this is the smallest diameter� see how it looks next to the wire...
It will take a long time and be very frustrating trying to get in all the tight places.
Basically you try to measure the length based on the wire, not the loom. The old wire loom is usually too short. So taking it off and then measuring it would leave you too short. GM liked to use too much tape. You will have fun untaping though. Try to measure the length and cut the loom. Or you can loom the wire and cut the loom once you get to the end.
Here I am using a loose razor to slice the loom.
This is probably one of the easiest ways to make the cut...Just watch you fingers...it�s probably the easiest way to cut them too!
Here is one looming technique...
You can usually start at one end & slide it down the length of the wires till you hit a branch. Then you have to work the branch so it comes out the slit in the wire loom and work the rest of loom down the wire's length.
The other technique....
You have to little by little open up the loom and slide it over the wire.
Here you can see my finger opening up the loom to start it over the wire.
I usually held the loom with the slit end over the wire and started at one end. Here it is started on the wire...
I held the loom in a horse shoe shape with the slit on the outside of the "U" shape. Here I have it rolled back so you can see the slit.
You will see it will open the slit for you. Then you can press it onto the wire. Or you can simply keep a finger in the loom and hold the slit open that way as you slip the loom on.
Here it is finished and on the wire cut to length...
Sorry if this is confusing...the technique is hard to explain in written form.
Just start with the simple easy looms. Wait till your technique is better to tackle harder areas. You may have to put the car on ramps to get the lower stuff. Just be careful! You may need a friend to help you route things in some places where it is tight. They push, you pull sort of thing. Or they hold the light while you work...
Start out by looming different sizes and areas. Keep your coverage even throughout the bay...You will be surprised how quick you use up the looms. It�s best to keep the coverage even so when you run out, you don't simply only have one side done.
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HOME PAGE
Follow this link to additional information on the car not found on this site!
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DIRECTORY FOR RAIF'S ENGINE DETAILING SITE
01 Site Overview
02 Wire Looms: Version I (Pre 2006) & Version II (Post 2006) <<<
03 Silicone Hoses: Version I (Pre 2006) & Version II (Post 2006)
04 Coolflex
05 Aftermarket Aluminum Pieces
06 Polishing Aluminum
07 Polished Stock Aluminum Pieces
08 Polished Accent Pieces
09 Fiero Valve Covers
10 Polishing Steel & Ceramic Coating It
11 Aftermarket Chrome Pieces
12 Professionally Chromed Stock Pieces
13 Miscellaneous Touches
14 Final Pics of the Engine W/ Stock 2.8 Plenum & runners
15 Truleo Custom Intake
16 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Overview
17 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Battery Relocation: Installing the Battery Box
18 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Battery Relocation: Running Wiring Under Chassis
19 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Hiding the wiring: MSD Box Mounting
20 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Hiding the wiring: Part I
21 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Hiding the wiring: Part II
22 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine & Tranny: Stripping & Prepping
23 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine & Trannny: Painting Candy Apple Red
24 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Accessories: Candy Apple Red: Prep, Prime, & Base
25 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Accessories: Candy Apple Red: Clear Coat
26 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Accessories: Black
27 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine Bay: Welding, Stripping, & Filling
28 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine Bay: Prepping & Priming
29 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine Bay: Clear Coat
30 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Engine Installation
31 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Engine Installation: Accessories
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