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By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
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unwrapped much of the wiring bundle from Daniel's 63 Merc this weekend to check the condition of the wiring...
now I'm faced with how to seal it back up...
is there a better way to do this than wrapping it back in black electrician tape as it came from the factory?
thanks, Mark
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By charliemccraney - 12 Years Ago
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If you want it to look original, not really.
If you don't care about that, there is all kinds of wiring loom available.
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By Talkwrench - 12 Years Ago
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Just use the convoluted tubing . comes in many diameters just have a look at the quality and keep it well away from heat. On my flathead I had small section of the tubing just touching the intake manifold that I couldn't see and as it got hot it melted and shrunk in closer making the wire inside contact.. No too good when it was a feed wire for the alternator. mmm .
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By GREENBIRD56 - 12 Years Ago
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Eastwood used to sell the wrapping tape - it has no adhesive - and it works for bundling - saves a lot of messing around. Only at the ends was there any sort of electricians tape used. Then I covered it with the convoluted tubing.
There is a type of fabric appearing tubing available now - also split but looking very much like the older material (pre-wrapping tape).
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By dbird - 12 Years Ago
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I used this:
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By The Master Cylinder - 12 Years Ago
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I have used Power Braid by Painless and Summit's Braided wire wrap. As you can see in the picture I also used it on my heater hoses and fuel lines. On the ends and where I have hose clamps I put shrink tubing. Stuff works great bundling and protecting the wires while dressing up the engine compartment. Easy to add more wire at a later date if you add another accessory.
I can't stand an engine compartment with wires running all over the place.
I think the convoluted stuff looks kinda cheap, IMHO. The braided stuff is expensive tho. 
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By ian57tbird - 12 Years Ago
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If you are looking for original look then the non-adhesive harness tape is the go. We were taught not to use any electrical tape on the ends as it always becomes a sticky mess in time. Instead wrap back over the beginning when you start and stretch it out as you are wrapping so then it will pull tight on itself, then at the end tuck it under the last turn or two and pull it tight. with its own tension it should hold itself neat on the finish end as well. Finally just trim off neatly the last bit sticking out.
If you do wrap it, remember it does need to be stretched to hold itself properly.
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By Talkwrench - 12 Years Ago
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I like the look of that stuff....
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By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
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non-adhesive harness tape...?
where can this be found?
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By paul2748 - 12 Years Ago
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Just my opinion, but nothing looks better than wrapped in electrical tape. Neat and clean. Any of the tubing I have seen always is the wrong size or otherwise looks terrible because the you can never get the fitment looking good.
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By 56_Fairlane - 12 Years Ago
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Some of the older cars used black cloth electrical tape. I have a roll that I used and it matched perfectly and it didn't seem to stick well to anything but itself.
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By ian57tbird - 12 Years Ago
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I think by the 60's all the cloth was long gone.
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By paul2748 - 12 Years Ago
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The fabric stuff was called friction tape. It is still available. Checked ebay and they have a lot of it listed.
56_Fairlane (11/6/2013)
Some of the older cars used black cloth electrical tape. I have a roll that I used and it matched perfectly and it didn't seem to stick well to anything but itself.
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By The Master Cylinder - 12 Years Ago
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I don't think I would use friction tape. Doesn't the outside stay sticky?
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By DryLakesRacer - 12 Years Ago
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If you are going to choose vinyl electrical tape I can explain how to keep it from unraveling. After being a Power Plant electrician for over 45 years and making hundreds of high and low voltage splices, bus connections, and motor splices there are ez ways to keep it looking good. 1st and foremost buy a good tape; I prefer fresh Scotch 33 plus. Start the taping with tape relaxed. After 1 or 2 half laps pull the tape to approximately 7/8 width low voltage (car) wiring; continue to the end in this manner 1/2 lapping the tape over itself. For finer work 3/4 lap it. As you approach where you want finish taping relax the pulling and cut the tape off perpedicular leaving approximately 2 raps for the end. Leave it sit 1 to 2 minutes then lay down the tape over your last pull point NOT pulling on it. It must be relaxed as you finish.
We have used this procedure for years and never had the tape undo. If your going to tape the wires twice follow its procedure both times. If you do your top layer(only layer) coming from the firewall to the front of the car it will look the neatest. If possible have all your wires straight and not crossing over each other. They can come in the middle of the loom with a little care....Good Luck
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By 56_Fairlane - 12 Years Ago
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The Master Cylinder (11/6/2013)
I don't think I would use friction tape. Doesn't the outside stay sticky?
No. It didn't seem sticky at all.
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By brokengate - 12 Years Ago
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Here's a ditto on the Scotch 33, best all weather tape, remains pliable, stretchable with excellent adhesion in cold temperatures, extremely durable and lasting in outdoor weather extremes. 40 years of outdoor use as a railroad signalman and I purchase nothing else for my personal use. I used it in repair of my engine compartment loom single wrap with 50% overlap it is effectively double thick and there is no need to wrap again. As DryLakesRacer said always relax and cut the edge on terminal wrap do not stretch pull and tear, it will last many many years.
The problem with friction is it will not clean up like the vinyl will as the exposed surface is the friction, great for hockey sticks, used many rolls.
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By DryLakesRacer - 12 Years Ago
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Brokengate: and softball bats. twice a season....
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By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
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thanks for all the great ideas!
Given our limited budget, I'm using some wiring wrap purchased at my local Advance Auto.
If Daniel wants to go more period correct someday, I'll watch him from the sidelines and cheer on the banged up knuckles!
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