As a retired marine electrician I really appreciate watching somebody who knows what they're doing and is happy to teach others. Now, if only they will listen.
hahaha wow I'm almost done with the video and almost the ENTIRE time i was thinking back to my time in the army being a mechanic and the amount of hack shit jobs that were going on constantly hahaha fun times... sort of
Ahh, marine electrics. A place far more hostile than automotive electrics and full of boat owners who consider themselves fully qualified to work on their own boats.
@@PaulLemars01 Yes, and they are some of the best customers because they've learned the hard way that it isn't as simple as it looks. Therefore they better appreciate a professional done job.
I'm actually a high-school dropout, as far as knowing how to wire everything up correctly, choose the right fuse rating and everything else period not to mention the schematics and thought process period but did anyone catch the amperage chart, I would really like to see someone try to push 30 amps through 18 gauge wire or even a hundred and fifty through 10 gauge wire as it states in the chart that is listed in the video. Even I could immediately distinguish that this chart is way off with its amperage to length ratio for 12 volts.
one thing i’d add, when you’re at the “how long does each wire need to be?” stage, it really helps to use bits of cheap rope and tape to find the routes that will determine the length, shape and look of the finished harness.
Yeah, that's one of those steps that even the sincerely nice helpful people get kinda curse-worthy about leaving out or refusing to in any way advise on. And then they sneer at you for getting the wrong length cable when you had no way to know what the right length was.
@@claws61821 It's also one of those things that's more of an art than a exact science, the trick is to make sure you have too much so you can cut them off at the right length once everything is all laid out.
@@hannahranga And yet they don't offer ways to figure out even those rough approximations, and at best laugh derisively at you for asking. Why is that, I wonder...?
Helpful tip with the Costco size bags of Zip-Ties is to rip the hole you pull them out of in the center of the bag instead of just ripping off the corner. That way they stay in during transport, and are still easy to pull out of the bag. Stupid little things that make a huge difference in your sanity.
Bonus tip, heatshrink the ends of the nylon cable braid. This way it doesn't roll back and expose the wires, looks neat too! Also let's you label a bundle of wires like "Left headlight" or "Flux capacitor" :D
I run all the electronics on singer Porsches for a living and I love this video. it's got an amazing collection of information with a good sense of humor to help beginners get over the hill on learning how to wire up a car which I know from personal experience, is a huge challenge to overcome. Keep it coming! P.s. just as a side note, please please use something like DR-25 heart shrink and SCL/ ATUM adhesive heat shrinks in the engine bay for any engine bay harnesses that you plan to compete with and keep in the car for any extended duration as oils and heat can and will melt those wires and short them out over time. (Bonus points if you use tefzel wire too lmao)
You would think someone like myself who is an avid lover of heat shrink and label making would know about heat shrink for label makers. I slapped my spacebar so hard and immediately bought some. This is a game-changer haha. Keep up the super informative content!
Been a master auto technician, for most of my adult life. Found this very informative. Learned the most at the Chrysler factory schools. Loved the way they drew out their wiring diagrams. I straddle the fence between modern fleet vehicles and antique/classics. This info will come in handy, for both.
This. This is the video I've been looking for - I can diagnose car wiring, I've done most jobs on a car, and I've rewired entire buildings but there was something about rewiring a car that just seemed overwhelming and everytime I come close to going for it I get cold feet. Great video, I'm feeling much more confident and prepared - and it's great to have a list of well reviewed components
So much good information here: before this video I did not know that heat shrink tubing label maker cartridges and SXL wire were a thing, and those aftermarket fuse boxes are great! Now have to go buy some stuff!
Quick tips: If you would like to use aluminum wire just go two sizes up and make sure you don't have your wires too tight if your in a cold climate. Remember that trying to measure resistance or continuity on a live circuit can damage your meter
Eh, resistance would be fine. Itll just max out and not give you a value. But the continuity will most definitely blow it up, yes. Never test continuity on a live circuit over 10a unless you got one of those extensions that can take the brunt of the amperage
@@daniellau5859 Continuity and resistance are the same measurement (that's why they're usually on the same dial setting of a multimeter); continuity just beeps if resistance is below a certain value. Don't use either (or the diode check setting) on a live circuit. And not only can trying to measure resistance/continuity/diode on a live circuit damage your meter, but may also cause strange things to happen in the circuit, since it's injecting electricity to measure the resistance/etc. Or sometimes even damage the circuit, depending on what it is and at what points you're measuring it.
Hey man, congrats on the Porsche! I found your channel when I was looking at Datsun trucks and ran across the Fatsun. I'm very happy you brought it back.
Watching Matt, i get this weird feeling i now know alot of stuff that i could of learned the hard way. The feeling is an absence of the pain and suffering, I normal experience when self-learning. Thanks Matt.
You sir have won the internet for me today. Randomly found you when looking for wiring harness in a car and I must say kudos to you for sharing these golden nuggets of wisdom in such a comprehensible way. Your subtle humor is through the roof and that makes learning much more enjoyable. Thank you so so much for making such quality videos! Immediately earned my subscription.
Great Content! When working with connectors, avoid orienting them vertically, as this can allow more opportunities for moisture to eventually seep in. On this note, keep the split in the "gutter" tubing on the bottom of your harness to allow gravity to help keep out moisture. Additionally, be mindful of wiring coming out and immediately bending out of the connector. Keeping an inch or two of slack before a bend will keep the torsion forces off of the connections. Source: 1 year automotive EE internship
The little Crème brûlée gas torches are great for heat shrink, don't get too close though. Great video, I'm an auto electrician by trade and the way you do stuff is how it should be done on custom harnesses, nice work. You need decent crimpers though, if you're going to splash out get a set of ratchet crimpers and a jaw kit that'll cover everything from cheap plastic crap to the little tiny specialised ones in the weatherproof connectors.
Idk what I expected but this is a really great video. I’ve already wired my car using the same methods you highlighted after learning the hard way through making tons of mistakes. Through my wiring journey, I’ve made every mistake you can make from using cheap CCA wire, not using a diagram and having major circuit issues, and other major errors I wish I had known about wire types (SXL, GXL, TXL) and quality fuse/relay blocks beforehand. Having this video beforehand would have probably saved me 100 hours of labor and several hundred dollars in supplies. For anyone watching, take it from someone who has done this repeatedly. This is a really amazing video. Subscribed!!!
Love the troubleshooting tips, because it’s rare it all works the first time. Also, as an engineer, we used to always check ground to positive before applying power. Reduces fireworks.
I just loved your work! As an engineer, it's pretty harder to find people who know how to do their work in a simple and effective way, congratulations! Best regards from Brazil 🇧🇷
Matt I started watching your Jag videos in the middle of the night and I CAN'T STOP WATCHING. I need to get work done!!!! HELP!!!!! Matt you are a FANTASTIC teacher... Extreme Gratitude....
The long talks our team had when planning our harness paid off when we dropped 7 pounds from the previous year. The judges at comp were quite impressed by our minimalist take while also having automated active aero and a ETC I love just how much working on each part of the car gave me even more knowledge on my own projects at home now
Matt - Just started rewiring a 1968 MG B with my 15 year old son. I look forward to working with my son on this project with and your video is greatly appreciated. Thanks for helping me teach him on how to do things right.!
Hey Matt, fellow FSAE-racecar enthusiast and retired member here. Really appreciated this video.But I think there are some points that I don't totally agree with. Those crimps you are using are OK, but not for ultra high longevity. I usally use those that also crimp over the insulation of the wire to make the crimp even stronger and to prevent further failure-points. Copper usually doens't like to bend over and over again (work hardening) and the wires will brake off after some time if they have a lot of movement in them - usually this isn't the case, but sometimes it does and then you have to re-crimp them every now and then. We had one single dude in our FSAE team that did all the wiring of the car and he made it after the guidelines of NASA. After he was finished the wiring was almost the nicest part of the whole car. Super-clean and super compact. Still it wasn't like we didn't have any wiring problems and so we had to retire from a few races because we lost some stupid sensor just before a race.... Happens even to the best of us -.- Keep the videos coming - I'll be watching :D
I am deeply impressed. I have rewired several cars and trucks but nothing past 1970. Your points are spot on. I have had a 1957 GMC 100 pick up for 15 years and when I got it I dug out 15 wire nuts and about 70 feet of telephone wire. It is just bite off one thing at a time. I have wired a few Vintage Air A/C systems and that helped me understand the importance of proper relays, fuses, breakers etc. Great informative video here! Your car looks so much like my Triumph Spitfire! Bobby
seriously incredible video. I've never subscribed to someone just based on the quality of one video, but here we are. I love that you included all the little things like which pins to use and the label maker. those are the quality of life tips that so many people just forget about or don't bother mentioning
I have recently acquired a TVR Chimaera and 3 months ago didn't know what a coil was let alone get stuck into the massive cleanup required to get the beast from a neglected run down state into a running machine. Thanks to channels like yours I got stuck into it and am proud to be able to drive the car every day now. Still tons of work to be done but to think I could get a V8 up and running smoothly on a very tight budget is insane. The rewiring and cleaning up of rat nest wiring is up next and this video helps a lot. Thank you.
The thing I’ve learned pretty recently that has seemed pretty amazing is “solder seal” it’s heat shrink and solder in one and it’s easier to apply than crimping. Love em
I just bought a small airplane, the wiring is a mess. Your comment about just ripping it all out and starting over, assured me I was watching the correct video. Thanks!
Great video Matt, laughed out loud many times during it. Was unsure whether I wanted the hassle of building my own loom for our 205 track car, but after watching this I'm definitely going to give it a go.
I have been an electronics tecnician since 1969 and you have done a good job here. The grounding section is the one so many people just don't know. This will help many out more than they know. I would suggest using a heat gun on shrink tubing. I have seen people catch the shrink on fire with a lighter. Of course as soon as they get comfortable with the way it shrinks and when to remove the heat there's can do a great job. I have even used my soldering iron before. Keep up the good work. Everything I have heard you say is very helpful for most people. I use the sealing shrink on cars because of the environment. It really works great. 👍👍👍👍👍😁👍👍👍👍😁😁💥💥
As someone who went and bought a boat and is now discovering the mess of rewiring that a previous owner did, i may well use this video for tips. I am very tempted to rip it all out and start again!
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful. I wired a motorcycle from scratch and learned a lot. There’s about 9 hours of me wiring connectors somewhere on the internet. Also used a Motogadget PDM to run the bike which was slick. Next up is my car resto-mod. I’ve definitely picked up some more tips from this video. Thanks again!
Great video. Have reharnessed analog (non computer) race cars and bikes. It’s really the best method instead of modifying original harnesses. Great tips here, Matt. Love your channel and very much appreciate your snarky, self-deprecating style.
Thanks for the awesome video Matt! I'm finally getting around to wiring an old Datsun Pickup and really got a lot of inspiration from this video. I did want to put out there though that if you use the larger Bussman box with 40 fuses and 10 relays it takes tanged terminals not the ones listed in the spreadsheet. The tangless terminals just slip out of the holes. Just wanted to put this out there for anyone in same position.
For easily testing continuity with even a cheap multimeter you can use the "diode" option. I have a 10€ multimeter and it has the "diode" function. Simple turn the function on, stick the probes between whatever you are checking continuity on, and the meter should make a BEEP or flash some lights. No need to read the screen.
Even my old cheapo Harbor Freight one has it. In it's defense, I've used it side by side with a friend's fancy Fluke multimeter and it reads close enough that I'm just gonna keep using this one. I'm not an electrical specialist and it's good enough for the occasional electrical troubleshooting. It handles diagnostic work on the high voltage circuits of the hybrids I sometimes work on fine enough.
I honestly loved this video. Funny but more importantly full of useful advice. The amount of information that you clearly explained in a 19 minute video is astounding. Great Job!
Its past midnight, I'm not a car guy, I know almost nothing about electronics, and yet I was captivated with the entire video. Congratulations good sir.
I used to professionally wire race grade harnesses for Motorsports. I came into this video with arms crossed but after watching it I see this is actually useful and well done for the budget minded home gamer. Good job!
Great video, will add that for the insulated crimp on terminals you were using the wrong crimper, hence why your crimps wouldn't hold and the plastic sheath would slide off. Heat shrinking non insulated terminals are great too, little less bulky with fine wiring like that, slightly slower though. Overall, awesome job.
You know, when I was starting my cars wiring, I watched this video first to kind of prime myself. Here i am now, a stripped EG Hatch, and no wires in it at all. 90% of this I found today all over again (Delphi/Aptiv Metri-Pack 280 Series, The Bussman/Littelfuse boxes, etc) and I am surprised my brain didn't keep this stuff. Thank you for organizing all the information and stuff, I have a lot more confidence (and resources) to make this happen now. Thanks Matt.
I really appreciate the production value you put into your videos. I found your channel yesterday and have been binge watching as I find more and more applicable videos you have made.
Good timing...just came across this. I have a restored 1965 Mercedes 230SL...everything except the wiring. It uses the old style German torpedo fuses, which I really hate. Been thinking of selling the car...but if I decide to hang onto it, the plan is to upgrade to modern fuses and new wiring. Luckily, its a small car without any computers or other modern-day inconveniences. I absolutely agree with using quality components...if you're going to this much trouble, no need to scrimp with knockoffs from you know where.
The holy trifecta is pure gold. Watching annoying enough to know who to listen to and how to look up information is a super skill. I didn't know what a formulary was until I was being charged way too much at the pharmacy. They had the wrong brand and wrong quantity. I never wanted to know how to be a pharmacy tech but after 10 minutes googling I showed them what they had to do. I keep most opinions to myself but that was a very satisfying moment.
Don't worry... your 28 year old ADHD brain will turn your non running drag car into a running drag car because that seemed much more important to do than the ACTUAL IMPORTANT THING that will need to get done.
I spent 2 years being the main electrical tech for a company that built custom Land Rovers. The best upgrade on all of them was getting all of the Land Rover wiring out.
@@deciplesteve only if you wish to loose the nostalgia of fumbling in the dark on the side of the road trying to get the bloody headlights working. Modern wiring all the way.
I completely rewired my 88' Bronco II, installed a 1955 Packard Clipper dash, got all the Packard gauges to work, hid all the factory wiring under the hood, relocated the computer to a safer location (than the kick panel), and passed emissions in California. lol This is my third complete wiring harness build. Oh... and I removed about 30 lbs of wiring.
If the humor that really ratcheted up at the 12-15-minute mark was there from the beginning, I think I might have died watching this video. This is such awesome content.
I don't know how this video showed up in my feed but I'm so glad it did. I need to rewire my old Chevelle and I've been terrified of it. This helps. Thank you for doing this video.
He meant: If you only need 6 fuses, but you can only find a 10 fuse box---- then just go with the box with "too many fuses"... and just have some extra. (same thing with the big connector). Using the correct size fuse the wire requires is a given.
I'm sure that what he meant was if you don't know exactly how much current you need, err on the high side ("use too much fuse"). Later, when you choose wire size, you will (if you're following his guide) choose wire with at least enough capacity for the current rating of that fuse, and everything will work safely.
Excellent information. Where were you when I was rewiring my 1967 Series IIa SWB Land Rover? And the delivery of your pearls of wisdom? Dry and superbly articulated with just a pinch of humour. More please.
Pretty solid how to. If you need non insulated connectors and can't find the ones you need for what ever reason, you can just heat up the plastic ferrule with a lighter and pull it off.
My Project: "Manx-style" dune buggy. There were no re-usable circuits from the donor VW and I was really dreading wiring the entire car. I considered buying a wiring harness and adapting it to my build, but this video has challenged me to go ahead and wire it from scratch. I know it'll be a huge learning curve (read- make mistakes and redo stuff) But I'm looking forward to this part of the project. Thanks Matt!!!
Almost time to wire up my Hilux and wasn't sure where to find parts, first google search and of course a superfastmatt video pops up and explains the exact stuff with links to the exact components I wanted! Thanks Matt!
Good job. I use labels from my laser printer with clear heat shrink tube over them. Also I solder ALL my terminal connectors and heat shrink over them.
I had a 1971 Land Rover and all the lights started playing up. It was corroded connectors, corroded wires and bad earthing to the chassis. Dead easy. I bought the correct wire size, all black and used idents for identification as we did in electrical engineering, no multiple wire colours, and bought ring and bullet connectors and a proper spring loaded crimping tool. I already had the proper wire strippers and cutters from when I worked in electrical engineering. Interesting you say about the wire type, I used an ordinary 100m reel of wire. No problems. Tie down the wires and use cable ties (zip ties) to loom them together so no abrasion. Troubleshooting should not be needed if you wire it correctly.
I like this. I have a 1937 Dodge I need to rewire. It's stock, fairly simple. I will be going 12 volt. All the lights need new sockets. But now I think I can do it on my own and just take my time without a pre made harness. Thanks
As a retired marine electrician I really appreciate watching somebody who knows what they're doing and is happy to teach others. Now, if only they will listen.
hahaha wow I'm almost done with the video and almost the ENTIRE time i was thinking back to my time in the army being a mechanic and the amount of hack shit jobs that were going on constantly hahaha fun times... sort of
Ahh, marine electrics. A place far more hostile than automotive electrics and full of boat owners who consider themselves fully qualified to work on their own boats.
@@PaulLemars01 Yes, and they are some of the best customers because they've learned the hard way that it isn't as simple as it looks. Therefore they better appreciate a professional done job.
If I can't fix it with a hammer then its not my problem. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
I'm actually a high-school dropout, as far as knowing how to wire everything up correctly, choose the right fuse rating and everything else period not to mention the schematics and thought process period but did anyone catch the amperage chart, I would really like to see someone try to push 30 amps through 18 gauge wire or even a hundred and fifty through 10 gauge wire as it states in the chart that is listed in the video. Even I could immediately distinguish that this chart is way off with its amperage to length ratio for 12 volts.
A HEAT SHRINK LABEL MAKER?!
WHERE HAS THAT BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE>!>?!
Time to rewire that Humvee again
I'm colourblind so it's a necessity
ey up
glass is glass breaks
I see SuperfastMatt sneaked into your youtube algo recently as well.
the inventor deserves a Nobel Prize for DIY
one thing i’d add, when you’re at the “how long does each wire need to be?” stage, it really helps to use bits of cheap rope and tape to find the routes that will determine the length, shape and look of the finished harness.
Yeah, that's one of those steps that even the sincerely nice helpful people get kinda curse-worthy about leaving out or refusing to in any way advise on. And then they sneer at you for getting the wrong length cable when you had no way to know what the right length was.
@@claws61821 It's also one of those things that's more of an art than a exact science, the trick is to make sure you have too much so you can cut them off at the right length once everything is all laid out.
@@hannahranga I thought the trick was to have extra so when you trim it down it’s still too short.
@@hannahranga And yet they don't offer ways to figure out even those rough approximations, and at best laugh derisively at you for asking. Why is that, I wonder...?
@@kylemaddux1658 "I cut it three times, and it's still too short!"
@ 2:27 "The optimization of laziness, cheapness, without sacrificing quality, the Holy Trifecta" - SUBSCRIBED
I subscribed too when I heard that line lol
This is like the “casually explained” version of car wiring and I love it
Yes omg
shots fired
100%
🤣🤣🤣🤣
It is not "like" it, it is it
Helpful tip with the Costco size bags of Zip-Ties is to rip the hole you pull them out of in the center of the bag instead of just ripping off the corner. That way they stay in during transport, and are still easy to pull out of the bag. Stupid little things that make a huge difference in your sanity.
I wonder how many times I have dumped out most of a bag of zip-ties. Your tip changed my life. I can be somebody now. Yeehah!!!
I learned this method a few years ago and have been using it ever since! A vertical slit makes it easier to pull them out than a horizontal one!
Bonus tip, heatshrink the ends of the nylon cable braid. This way it doesn't roll back and expose the wires, looks neat too! Also let's you label a bundle of wires like "Left headlight" or "Flux capacitor" :D
I was planning on doing that for my motorcycle fuel lines. Bought stainless loom for it 😍
I run all the electronics on singer Porsches for a living and I love this video. it's got an amazing collection of information with a good sense of humor to help beginners get over the hill on learning how to wire up a car which I know from personal experience, is a huge challenge to overcome. Keep it coming!
P.s. just as a side note, please please use something like DR-25 heart shrink and SCL/ ATUM adhesive heat shrinks in the engine bay for any engine bay harnesses that you plan to compete with and keep in the car for any extended duration as oils and heat can and will melt those wires and short them out over time. (Bonus points if you use tefzel wire too lmao)
You would think someone like myself who is an avid lover of heat shrink and label making would know about heat shrink for label makers. I slapped my spacebar so hard and immediately bought some. This is a game-changer haha. Keep up the super informative content!
Tip for making heat shrink labels hold up better over time is to use transparent heat shrink on top. A bit more work but totally worth it.
The best part is that I am never going to do it, yet I am watching it, liked it and subscribed for long. :D
Been a master auto technician, for most of my adult life. Found this very informative. Learned the most at the Chrysler factory schools. Loved the way they drew out their wiring diagrams. I straddle the fence between modern fleet vehicles and antique/classics. This info will come in handy, for both.
I’m a CJD auto tech aswell, altho I’m not a master tech, as they don’t do CJD master tech here in AUS, so I’d have to travel to America to do it
I am completely rewiring my 66 GTO and have watched many videos about wiring and electrical systems. This is, by far, the best one. Thank you!
Glad it helped!
This. This is the video I've been looking for - I can diagnose car wiring, I've done most jobs on a car, and I've rewired entire buildings but there was something about rewiring a car that just seemed overwhelming and everytime I come close to going for it I get cold feet. Great video, I'm feeling much more confident and prepared - and it's great to have a list of well reviewed components
So much good information here: before this video I did not know that heat shrink tubing label maker cartridges and SXL wire were a thing, and those aftermarket fuse boxes are great! Now have to go buy some stuff!
Quick tips:
If you would like to use aluminum wire just go two sizes up and make sure you don't have your wires too tight if your in a cold climate.
Remember that trying to measure resistance or continuity on a live circuit can damage your meter
Al wire will work harden and break ( usually at the connector point) if there is any vibration.
Stick with copper.
@@mycarsanovaify copper work hardens as well..
Eh, resistance would be fine. Itll just max out and not give you a value. But the continuity will most definitely blow it up, yes. Never test continuity on a live circuit over 10a unless you got one of those extensions that can take the brunt of the amperage
@@daniellau5859 Continuity and resistance are the same measurement (that's why they're usually on the same dial setting of a multimeter); continuity just beeps if resistance is below a certain value. Don't use either (or the diode check setting) on a live circuit.
And not only can trying to measure resistance/continuity/diode on a live circuit damage your meter, but may also cause strange things to happen in the circuit, since it's injecting electricity to measure the resistance/etc. Or sometimes even damage the circuit, depending on what it is and at what points you're measuring it.
Just don't use aluminum wire wtf. Are you try to sabotage him?
2:25: 'The Holy Trifecta', love it 😂- Taz.
My favourite bit! 😂
Came here to judge to see what zac and ryan taught
I’ve definitely fried an ecu by having it grounded directly to the battery😂 I’d say maybe avoid that at all costs
this video is great, the presenting was spot on
Hey man, congrats on the Porsche!
I found your channel when I was looking at Datsun trucks and ran across the Fatsun. I'm very happy you brought it back.
Bro where is the Mg build
lol i keep randomly finding you in comments, like little easter eggs hinting at upcoming projects. looking forward to what's next, gl
@@ioiwut4874 Same here 🤣
Is there a rewiring guide for Mitsubishi Galant 7g that has an engine swapped 7-bolt 4g63 dohc?
Watching Matt, i get this weird feeling i now know alot of stuff that i could of learned the hard way. The feeling is an absence of the pain and suffering, I normal experience when self-learning. Thanks Matt.
You sir have won the internet for me today. Randomly found you when looking for wiring harness in a car and I must say kudos to you for sharing these golden nuggets of wisdom in such a comprehensible way. Your subtle humor is through the roof and that makes learning much more enjoyable. Thank you so so much for making such quality videos! Immediately earned my subscription.
Great Content!
When working with connectors, avoid orienting them vertically, as this can allow more opportunities for moisture to eventually seep in. On this note, keep the split in the "gutter" tubing on the bottom of your harness to allow gravity to help keep out moisture. Additionally, be mindful of wiring coming out and immediately bending out of the connector. Keeping an inch or two of slack before a bend will keep the torsion forces off of the connections.
Source: 1 year automotive EE internship
Another very informative video. I wired electrical panels and tested boilers for over 40 years, and still learned a thing or two.
The little Crème brûlée gas torches are great for heat shrink, don't get too close though. Great video, I'm an auto electrician by trade and the way you do stuff is how it should be done on custom harnesses, nice work.
You need decent crimpers though, if you're going to splash out get a set of ratchet crimpers and a jaw kit that'll cover everything from cheap plastic crap to the little tiny specialised ones in the weatherproof connectors.
Idk what I expected but this is a really great video. I’ve already wired my car using the same methods you highlighted after learning the hard way through making tons of mistakes. Through my wiring journey,
I’ve made every mistake you can make from using cheap CCA wire, not using a diagram and having major circuit issues, and other major errors I wish I had known about wire types (SXL, GXL, TXL) and quality fuse/relay blocks beforehand.
Having this video beforehand would have probably saved me 100 hours of labor and several hundred dollars in supplies.
For anyone watching, take it from someone who has done this repeatedly. This is a really amazing video.
Subscribed!!!
Love the troubleshooting tips, because it’s rare it all works the first time. Also, as an engineer, we used to always check ground to positive before applying power. Reduces fireworks.
I have absolutely no experience working on electricals, but this guide made so much sense to me. Thank you Matt! You`re a great Teacher!
I just loved your work!
As an engineer, it's pretty harder to find people who know how to do their work in a simple and effective way, congratulations!
Best regards from Brazil 🇧🇷
Matt I started watching your Jag videos in the middle of the night and I CAN'T STOP WATCHING. I need to get work done!!!! HELP!!!!! Matt you are a FANTASTIC teacher... Extreme Gratitude....
The long talks our team had when planning our harness paid off when we dropped 7 pounds from the previous year. The judges at comp were quite impressed by our minimalist take while also having automated active aero and a ETC
I love just how much working on each part of the car gave me even more knowledge on my own projects at home now
Matt - Just started rewiring a 1968 MG B with my 15 year old son. I look forward to working with my son on this project with and your video is greatly appreciated. Thanks for helping me teach him on how to do things right.!
Hey Matt, fellow FSAE-racecar enthusiast and retired member here. Really appreciated this video.But I think there are some points that I don't totally agree with. Those crimps you are using are OK, but not for ultra high longevity. I usally use those that also crimp over the insulation of the wire to make the crimp even stronger and to prevent further failure-points. Copper usually doens't like to bend over and over again (work hardening) and the wires will brake off after some time if they have a lot of movement in them - usually this isn't the case, but sometimes it does and then you have to re-crimp them every now and then.
We had one single dude in our FSAE team that did all the wiring of the car and he made it after the guidelines of NASA. After he was finished the wiring was almost the nicest part of the whole car. Super-clean and super compact. Still it wasn't like we didn't have any wiring problems and so we had to retire from a few races because we lost some stupid sensor just before a race.... Happens even to the best of us -.-
Keep the videos coming - I'll be watching :D
I am deeply impressed. I have rewired several cars and trucks but nothing past 1970. Your points are spot on. I have had a 1957 GMC 100 pick up for 15 years and when I got it I dug out 15 wire nuts and about 70 feet of telephone wire. It is just bite off one thing at a time. I have wired a few Vintage Air A/C systems and that helped me understand the importance of proper relays, fuses, breakers etc. Great informative video here! Your car looks so much like my Triumph Spitfire! Bobby
seriously incredible video. I've never subscribed to someone just based on the quality of one video, but here we are. I love that you included all the little things like which pins to use and the label maker. those are the quality of life tips that so many people just forget about or don't bother mentioning
I have recently acquired a TVR Chimaera and 3 months ago didn't know what a coil was let alone get stuck into the massive cleanup required to get the beast from a neglected run down state into a running machine. Thanks to channels like yours I got stuck into it and am proud to be able to drive the car every day now. Still tons of work to be done but to think I could get a V8 up and running smoothly on a very tight budget is insane. The rewiring and cleaning up of rat nest wiring is up next and this video helps a lot. Thank you.
The thing I’ve learned pretty recently that has seemed pretty amazing is “solder seal” it’s heat shrink and solder in one and it’s easier to apply than crimping. Love em
but the conection has been tested not perfect. solder goes only on the surface. unless you get some quality ones I don't know about
I just bought a small airplane, the wiring is a mess. Your comment about just ripping it all out and starting over, assured me I was watching the correct video. Thanks!
i wish this could be a series, i bet there is more information / demonstrations that would make all of this even better. keep up the amazing work
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the snarky delivery of this video. Bravo
Great video Matt, laughed out loud many times during it. Was unsure whether I wanted the hassle of building my own loom for our 205 track car, but after watching this I'm definitely going to give it a go.
Everyone who is new to wiring automotive needs to watch this. Quality information and quality parts recommended, very good.
I have been an electronics tecnician since 1969 and you have done a good job here. The grounding section is the one so many people just don't know. This will help many out more than they know. I would suggest using a heat gun on shrink tubing. I have seen people catch the shrink on fire with a lighter. Of course as soon as they get comfortable with the way it shrinks and when to remove the heat there's can do a great job. I have even used my soldering iron before. Keep up the good work. Everything I have heard you say is very helpful for most people. I use the sealing shrink on cars because of the environment. It really works great. 👍👍👍👍👍😁👍👍👍👍😁😁💥💥
As someone who went and bought a boat and is now discovering the mess of rewiring that a previous owner did, i may well use this video for tips.
I am very tempted to rip it all out and start again!
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful. I wired a motorcycle from scratch and learned a lot. There’s about 9 hours of me wiring connectors somewhere on the internet. Also used a Motogadget PDM to run the bike which was slick. Next up is my car resto-mod. I’ve definitely picked up some more tips from this video. Thanks again!
Glad it helped!
@@SuperfastMatt hey Matt I am looking for a Corvette c6 wiring harness can you help
Great video. Have reharnessed analog (non computer) race cars and bikes. It’s really the best method instead of modifying original harnesses. Great tips here, Matt. Love your channel and very much appreciate your snarky, self-deprecating style.
"Is this a crack lighter?" LMFAO I came to the right channel.
6
It's for broken light bulbs
Lol
Thanks for the awesome video Matt! I'm finally getting around to wiring an old Datsun Pickup and really got a lot of inspiration from this video. I did want to put out there though that if you use the larger Bussman box with 40 fuses and 10 relays it takes tanged terminals not the ones listed in the spreadsheet. The tangless terminals just slip out of the holes. Just wanted to put this out there for anyone in same position.
For easily testing continuity with even a cheap multimeter you can use the "diode" option. I have a 10€ multimeter and it has the "diode" function. Simple turn the function on, stick the probes between whatever you are checking continuity on, and the meter should make a BEEP or flash some lights. No need to read the screen.
Even my old cheapo Harbor Freight one has it. In it's defense, I've used it side by side with a friend's fancy Fluke multimeter and it reads close enough that I'm just gonna keep using this one. I'm not an electrical specialist and it's good enough for the occasional electrical troubleshooting. It handles diagnostic work on the high voltage circuits of the hybrids I sometimes work on fine enough.
I honestly loved this video. Funny but more importantly full of useful advice. The amount of information that you clearly explained in a 19 minute video is astounding. Great Job!
Its past midnight, I'm not a car guy, I know almost nothing about electronics, and yet I was captivated with the entire video. Congratulations good sir.
Great video. I am an electronics tech 3, 33 years experiance, and you did a great job with this.
Love the information and dry humor!
I used to professionally wire race grade harnesses for Motorsports. I came into this video with arms crossed but after watching it I see this is actually useful and well done for the budget minded home gamer. Good job!
Great video, will add that for the insulated crimp on terminals you were using the wrong crimper, hence why your crimps wouldn't hold and the plastic sheath would slide off. Heat shrinking non insulated terminals are great too, little less bulky with fine wiring like that, slightly slower though. Overall, awesome job.
You know, when I was starting my cars wiring, I watched this video first to kind of prime myself. Here i am now, a stripped EG Hatch, and no wires in it at all. 90% of this I found today all over again (Delphi/Aptiv Metri-Pack 280 Series, The Bussman/Littelfuse boxes, etc) and I am surprised my brain didn't keep this stuff. Thank you for organizing all the information and stuff, I have a lot more confidence (and resources) to make this happen now. Thanks Matt.
awesome channel, this is like automotive this old tony, 10/10
Nope.
Tony has only hands, here, we see head and rest.
I can agree
I used this video to get the confidence I needed to completely re wire my camaro along with a label maker which was critical I did it!!!
I really appreciate the production value you put into your videos. I found your channel yesterday and have been binge watching as I find more and more applicable videos you have made.
Good timing...just came across this. I have a restored 1965 Mercedes 230SL...everything except the wiring. It uses the old style German torpedo fuses, which I really hate. Been thinking of selling the car...but if I decide to hang onto it, the plan is to upgrade to modern fuses and new wiring. Luckily, its a small car without any computers or other modern-day inconveniences. I absolutely agree with using quality components...if you're going to this much trouble, no need to scrimp with knockoffs from you know where.
Why am I watching the whole video, I don't even have a car or a driver's license
I have zero intention of rewiring my car yet here I am too.
Just enjoying the good content.
The holy trifecta is pure gold. Watching annoying enough to know who to listen to and how to look up information is a super skill. I didn't know what a formulary was until I was being charged way too much at the pharmacy. They had the wrong brand and wrong quantity. I never wanted to know how to be a pharmacy tech but after 10 minutes googling I showed them what they had to do. I keep most opinions to myself but that was a very satisfying moment.
you can still learn to rewire your neighbour's car ....
Time to get one
Been really stressing about rewiring my 85' rv(because of my experience with modern cars), so the intro is needed immediate relief.
My 20 year old ADHD brain. Is going to turn my running Future drag car. Into a non running drag car. Wish me luck 🙏
my body is a machine that turns RUNNING FUTURE DRAG CAR into NON RUNNING DRAG CAR
Don't worry... your 28 year old ADHD brain will turn your non running drag car into a running drag car because that seemed much more important to do than the ACTUAL IMPORTANT THING that will need to get done.
Very informative and to the point. I love it when people who know what they're doing make this quality content.
Thank you
As much as I agree with starting fresh, I am into old landrovers with only 2 fuses.
Oh, and first like and comment. Never been the one before.
Being a Rover, both fuses were wired wrong to begin with
Ah good old Lucas, Prince of Darkness, I hear the replacement wiring harness smoke is getting rare, although Ferrari appear to have some stashed.
I spent 2 years being the main electrical tech for a company that built custom Land Rovers. The best upgrade on all of them was getting all of the Land Rover wiring out.
@@deciplesteve only if you wish to loose the nostalgia of fumbling in the dark on the side of the road trying to get the bloody headlights working.
Modern wiring all the way.
@@NathanNostaw I am happy to never have that nostalgia ever.
I completely rewired my 88' Bronco II, installed a 1955 Packard Clipper dash, got all the Packard gauges to work, hid all the factory wiring under the hood, relocated the computer to a safer location (than the kick panel), and passed emissions in California. lol This is my third complete wiring harness build. Oh... and I removed about 30 lbs of wiring.
"or whatever, i'm not your Dad" Priceless!
1:06 THANK YOU!
You have no idea great it is to have the "If something goes wrong, do this" step; it saves so many headaches whenever it's included.
You're old enough to call them Delphi? I'm old enough to still call them Packard or GM-Packard.
Xddddddddd
Watched again, and this is absolutely one of the best videos on preparing to wire your car. Good humor, too.
If the humor that really ratcheted up at the 12-15-minute mark was there from the beginning, I think I might have died watching this video. This is such awesome content.
oh fuck it gets better? I was gonna click off and save for later but now we're invested xD
I watched this video twice. It’s getting better and better. I will watch it again and again until I love it! 😍🥂🌴🤸🏿♂️
"The Holy Trifecta" - my kind of cost / quality / time triangle.
Just considering to rewire a vehicle is daunting enough - thank you for breaking down the process with some great tips
thankfully taking time talking topically towards tesa taping through tesla testing....totally
I don't know how this video showed up in my feed but I'm so glad it did. I need to rewire my old Chevelle and I've been terrified of it. This helps. Thank you for doing this video.
"Also get the little rubber condom so we can practice safe wiring" LMFAO Who is this guy?
Where to find wiring components was a really nice addition to this video.
To much fuse is the wrong term. Really you want the smallest fuse with an over sized wire.
Thank you. I'm glad someone said it. I only came to the comments to see if someone already said what I was thinking when I heard that.
I’m used to wiring houses so I prefer to use 12 or 14 gauge wires for everything.
He meant: If you only need 6 fuses, but you can only find a 10 fuse box---- then just go with the box with "too many fuses"... and just have some extra. (same thing with the big connector). Using the correct size fuse the wire requires is a given.
How do I rewire my 1964 Honda s600?
I'm sure that what he meant was if you don't know exactly how much current you need, err on the high side ("use too much fuse"). Later, when you choose wire size, you will (if you're following his guide) choose wire with at least enough capacity for the current rating of that fuse, and everything will work safely.
Excellent information. Where were you when I was rewiring my 1967 Series IIa SWB Land Rover? And the delivery of your pearls of wisdom? Dry and superbly articulated with just a pinch of humour. More please.
The Holy Trifecta👌
Pretty solid how to. If you need non insulated connectors and can't find the ones you need for what ever reason, you can just heat up the plastic ferrule with a lighter and pull it off.
Holy shit I think I'm gonna sub and stay here. What did you do to make the Algorithm like you?
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll get to 100k views eventually :)
@@poopthrower8313 A few people have asked, so I added links to the video description just now.
972 238 views and counting, ps thanks for the laughs
I’m working on my 1950chevy Fleetline wiring so it really help watching your videos thank you for your knowledge will keep learning thank you
How do avoid wiring with Soy or other rat food in it?
My Project: "Manx-style" dune buggy. There were no re-usable circuits from the donor VW and I was really dreading wiring the entire car. I considered buying a wiring harness and adapting it to my build, but this video has challenged me to go ahead and wire it from scratch. I know it'll be a huge learning curve (read- make mistakes and redo stuff) But I'm looking forward to this part of the project. Thanks Matt!!!
I could make 10 memes out of this video alone. Awesome, thanks! "I'm old and I don't like change."
Almost time to wire up my Hilux and wasn't sure where to find parts, first google search and of course a superfastmatt video pops up and explains the exact stuff with links to the exact components I wanted! Thanks Matt!
“I’m not your dad.”
Just what my dad would say.
Good job.
I use labels from my laser printer with clear heat shrink tube over them. Also I solder ALL my terminal connectors and heat shrink over them.
Noticed your lighter, cigar man?
no. crack lighter
You’re fantastic, I’m re-wiring my car and have no idea what I’m doing. Thank you for making it a little more understandable 😄
This dude looks straight into my soul while delivering valuable info. Love it.
Great presenting. Very honest and non bias.. Here's my bit, you can write on heat shrink, and it shrinks!
I had a 1971 Land Rover and all the lights started playing up. It was corroded connectors, corroded wires and bad earthing to the chassis.
Dead easy. I bought the correct wire size, all black and used idents for identification as we did in electrical engineering, no multiple wire colours, and bought ring and bullet connectors and a proper spring loaded crimping tool. I already had the proper wire strippers and cutters from when I worked in electrical engineering.
Interesting you say about the wire type, I used an ordinary 100m reel of wire. No problems. Tie down the wires and use cable ties (zip ties) to loom them together so no abrasion.
Troubleshooting should not be needed if you wire it correctly.
I was an aircraft electrician and I know this stuff but you kept my attention the whole video, great presentation.
You sir make a great teacher. I appreciate all your wisdom and will use it in the near future. Thanks for posting.
Coming from a guy who just bought a 89 CRX with 30 year old wiring you sir are Car Jesus showing me light
I’m a diesel mechanic and don’t need any help wiring anything automotive, but this video was an enjoying watch. Also, I love the OG TH-cam music
I like this. I have a 1937 Dodge I need to rewire. It's stock, fairly simple. I will be going 12 volt. All the lights need new sockets. But now I think I can do it on my own and just take my time without a pre made harness. Thanks
Preparing to rewire a Chevelle, a Suburban and an E36 racecar, so this is very helpful. Thanks!
I needed this video 10 years ago, live and learn.