Vintage wiring harness

Does anyone know what the purple wire is for on the Vintage wiring harness? I think it is the ground. I have the wiring diagram, but there is no mention of the purple wire. It looks like there is one running to the rear tailights on each side.

...if memory serves my right, it is the power for the back up light

Pat - How was the VS harness to install in a CMC? I started to use the old VW harness but its too short in the front, too long in the back and then I still have to add wiring for gauges. Wiring has been my big project stumbling block!

The harness was partially installed when I got the car. Looks like VS uses a pair of fuse blocks utilizing spade fuses. The wires look like they are plently long enough, it is just the wiring schematic is on four seperate sheets and in black and white.

I have used the Vintage harness in at least 8 CMC resto' builds, it fits well and is easy to install.

I like working with the VS harness to the point where I installed the them in two '23 T' Bucket roadsters by just flipping the engine harness section forward.

The purple wire is for the reverse light, but if your trans is too early to facilitate the reverse light switch, then the purple wire is not important.

Yup, purple is reverse. There is a "loop" that goes to the front of the transmission where the reverse switch is.

The wiring harness in my car is partially installed. I was looking last night and saw the purple loop and that was my thought that it goes to the reverse switch. One end goes to the light.

Does the power come off the motor? a fused link off the hot side of the coil?

I did not like the wiring harness I got from VS, I'm not going to use it and will wire from scratch, if someone wants it I'll sell cheap, actually I just placed for sale in the classifieds

Steve - I sent ya an email on your harness! THXS.

Yes ....a fused link off the hot side of the coil

Or you could run fuse-less and be just light Lucas - the Prince of Darkness!

A little known Lucas fact: "Lucas Smoke" is factory packed into each every Lucas electrical product....with a factory preset time to leak said smoke :)

Did Lucas get his early training at Mad Man Muntz's television factory?

Wolfgang, got your e-mail and your payment thanks.

Yes indeed, the purple wire is to be used if your transaxle has the connection provision for a reverse light. If it doesn't, do not worry and just tape it up.

I was wondering how complete the VS harness is? Are the wire ends all crimp fitted and ready to go? Does it include a fuse block? Modern or vintage VW style fuses? Comprehensive diagram to go along with it? Extra length in the wires for varied applications? Additional wiring diagram for "options" like alternator and such?

My car is "hand wired" with a big modern fuse block from a Ford. It works, but it's far from clean. I'd like to rewire it and the VS harness seems like a popular choice . . . just need a little more info/impetus to pick one up.

That said, anyone have another one for sale?

Thanks!

TC

Hey TC; I can't answer all your questions but one thing I know for sure is that my VS uses regular old style VW fuses (the bullet shaped deals with the metal fuse attached to the ends.

TC

Most of the ends need to have the "ends" attached"

The fuse block is included and prewired with modern style fuse sockets

"Comprehensive diagram to go along with it".....
that's a bit "iffy" it is improved from prior years but the misc is easy to figure out and Hey ..I have used at least 9 of these to date so you have a tech support available

Minimal extra lengths most are cut ot length

I like the VS harness to the point where I wired two '23 T Buckets by splitting the rear engine section of the harness and re-routing into the forward harness section for front engine application.

Alan

Hey Alan, the one I got from Vintage and That I sold to WG does not match your description, it had ceramic fuse holder, and It has not been that long since I got it from them, did they upgrade recently? or did I get and sold a lemon?

Yup old VW circa 1965 vintage ceramic fuse holder --- and then only for 8 fuses (even 71 up VW had 10 and last ones 12 fuses). If anyone wants the VS fuse block its theirs for cost of shipping (make a good add on or spare). I plan to replace with ATC blade type fuses block. Other than those to fuse block only 1 has a terminal attached - all others have to be cut to size and terminals attached. Just as well as I prefer soldering and shrink tubing over crimp ons. I expected it to be wrapped in the split tubing - instead it has lots of black electrical tape. Hey still better than starting with 20 reels of wire and going from there. Had to chuckle when I tried to read the read the schematics --- I mean how much can a cheap AutoCadd program be? They were cryptically hand done (they fit in with my vintage '89 CMC build manual) - we'll see how accurate once it warms up to 50 or so. Steve cautioned me that it wasn't up to his standards - they will save me time over trying to use the OEM 1970 wiring which got kind of brittle after 30+ years! I'll have to add wires for AMP and volt gauge - and didn't see radio/power antenna wiring. (Steve's receipt said Jun 2004). If $ weren't a concern I'd go with www.watsons-streetworks.com/vw.html for $325.

The last three I got from VS were a six gang ATC blade type fuse block , most recent purchase was about 4 - 5 months ago

That's weird in that VS sells their turnkeys with VW style fuses but supplies their wiring harnesses with the modern style; doesn't make much sense to me. You'd figure they'd just sell replacements for the same stuff they use for building their turnkeys.