When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
What was factory original on my '52 F2, as far as wiring and looms? I have what I -think- was OEM. Colored cloth covered wires and spiral wrapped brittle maybe black? tape wrapped as a loom. Most of the wiring that was covered for the last 73 years still has some cloth insulation, but its really not usable safely imo. I'm replacing the majority of it with modern vinyl insulated wire that looks...too modern LOL. I really don't want to use corrugated plastic or asphalt conduit. Also, I really don't want to use the black sticky vinyl tape that's difficult and messy to remove when I have to fix mistakes. I have looked at 3m 1755 friction tape, tesa 51036 tape, coroplast 8551 fleece, but I don't know how well and also how "original" looking any of these are. Sorry if this has been covered or debated already, I didn't have any luck searching. Maybe the answers to this question will help others.
Thanks in advance, and I really appreciate all the knowledge and experience that y'all contribute to this site!
You're correct that a sticky tape is not what you want. When I made a wiring harness for my 8N tractor a couple years ago I went with the Tesa 51036. I wasn't making a 100 point resto but I still wanted something that looked somewhat proper. I was happy with it. It was easy to work with and is holding up well in the weather. I'd recommend it, although I couldn't say how "correct" it is or looks, but it does look more fabric than plastic, which is what I wanted. Here's some pics of when it was new, and a couple taken today so you can see what it looks like. I bought a sleeve of 5 rolls and didn't even use one. If you think it would work for you, let me know and I'll make you a deal.
aliexpress has the cloth "fire resistant" tape and I have been using it for a couple of add on circuits I put in my Ranger, very happy with it - tougher than I expected for the price.
I swear by this non adhesive loom tape, its shiny and plastic, so if you want cloth, this ain't it. But it's cheap, and if you get your technique down, it looks perfectly factory with what came on my '56 F100, or '72 GMC, or 1980 Firebird.
$7.55
TapeCase - TC790 1" X 100' TC790 Dry Vinyl Tape - 1 in. x 100 ft. Black Chrome Plating Tape Roll wit
My trick was to clamp it to a solid thing, like the bumper of my truck. Then I would clamp the other end of wires to a wheelbarrow firmly, and move the wheelbarrow until I got enough tension, but obviously not enough to damage the wires. Then starting from one end use the loom tape. Worked great. I'll be using some in the next few days for a headlight relay harness I need to make.
EDIT: If you'd like I can take a picture of my handiwork in the morning.
-Thank you for all the input guys. Wayne, I think my harness will wind up looking the same as your tractor. I removed all the blue\red\yellow plastic insulators, then soldered and heat shrinked the ends. That fabric tesa tape may not be exactly original, but at least its not glaringly obviously not, like all the various colored vinyl wires unwrapped would be. Thank you for the offer, if I need that much I'll PM you. Motorbreath, thanks also. IDK if shiny PVC is the look, tho.
-lshort, I recently retired from a Ford dealer after 25 years, I remembered the coroplast tape as a part of a repair from a specific factory recall a few years back.
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
