MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Harness wire type

I have got to make a decision, do I go with lacquer braided or PVC wire? I want to stay as "original" as practical; however, I want something safe and reliable. To be honest, I am not sure what either even are. Ideas???


Dave
52TD
mgaviator

For the best of both worlds, get cloth covered PVC wire harness. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

While we are on this topic, I have a related question I hope to hear an answer to. My car has, I believe, the original wiring harness, and it is in functional but poor shape. I am having a repeated problem, that took a long time to isolate, with corrosion on the bullet connectors going to the ignition switch. They carry all of the power for the car, execpt the starter, and when they corrode, the car runs poorly when the connections heat up (temp and/or running headlights contribute). I just got done cleaning them, after noticing the ignition breaking up at 4k RPM when warm with headlights on. The problem is fixed until the next time...

I believe the problem is caused by the old white metal connectors and/or a bi-metalic corrosion problem with the female connector.

Do new harnesses have better quality bullet connectors that are plated to prevent corrosion ? Which brands are best ? When I replace the harness I want to fix this problem. I have had the car cut out completely from this.

Thanks.
Larry Ayres

David:

Do you know if the diameter of the harness is larger with the PVC? I found that a PO had installed such a harness (now ruined) and that it was almost impossible to get through the various holes in the firewall, etc.

Dave
52TD
mgaviator

Dave, I think the "braid" harnesses are the cloth braid over PVC, just as the original cloth was over some type of black inner insulation. I did have to enlarge at least the main harness hole on the left of my firewall to get it through, but I also put the turn signal stuff on the firewall (like on a TF) rather than underneath the dash, hence more wires through the hole. Larry, whatever brand of new harness you get, it would likely take years for anything to corrode that much. The new connectors on my harness looked like cad plated copper, the connectors covered with a stiff rubber. Not sure if it came from Moss or Abingdon- been a few years. Depends how nice your car is condition-wise- if decent, get the cloth covered. They look really good. George
George Butz

Dave

I agree with all the above. I unfortunately have a PVC covered harness. I put it in when I rebuilt the car in 1974. At that time, the difference in price was a factor for me. The harness has held up very well, but I would rather have cloth.

One advantage for the pvc. If you do get a short or hot wire, you can repair the covering with black tape. No good way to repair the cloth covering.
BEC Cunha

Larry,

Have you checked your ground connections? You might want to clean both ends of the chassis to bell housing and battery to battery box ground wires.

Good luck,
Evan
Evan Ford - TD 27621

Dave R,

I went with British Wiring. www.britishwiring.com their harnesses are made in England, but they are located in Illinois. I was very pleased with their responsiveness and effort.

I went with the braid/braid harness, each wire has an underlying pvc covering. I also had them custom make certain sections because I wanted to integrate turn signal into my car with a dash mounted dipper. Since I didn't want to add a turn signal indicator light to my instrument panel, I had them also put an extra long lead on that function. I had my choice of engine side or interior side of the firewall for the turn signal apparatus, and I chose the interior side.

I did buy the lead for the wiper motor, and it isn't correctly gray pvc, but it is a very nice braid covered wire, and I may use it.

Their catalog on line is pretty comprehensive. Including my mods and shipping I was under $500.

warmly
dave
Dave Braun

This thread was discussed between 12/12/2006 and 13/12/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.