Hiding stuff in the frame

what is the best way to run wiring through a frame from the front to rear? Also what about brake lines?

I am using 2x6 tube and it seems like a lot of space to let wires flop around in.

thanks

 

Well you could use tie wraps, or some of that plastic conduit that the latemodels use, or have an old telephone man lace it for you. I wouldn't put brake lines inside.
BTW the old way was to wrap it up in friction tape. Can you even buy friction tape anymore?

 

Well, you could use conduit, but it'll be hard to put in if it's already boxed tube. Do lace the wires together, they won't rub around as much. You might use some of that plastic wrap around them to protect them from rubbing and eventually shorting. The stuff with the slit down it that you see the newer cars use in the engine compartments to bundle wires. It's pretty flexible and sturdy. You won't see it hidden in the frame.

I'd leave the hidden brake and fuel lines with bulkhead fittings to the showcar guys. On the street, I'd just run them high on the inside framerail near the body but on the outside where I can see and replace them.

 

sam memmolo for the crank and chrome tv show ran a conduit inside his frame on his yellow chevy truck.

it had bends at the ends so the wires came out of a hole, and it was welded to the inside of the boxing rails.

 

If you use conduit, make it pretty big. All the ideas I posted except the friction tape give the wires a little give or play. If you happen to fry a wire, it won't eat up the rest of the loom. Don't ask me how I know.

 

I once ran wire inside a hose. It was on a farm truck, and since the wire had been caught as the truck was driven through a field, I was looking for a way to keep it secure. It only lasted about 20 years before they finally gave up on the truck for other reasons.

 

Get a length of clear PVC tubing from your parts store and thread your wires through it.
You may have to use a few shots of silicon lube if the amount of wires are close to the ID of the PVC tubing.
Then run the PVC encased wiring through the frame and you shouldn't have any wiring abrasion problems.
Anchor it well where it goes in - use Adel clamps - and where it comes out.
If necessary, use grommets where the PVC enters and leaves.

 

I was thinking of using Tygon plastic tubing for mine.

 

What about that soft clear tubing they sell in rolls at the hardware store?

 

Id use garden hose.....not mine of course.

 

thanks everyone for the great info. welding conduit in would look pretty cool at the entry and exit but I would be worried about vibration and rattling. clear pvc or tygon sound like the way to go. (I had to look tygon up but it looks kind of like the same thing as clear pvc maybe less flexible)

although! if I decide to go with astroturf on the flatbed a nice green garden hose exiting the rear of the frame might look nice.

 

Tygon is the soft,flexible, clear hose they sell at hardware stores. I would fill the ends of it with clear sealant once you have all of the wires installed. Keep out the critters and the dirt.

 

Once the wire has been run inside some kind of tubing inside the frame, buy a can of insulation foam. (the expanding type) Put a long piece of tubing (semi ridgid) over the spout of the foam can, stick the tube inside the frame and let a couple of blasts go every few inches while drawing the insulation tube out. That will keep the wire tubing from shifting around inside the frame rails.

 

Black poly pipe (the stuff they use for garden irrigation) inside square tube-

tack the square tube inside the rail, make exit and entry sold.

Pull wires through the black poly and then pull the poly through the square tube.

The spray pack silicon lubricant works good to pull wire through. (get it from a place that fits certain tracks).

 

I thought maybe this was a post about smuggling drugs...