I've received another order for refurbishment of underdash harnesses today, my fourth in 2 month's time. It seems my hobby-business is picking up a bit.
Meanwhile, I've been scouring the country for a vendor to produce resistance wires for these harnesses, and that's not a trivial matter. That wire can only be procured as a special manufacture run; no one has it sitting on the shelf for sale. Ford actually used two different resistance wires: the pink one that everyone knows about, and a violet (or sometimes black) one as a backup for the alternator light. Each wire has different resistance characteristics. My first vendor would sell me a compromise solution (meaning one wire for the two applications) for $1300, and only 500 feet. I only need about 100 -200 feet. Timeframe was 8-10 weeks. Coloring the insulation was extra. The price was way too high.
I just received a quote from a second vendor: $850 for two sets of wires, 2000 feet each (yes, two thousand!), and in the correct colors. Timeframe for delivery is 2-3 weeks. This vendor cannot supply the woven braid that goes over the pink resistor wire, but there are other sources out there for me to tap into.
It looks like I can now offer sections of resistance wires to those who want to fix their own harnesses. As far as I know, only Allied Metals, who makes the repro harnesses, and myself can offer this. Woohoo!
Meanwhile, I've been scouring the country for a vendor to produce resistance wires for these harnesses, and that's not a trivial matter. That wire can only be procured as a special manufacture run; no one has it sitting on the shelf for sale. Ford actually used two different resistance wires: the pink one that everyone knows about, and a violet (or sometimes black) one as a backup for the alternator light. Each wire has different resistance characteristics. My first vendor would sell me a compromise solution (meaning one wire for the two applications) for $1300, and only 500 feet. I only need about 100 -200 feet. Timeframe was 8-10 weeks. Coloring the insulation was extra. The price was way too high.
I just received a quote from a second vendor: $850 for two sets of wires, 2000 feet each (yes, two thousand!), and in the correct colors. Timeframe for delivery is 2-3 weeks. This vendor cannot supply the woven braid that goes over the pink resistor wire, but there are other sources out there for me to tap into.
It looks like I can now offer sections of resistance wires to those who want to fix their own harnesses. As far as I know, only Allied Metals, who makes the repro harnesses, and myself can offer this. Woohoo!