The re-wire – Getting on with it.

With the re-wire delayed (see the previous post), I had the time to review the whole situation.

I needed to find another auto-electrician which I knew would not be easy and I had some time to really think through what I needed in terms of wiring for the front of the Perentie. The loom running through the chassis to the rear had been tested and was fine; the chassis part of the loom contain a load of wires for a tow socket that were not going to be used, so these would provide back up if needed. I already knew that I had to re-wire the rear lights and add a Rear Fog light which was missing.

I had already decided to use the standard Lucas wiring colours where I could and would document the colours choose for other additional circuits. This would be a huge improvement on the multi-coloured arrangement that we had before with a wire starting off as one colour, ending with another random colour in the middle.

All circuits would be fused individually and relays added for everything that used higher currents, removing the load and stress from the ignition switch for example.

Wires for the front and engine bay had added circuits for driving and fog Lights, high amperage circuits for an electric fan and a winch and a couple of 17amp circuits just in case. Additional I ran extra earth wires so that I could reliably earth everything to a point on the inside of the bulkhead, rather than randomly found earths at the front where they would be exposed to the elements. Also, a couple of wires for additional instruments later on.

The windscreen would be swapped out for one that was electrically heated and wiring provided so the electric windows fitted in the upgraded Puma doors would actually work.

Inside, I re-routed the wires for the existing front light bar and individual work lights on each side and added provision above the windscreen for a power supply that could be used for a better interior light, a CB, sat-nav and dash cam. Also, I ran a wire back down into the car that would take the input from a Solar Panel later on.

The Alu-Cab conversion has a very useful shelf above the windscreen because of the additional roof height.

In addition I decided to add a centre dash to house extra instruments and switches as well as upgraded Radio with a large screen that can used for navigation – more of that later.

So now I was back to needing someone to help me out, so back to Google with a net spread wider for an Auto-Electrician. (Mobile). This tuned up a few more people, but again their web sites were after straight forward business, ICE, upgrades etc.

Then the Classic and American Car Web Site appeared in my search, a fair way from Lymington in Fareham, but areas covered included Hampshire, so that’s me! I e-mailed one Phil James who described himself on the web site as a child from the fifties, I described myself as a child from the sixties……….will I get a response.

Soon the phone rang, an unknown mobile number, It was Phil. He would be near to Lymington soon and would love to come and look at the job. Shortly afterwards an e-mail and a date and time in the calendar.