Wire looms and other parts in canvas?

On my 58, the gas gauge doesn't work. When looking around over the holidays I noticed a wire laying between the tank and the edge of the the tub right next to the drivers seat. When I pulled it up, it was encased in a canvas sleeve (like the plastic wire loom we use today). Wire probably goes to the tank, hence the gauge not working. But the interesting part was the wire casing/loom. It also has the same sort of material riveted as a vibration dampener on the windshield brackets when laying on the hood and where the hood touches grill. Being riveted it looks original. Was this the standard on these Willys during the 50's? I also have a 55 wagon and it has riveted rubber where the hood meets the grill. Why an older one uses rubber and newer one canvas? Next, where can you get replacements?

 

Try this for a location to get the welting:

https://www.vintagejeeps.com/p-1818-grill-to-hood-welting-with-black-split-rivets-grill-welt.aspx

 

My 70 has the same welting on the grill. It's held on with a flush snaps, not rivets. The original wire to the fuel sender had a cloth sheath, but when I rewired that went away.

Tim

 

The wire loom you refer to is called "asphalt loom". See, e.g., http://www.wiringproducts.com/asphalt-coated-fabric-loom

 

Interesting. so I wonder why they used it going to gas tank since where it goes is already pretty protected.

 

The boys 70 has it on the harness running to the rear as well as the fuel gauge

 

Pretty sure all the Jeeps though the 70s have it on the lead to the fuel tank. I've seen it on my '75 and on my '77 J-10. In '75, the CJ rear harness moves inside the body and is sheathed in the plastic split loom. The J-10 to-tank insulation was worn through in one area, so I'd guess that there is a lot of movement between the tank and its mounts. You could substitute split vacuum tube held closed with tie-wraps - that would be just as abrasion resistant as the cloth loom.

 

My '62 has the same thing, and it runs all the way to the rear of the Jeep.

 

Crawled under to look at some things and saw where the wires heading to the rear lights are also encased it the same stuff. I figuring the when I pull the old wires out for the new wiring harness, I'll pull a string back thru to help pulling the new wires.