I’ve done a fair bit of thinking about this and studied wiring diagrams both for my truck and some later ones from the 50s. Here’s the tentative plan for now, but it will probably be several weeks before I start the job:
1) Utilize stock-ish 1951 routing but use “1954 and later” wiring color scheme and wire gauge. Have a couple different avenues to source the wire, that I will decide on later. Going to use GM color scheme within reason. Probably have to deviate at a few points to avoid purchasing a million kinds of wire.
2) For the rear of the truck, just going to use some 4 color trailer wire I’ve already purchased. That piece of the job is pretty discrete from the rest and the wire was dirt cheap. Kudos to those who have made that suggestion. The rear wiring will almost certainly happen first as the original wire is super sketchy back there.
3) For fuses…probably going to just source two separate, small blocks. One for switched power and one for constant. Probably keep the period horn relay in service and that might be the only relay unless someone here convinces me otherwise.
4) I believe I’ve found a couple decent options for US made, non-insulated terminals that don’t cost a bloody fortune. I hate the plastic insulted terminals. So we will go nice and slow with crimps and heat shrink.
5). Utilize some sort of braided split loom that looks halfway period-ish. I don’t much care for the plastic stuff that looks like gutter drain.
I am under no illusion of saving money or time with these choices.
………..
Things I’m still undecided upon and/or need input: (All input is welcome, as this is still just a half baked plan).
1) Mounting location/ method - was thinking probably high on the passenger kick panel so as to be out of sight but still reasonably accessible?
2) Constant/battery power - Had anyone incorporated some sort of main breaker or mega-fuse or some such thing? If so, where?
3) Firewall and other body grommets - just use a general purpose assortment? Are there any places where the repop vendors have something that is uniquely useful.
4) Type/placement of voltage reducers. The one currently under dash is the ginormous ugly type.
5) Some of the fuse block options have dedicated ground studs. Would that be handy or necessary?
