The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Harness vs. DIY

About how much $$ could I expect to save on re-wiring my 12v converted 1953 GMC 100 vs buying a ready made harness??

Not sure, but you'll save a lot of time and frustration by buying a harness!

What's your skill level?

How complicated will your system be?

Do you have access to all of the different automotive type plug in connectors, terminal ends, heat shrink and wire loom?

Do you have access to lots of different size automotive wire (16, 14, 12 & 10 Gauge) in lots of colors?

Will you use factory color codes for each circuit? Note, if you choose to wire it with only a few colors to save money you will kick youself as soon as you have to trouble shoot something.

Where will you get tech support if needed?

Hard to say if you can save money or not. Simple harness sets are less then $200 and high end sets are $500+. Where do you think the harness you need/want falls in?

Mike B

I have done both, high dollar kit (AAW $500+), and purchase a used 80's chevy fuse box and new wire, terminals and connectors (Packard 56 in my case, I ran into minimum order costs). Wire had no color code and no markings. Had to sort out all the cut off wires on the donor fuse box and no schematic or wiring diagram. (The diagrams are online however). The only thing you get out of it is seeing if you can do it. No appreciable money saved over a generic, minimal circuit, kit on sale. You have to kind of know what you are doing to DIY wire a truck. But it's not Rocket Surgery.
BTW: You don't need to rewire to convert to 12V. Not sure if that's why you are "rewiring". Seems like EZ Wire is the lowest price.($185) The wire in the cheaper kit is the same quality gxl automotive wire as the high dollar kit.

kit

Thanks for the input despite me accidentally putting this in the wrong forum (HiPo instead of electric). I'm looking for a simple set up: turn signals, headlights for the moment. I'm not interested in power windows or anything like that down the road. The reason for the rewire is that the current wires are in rough shape. Many of them are cut and were left that way and I do not want this to lead to a premature death for my project by way of fire

I'll move it to the Electrical Bay. I was just passing thru ....

I forgot to answer my "skill and tool" level...
I don't have a lot of tools for electrical work nor much wire. I do possess a good learning attitude and some mechanical experience (mostly motorcycles, but I've been around cars for about 14 yrs. now doing most of my own work). A fellow member offered a wiring harness that didn't work for him. I think we'll be able to work something out so I can go that route and make sure I don't set this thing on fire before it's even done.

I'm $300 into a $150 harness... although I do have some wire and connectors and heat shrink left over.

Years down the road is when most of your problems will start. I did the diy wiring and everything works great with no problem. But, when you want to add or change something, then there are too many wires of the same color. You cannot tell where it goes or what it does. If I ever have to do another one I will get a harness with the wires that are marked and color coded.

Hugh

Would you mind sharing which one (brand/vendor) amd why it took an extra $150?

I think/bet that Rusty Rod is saying he is making his own in harness in hope of saving $$. But, he has spent $300 in making a harness he could have bought for around $150 (perhaps at Jim Carter or at Classic Parts)?

Speedway has a 12 circuit harness (everything you need) for $145. Wires are labeled and easy to install. Probably can't build one for that amount.

I ordered a factory replacement harness (braided line) with headlamp and tail light harnesses, engine and dash harnesses, a new turn indicator switch with braided wire all 12 volt and alternator for just over $500 from Narragansett Reproductions. I would say, It only cost a few more dollars to go first class! AND save time!

Mine started as a simple circuit to start the engine.. and just kept getting more tangled and expensive... it was fun though... one of these daze, i'll tear it all out and put in a ready made harness. maybe.

Thanks for the input guys. I really appreciate it as I'm trying to get this truck on to the next stage on a very tight budget (long story short: bought truck, wife quit work, I still want to take her on a ride for our 10th anniversary this summer.)

I bought and installed a $150 harness from Classic parts and the project went well. Not too much work.

I just want to mention that the cheaper $150 kits, albeit original type configuration, do not have modern fuse boxes. To me this is a must upgrade from virtually no fuses to being totally protected on every circuit with modern fuses. Mounted inside cab out of the weather and heat of motor and no exposed live contacts. Also having no fuse box means adding future accessories is tough. Some kits may not contain larger primary wire, fusible links, turn signal provision with flasher plug in, parking light upgrade, radio..... Some folks find they have to spend more after buying the kits to get what they want. It's just something to consider when wiring anew.

gusco,

If you still think you will need no more circuits than you first indicated, you'd be OK with one of the "standard" harnesses. Use in-line fuses on the newly added circuits, if necessary

You'll have two fuses in the fuse box on the firewall and there will be adequate circuit breakers/breaking in the original light switch.

I'm using one of the Speedway kits. Price was right and it seems like a nice kit. No miles on it yet but soon.

Forgot to say, I also ordered the upgraded turn signal unit, tail light and headlamp harnesses etc etc. What was 500, now went to $ 940 which included 35 shipping and handling! At least the directions look easy to follow and the turn signal wire are incorporated into the harness. Cloth covered wire Too. Expensive, but it only cost a few, well several, more dollars to go first class.

pdlightning is referring to a braided cover wiring kit. They are beautiful and "authentic", for the years that used braided covers.

If 1953 GMC is similar to 1953 Chevrolet truck, I think that no braided wiring was used.

My low-mileage 54/55 GMC COE apple-farm truck had non-braided wiring on the two main harnesses (which are in a configuration that is unique to the COE).

The 1954 wiring kits from Class Parts and Jim Carter match the appearance of original 1954 Chevrolet truck wiring.

I do not know if 1953/1954 GMC trucks had similar wiring harness covers as Chevrolet. One 53/54 GMC kit I got from JC has braided-plastic cover around the main harness

After working as Lead Electrician for 37 years in a powerplant, with no Engineers. I'd say Harness. Because the colors make all the differance.

I bought the best, most complete kit available. American Auto Wire Classic Update Kit. Includes many switches, connectors, sockets, map lights, fuse panel and brackets....all kinds of neat stuff. Now $521 for TF, free ship. Don't see how anyone could spend $940? WOW!

Bart, he must be buying it one section at a time, not as a kit, plus it's cloth covered.

I used that same kit in my '56 and really like it! I mounted the Map lights under the seat to come on with the Dome light...they light up the floor and look nice at night.

Mike B

The original wires in my truck seem to be cloth covered. I think I am going to go the harness route due to my inexperience. Thanks for the input, guys!

Yes MikeB, ordering the various sub-kits will be way more. Can't see $940. I paid that for the 8 wide I live in!