The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Wiring harness recommendations for 6-volt '51

Hello. Many of your comments have convinced me that my deteriorated wiring insulation is a hazard with potentially serious consequences. So, I plan to replace the wiring harness this winter on my 1951 Chevrolet ½-ton with 6-volt system and generator.

Replacement harnesses are available at various prices, presumably with different features or quality (I’m ruling out the ones LMC Truck sells on page 113 for $400-$700, because I don’t want to spend that much and I don’t want to deal with a 12-volt harness).

I wonder if anybody has any recommendations or cautions on the products below, or a recommendation I’ve not listed:
Jim Carter’s EL165C for $210.00.
LMC Truck’s 36-3001 for $269.95.
Classic Parts’ 52-023 for $149.50.
Bowtie Bits’ AD-502-WHG for $149.50.

Thanks!

Why spend more than Bowtie Bits or Classic Parts.

Classic Parts gives a discount with code "Stovebolt".

Believe it or not, Walmart sells a wiring harness for $69.99 with free shipping. Go to their website and search for it.

Also check out American Autowire. Filter their search engine by year, make, and model and you’ll find one for about $85.

Painless has a great reputation and you should also check out what they offer.

You’ll find that the differences in price usually is determined by the number of circuits in the harness and also if there is some amount of assembly required. Just don’t buy more than you actually need. If you ever plan to add accessories then be sure to buy accordingly. Of course, the name of the manufacture also adds to the price. If you’re OK with generic you can save yourself a lot of money.

Great points. I'm concerned about # of circuits (I don't have any add-ons, just a heater that I don't use, a radio that is not there, turn signals, etc.). I'm also concerned about quality. But mostly I'm concerned about installation instructions. One of the products boasts number labels that correspond to the diagram and circuits. This may be a case where I buy a cheap one, learn my lessons, then buy what i should've bought in the first place but didn't know it. I'm trying to avoid all that.

My suggestion would be to read descriptions of those that you’re interested in to learn if they are labeled or color coded and if they come with easy-to-understand instructions. I’d go to their websites and call the phone number listed to talk with a customer service representative for answers to all your concerns. As a last resort, you could always order one and then return if it it proves not to your liking or too complicated for your level of expertise. Most reputable companies will except a return. My guess is that in today’s marketplace all wiring harness manufacturers realize they have to make installation a pretty simple task to be competitive. I feel like you would do well with most any wiring harness that you choose.

My two cents worth.

The Classic Parts wiring harness (link in your first post) is hard to beat for quality and for the convenience you seem to be looking for. 10% of coupon is attached below. Their shipping charge is as fair as any vendor's.

The leads are numbered and terminated and the appropriate length for each original circuit in your truck.

It comes with instructions, but you will most likely find any harness a little confusing, especially routing wires from engine compartment through the dash and under the dash. If your present harness seems to be installed as-original, take a lot of photos before removing old wires.

It comes with extra wires, if you ever want to add a tail-light, change a few bulb fixtures, and add a turn-signal switch.

Finding/installing firewall/etc grommets is also a challenge for a first-timer (it gets a little easier after doing a couple of trucks).

Thanks, Tim. Taking many pre-project pictures is a good idea. I had also thought about the tactic of running the new wires BEFORE tearing out the old ones, so there'd be parallel wiring. But that may not be practical, given space limitations or other.

I have a 55.2 truck. I used the Classic Parts $150.00 harness, it worked out well and I'm happy with it. Just passing on my experience.

If you are going to stick with the 6 volt system, the wiring harness should have the heavier gauge wire.
Off the top of my head I don"t recall what the 6 volt wire gauge is/was.
You could call these guys http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/catalog/
They would know what the original gauge is.
Here is there list of Chevy Truck Wiring Harnesses Pricey
They also do custom harnesses.
Ask them what it would cost to make you a 1950 (Early)1953* 1/2 ton Vinyl Wire harness.

Thanks everybody. Really helpful info. My work has me away from this topic for a few days, but I'll re-engage in a few days. I really appreciate the input.