The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay New wiring harness install

I purchased a Speedway 12-circuit, 12 volt wiring harness to install in my 1950 Chevy half ton truck. The HOA won’t allow me to work on my truck in the driveway, so I’ll have to pay a shop to install it. How many hours should it take for a professional to install the harness?

Secondly, how long should it take a professional to remove the original 6 volt wiring harness?

Many thanks!

Okay, does anyone have experience installing a harness, and how long did it take you?

I`ve put in 3 in the past 5 years. Some are plug and go. I would guess there are too many variables
to a working installations. An accurate time might be impossible. A day?

I got the same harness thru speedway. Double check the wires, being I heard that mistakes have been found on these….and I checked mine and found a couple but were in circuits I didn’t use anyway. That is the info stamped on the wires didn’t actually go to the proper fuse port.

A day is pretty optimistic, it will take longer. I've done many. The reasons are, taking old wires out and saving to use as a "template" for routing and clamps and hook up will take time. You will run into things you didn't plan on, switching to dual socket or adding reducers or rusty this or broken that. Interruptions, studying the instructions often, mounting the fuse panel, crimping and shrink sleeving, under dash access and aches...........
Sounds like a hassle, it's not, it's interesting, educational and very rewarding. When a glitch occurs as you drive, you will know what and where everything is. We can't estimate how long it would take you or us on a particular vehicle. I wouldn't finish it myself in one day. Maybe two, maybe three, depends on what else is going on around my house.

As for a shop doing, I would say they will gouge you and possibly have a few errors. Too bad you can't do it in the garage or a friends house. The HOA fine will be cheaper.

The Speedway is a good choice.

Leaving your truck at a shop is a black hole.

A wiring harness is a well defined enough thing that any decent shop should be able to tell you up front how long it is going to take and what it will cost.

I am not a professional, but I have done half a dozen of them now. When I did the 58, it was about 2 hours to strip the old wiring out and a lazy saturday and a monday after work to put the new harness in.

I would expect an actual professional with a shop (not a driveway) and all the right tools to be able to do it all in under a day.

If they won't give you a time upfront, run away. There is nothing in a harness installation that has variables based on current condition.

As me and guitplayer say, there can be many variables. If Fib is correct about less than a day, maybe figure 6 Hrs at $60 per hr? $360? Probably get it back in a week or two? Depending on backlog. Don't know shop rates in your area. AI San Antonio says $75-$120. Never had anything done at a shop except tires. I and wife now go to Walmart for oil change.

The shop may or may not put the rookie on it.

As you know, this task does not take a professional. There are places who rent shop space.

Pardon me for jumping in here, but...
Are you referring to this one,

Speedway Motors | #91164012
12-Circuit Vintage Wiring Harness Cloth Covered Automotive Wire
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/12-Circuit-Vintage-Wiring-Harness-Cloth-Covered-Automotive-Wire,451218.html
or just Speedway in general?

It's sort of universal, with modern fuses and such, but so far the only cloth covered I could find.

I was looking to stay relatively, somewhat close to original as possible. However I have a '57 235 to put in a '48 2-ton, so there's that.
There are others from Horse Power Products, that are direct fit harnesses, (poly coated) except probably for the tail lights, with the longer bed.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks, D.

Yes.....I myself would use the non cloth covered version Part No.91064017. But either one is OK. The actual wire and it's poly coating is the same for both and for all harnesses. So called cloth or original harnesses are just standard GXL or equiv with a "decorative" covering over the GXL insulation. The only wiring ever seen by anyone is under the hood and that can be covered by many types of loom. Direct fit may be a problem with your non original motor. You may need to make some mods. The universal is the way to go.

Diamond D: I concur with Bartamos that the cloth covered isn't really anything special and the universal harness would be a better fit with your engine.

That said, if you have more questions, please start your own thread so it is easier to keep track of who we are helping.