The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk buying wire

hope this dosent sound too dumb...

i will be rewiring tomorrow and need to get some lengths of wire. auto stores only seem to have prepackaged lengths but i would like to get the exact lengths needed so i dont have to splice wires together unless needed. is there a chain store that sells wire from big looms cut to specific sizes???

home depot maybe?

Usually the home improvement stores don't have spools of automotive wire. I usually buy mine at a locally owned auto parts store, they have spools that are 50' long, iirc. Another place to try is a hardware store, but you don't want to get houshold wire, the insulation is too stiff.

I'm not sure i understand what your trying to do, but if you want replacement wire, your going to have to go to Chevy Duty, Jim Carter, or one of the many other catalog parts houses. If you want to make your own, then Fred has the right idea. Just get a spool of wire and cut your own, but don't expect to find factory type wire at a hardware store, there aint any. Cecil..........

Troy, there is a Kmart right near me at Centerville and Broadway that is not a Kmart, but a liquidator for Huricane Katrina stuff. I think they have some wire in there you can get at 40% off. Another good shop for you is Taner Electronic - they are sort of a surplus house and they are located on Valwood Pkwy just west of I35. They are on the north side of the street about a block or two down. Not well marked - keep a weather-eye.

For the long wires that run to the tail/brake lights, I buy a trailer rewiring kit. The wires are plenty long, color coded and fused together for neatness. Just a thought,
Scott

Troy, I rewired one project truck with a complete harness out of a later model (I think it was a 67 chev 1/2t truck) if you have any salvage yards around, ya might be able to buy the complete wire loom, fuse panel, and whatever else ya need a lot less expensive than buying aftermarket. All the lenghts of wire and ends are there. Be sure to take your tools along-1/4 drive set with all sockets, screwdrivers, wire cutters, for zip ties. I usuall take along some wasp spray in warm weather.

http://community.webshots.com/user/niteowl01244
Here's some shots of my projects, it'd be nice if there were more hours in the day.....

a wealth of info here guys. thanks! i think im gonna try Scotts suggestion and see what trailer wiring kits local places have. Thanks again!

Tractor supply is a good place to buy barb wire and cattle wire,bailing wire, maybe ace hard-ware might work also

thanks fred... you covered every kind of wire EXCEPT what i needed

got a trailer wire kit and job went smooth as could be! thanks again to 48bigtrucks for the tip!

No problem, that's the best way to rewire my big trucks,
Scott

this is probably better in the electrical section

there should be some great places in dallas some where.????
for the long lengths depending on gauge
try:
radio shack or electrical supply, good automotive supply, local hot rod shop. Use solderless terminals and heat shrink tubing. great stuff.
for the rear end railing try a quad (4) wire for trailers, yellow, green, white, black (i think).
hell i just found the yellow pages
http://yellowpages.aol.com/main.adp..._dirpid=&_dirquery=electrical+supply

The other day in harbor freight I saw a nice 'wire storehouse kit' it was something like 15 spools of different guage and color wire. That would be great for rewiring your truck. While yer there, pick up a connector kit and some shrink tube to make bundles of wire for the different areas.