The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs cloth wire harness

Hi, me again. I looking to as part of my restoration replace the wiring harness to the 49 panel truck. I want to use the cloth harness, but they are so expensive, $600.00 and up. Do you know of anyone who has the cloth wire harness at a reasonable price. Am I crazy to spend that much for a cloth harness or should I just get the cheaper plastic coated? Thanks.

yes yer crazy! I doubt you'll find a much better price than that, but unless you want a show truck, nobody will notice the difference and the "modern" style pvc harnesses will work as well and last longer .....

Bill

THanks Bill for giving it to me stright, I'm still wrestling with the issue.

Not to be a "Red58" baiter but I choose to differ with Bill's comment that "nobody will notice the difference." I will notice for sure.

Take a look at this harness I purchased from YNZ for $556. Yes, steep price, but real nice in my opinion. You can get a sense of why the extra cost by looking at the pix. Even if not "showing" the truck it's been my experience that folks always want a peek under the hood. That harness will certainly catch the eye.

I've got some pix somewhere of the old PVC coated wire harness, that I installed 15 years or so ago, and will post them when I find them. Yes, it worked fine, but there is no comparison when looking at the red, black, blue, and green wires with crimped connectors, and the woven fabric with soldered connectors.

Don

I agree with Don, even though I do not get to use cloth covered wiring in my 1954 trucks (the first year for non-cloth-covered wiring).

If you are looking for authenticity, why not try to stay as authentic as possible and as affordable.

Panelit,
I have been looking for "original cloth wiring harness" for my 53 PU, and here are two other sources, Rhode Island wiring at www.riwire.com, and Vintage Wiring of Maine at www.vintagewiringofmaine.com. Vintage wiring quoted me $400 for the harness, $160 to add turn signals, this included the switch for the steering column and $20 to include wiring for fog/driving lamps. I agree with what Tim and Dow2sea said, it was really cool to look under the hood and see the old cloth wires when the truck arrived, but I want the truck to be safe and reliable so I will install a new harness, probably swallow hard and ante up for the cloth loom harness (which is done with new style wire braided with the cloth material - what the heck, everything else is double the original budget, why not the wiring harness?!

Mike

bait away Don, yer welcome to spend 4 times the money so yer wiring will get lots of attention, there's certainly no shortage of folks here who've spent $20,000 building $10,000 trucks, but I never recommend that to anyone ..... and if you purchased a wiring harness with crimped connectors, you shoulda sent it back, I've never seen any not soldered, or any without the correct color coding

Panelit asked a pretty simple question, I gave him the simple [but complete] answer - quality isn't really in the equation with wiring harnesses nowadays, just taste and price, and most here are on a budget

like Tim points out, there's a point authenticity becomes extravagent, and a properly made original style pvc harness will do the job .... and impress anyone accustomed to the corrugated plastic wire loom modern wiring is hidden in

Bill

Sorry, I went back to the quote and it was $500 for the harness.

"The 1953 Chevy wiring harness is $ 500.00 plus shipping. The cost to add turn signals is $ 160.00. The truck harness includes headlight bucket harnesses, parking light wires, gen/ volt reg wires, all dash wiring, fuel tank wire, wires to the single brake/ tail light, etc.. The harness is built using original style cloth-covered wire of the correct colors and gauges. All of the wires are numbered and there is an installation booklet included. The turn signal add-on includes the lever assembly for the steering column, flasher, in-line fuse, wiring for the second brake/ taillight, etc."

Mike

Bill -- Wasn't really baiting you; I guess it was a poor attempt at humor, attempted because I was offering a different opinion than you; Sorry if I riled you up.

You are correct that the truck will more than likely be "worth" less than I've got in it, but you know... that 06 F-250 parked out front is only worth 1/2 of what I paid for it 18 months ago. Two to three years from now it will be worth far less.

When I'm done with My '41, AKA Viejo, I'll have done it to my specifications and in the end it will be reliable, nice looking, fun to drive, an worth to me every dime spent. I'm not doing this for profit (now or in the future.) I will have restored it, as best I could, and in so doing saved a small part of history and have enjoyed doing it. I intend to drive Viejo and thereby let other folks enjoy it too.

My answer was simple and complete also; and BTW, I'm on a budget too (like Bob Dylan sang in "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"
And don't go mistaking Paradise
For that home across the road

There is no right answer to Panelit's question; That's why the 'Bolt is such a great place. We can all share our views, experiences, and perceptions to help others. I've always enjoyed and appreciated your postings Bill, and again, no slight intended for offering another point of view than yours.

This thread reminds me of my 1941 6V humming, paper capacitor, vibrating coil radio. The majority opinion was to simply gut it and install some "state of the art" innards, because it will be much more reliable... and who's to know, especially if you keep the original faceplate? We'll I for one will know, so I went the expensive route. This POS cost me $125 (with shipping) on eBay. Restoration $425 plus another $50 for chrome work. Throw in another $20 for shipping cost and paint and I'll be listening to that "radio preacher" on a $620 AM only radio while driving the Blue Highways. Worth it? Again, its a matter of opinion. My opinion is that if everyone guts these old relics there won't be any left to marvel at (kinda like that Heathkit crystal set I had as a kid), so I intend to preserve another part of history, albeit expensive.


Don

I've seen a number of new harnesses that are crimped and not soldered if you intended to include the commonly available 18, 20, 21 or whatever circuit harnesses that are so easily available now.

In fact browse through this thread and you'll find a number of people critical of some of these harnesses:

Hotrodders Link

On page (8) there's some pictures that shows the poor quality one can sometimes expect to see. And they most certainly look crimped to me.

Now that's not to say that I could justify in my own mind spending $600 for something I can get a $125 to work just as well for after doing some checking before installation.

Robin - the "generic" hotrod harnesses aren't in the game for me, most have wires that aren't even cut to length - a harness intended for the specific application will have all the correct connectors as they were from the factory, nothing missing, nothing xtra except maybe adding signals and alternator - I've never bought an AD harness, but none of the 41-46, 55-59, and 60-66 ones I've seen or used have had crimps

I'm smilin Don, little here riles me, just givin it back

I've been talkin with a couple dozen folks lately sellin onea my trucks [for the cash to get on with another more useful], and most of them are lookin at it as a 'fun thing' that will 'preserve history' and they can get their money back too boot ..... I just sold it [ the Frankentruck ] for 4000, prolly way less than I had in it, but it was a workin truck that did a job for me for years, that was my "profit" .... start with 4000 for a runnin drivin attention getter with no rot, why spend another couple thou makin stuff tiddley and 2-3 thou for a repaint, and, and, and .... then have some drunk run into it!

as for preserving history, there's thousands of these trucks around, and too few doin the thing they were made for, workin - the history they represent is cheap consumerism, designed to do a job for workin men [and make a profit for GM ] - now most seem to be makin a good livin for aftermarket suppliers

it does depend on what ya want, but for me "original condition" means a well maintained used truck that hasn't had a lot of modifications simply for the sake of appearance and high performance ..... I'm happy with original AM radio myself, just don't see the need for one if it's not cheap, most trucks never had one to start

Bill

red58 -- Knowing you are an "Extreme Gabster" I'm just trying to keep up. Yes, I know the history of the old trucks fairly well but don't intend to do the Grapes of Wrath thing with My '41; that's what I got the F-250 for.

I don't want to argue with you on the merits of what you do with your truck or what I do with mine. I gave an opinion to a fellow 'Bolter that's all. You seem to want to debate, or denigrate other peoples work, desires, or dreams. I will never relegate myself to that. I have the utmost respect of all here.

I'm happy that you enjoy your trucks as you do, and will enjoy mine as I please. I'll continue to share my thoughts, ideas, and history of restoring my 'Bolt to my specifications. You are correct in that "most" trucks didn't have a radio, but some did and mine will, and I'll enjoy some AM when I please.

I'm not asking for your approval for my project, as I neither approve nor disapprove of yours, just as I have no opinion as to the type of wiring harness you like. Hey, each to his own.

Keep on trucking Red,

Don

Fellow Bolters, thank you, the decision is made, cloth harness. As mentioned by another bolter, "all your points of view are excellent", and yes ones own perspective is, probably but not always, the best. You have been very kind to offer so much feed back, your responses are great, and above all I appreciate the time each one of you took to write a response, time is a precious commodity. There is an outfit in Maine "Vintage Wiring of Maine" anyone know of them or their wire harness? My friends, be well, love the Lord, and keep those wheels a rolling.

Dave

yes they are reputable and good quality - most of the vintage military vehicle guys use them - they have a website too

Bill

Panelit,
I just came across your post this morning. I'm in the process of redoing my '57 harness and bought these wire looms from Classic Parts . They come in two sized, 1/8 and 1/4 ID.

They go for $.75 a ft. Cant beet that price.

Take care, and good luck with your project.
Jim

I just bought the same wire loom. I will be running it under the cab and bed to the rear lights and into the engine compartment, But stop right at the inner fenders to expose the cloth wires.
It will protect and keep wires from elements under the truck.

Once again you guys are the best, but I will be buying the harness from Vintage wiring of Maine. He gives a 100% guarantee. Happy bolting

Dave