The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 47-48 wiring harness-help

looking to do my wiring harness, what do you recomend, buy , build ur own, any pointers and iam changing over to 12 volts

I am part way through installing my first harness in my '48 1 ton. I bought my harness ready made from a Chev truck parts supplier in Toronto although it is possible to make your own (described in "Automotive Electrical Handbook", Jim Horner). All connectors were installed and wire colour and number coded to 2 page instructions. Details on wiring the brake switch, generator and dimmer, etc were also included. I have completed under the hood and front and rear lights. Just finished the horm circuit today. Very straight forward and logical. 3 issues - the harness is made for the original horn rather than newer horns with relay so some adaptation was necessary here; access to switches and instruments behind the dash is a real challenge; and the length of wire in that area a little tight. I expect to have to lengthen some of those leads. Check on these things before you buy as I understand problems like this crop up with many harnesses (has anyone here bought harness be perfect in every respect?) Hope this helps in your decision.

i kind of thought in some harnesses you might be short on some wire somewhere, did u switch over to 12 volts

I rewired my 49 without a kit. The schematic in the Shop Manual, good wire stock, connectors and a good crimping tool were all I needed.
I removed one wire at a time, duplicated it and replaced it on the truck.
Take photos, take notes as they all help.
Frankly it was quite easy to do.
BTW the wire gauges in the schematic are for 6 volt so if you change (why bother?) to 12 volt you can use a smaller gauge wire.

everything works better on 12 volts, starting in you have to jump start............... and thanks i think iam going to wire it one wire at a time , i have everything here too, thanks olbu49