The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Give me your update on wiring Harness

Well, I've started the engine, bled the brakes and installed the tank so its time to think wiring. (1952 Panel with V8)
I've read several "reports" from the search but wonder if anything new has/is taking place. I'm ready to order my harness but I want any updated info before I do.
I would like to buy Rebel Wiring as its American made, but then there is XYZ and a couple others.
Will you share your updated views please.
....oh, and how many "circuits" do you recommend as I will not be doing electric windows as it does make a difference on price.

I was so happy with the Hot Rod Wires harness I put in the '56 that I bought another for my '54 pickup. I had a Painless harness that I bought from a guy who gave up on his project. After looking it over I sold it at a swap meet and bought the second HRW one.

I used the 12 circuit one.

I bought the mr roadster 20 circuit from speedway motors for 149.00. Dont think i will need 20 circuits but i figured i want to do this once lol.. I started putting it in last week. All wires are marked with what they are for and the instructions are straight forward


Matt

Hi Alvin.....I used an 18 Cct. Painless Universal truck harness in my '40. I picked it up on E Bay for a good price. I think 12 Cct might be a little tight if you start adding lots of accessories. I found the Painless Tech guys really good to deal with when I got stuck. I can't recall what you are doing motor-wise on your panel, but Painless has all sorts of add-on modules for injection, fans, etc.

Hi ALvin, I bought my harness a couple of years ago from Classic Chevy for less than a c note. The only thing I thought could be better was the documentation, and even then it only took a few hours to do the rewire. That and the wires running under the 52 were unprotected. I bought some wiring loom, and have had no problems, Jimmie.

Any one have info and or experience on EZ Wiring or Keep it clean wireiing?

Still hoping for help I want to order one or the other this weekend

Gazim, I'll guess we can check out the ones recommended but I'm not "sold" on any particular one yet. I just checked a local hot rod shop that "says" theirs will work but they can't be specific. I'd like to save a few dollars but so far I've even ruled even them out.
I think I'm just gonna spend the computer time and actually call a couple of them and see what they say!

Fellow wire nuts,
No pun intended. I have used Ron Fransis,Painless,and Haywire.
Painless is great but a few more $$. Ron F. for a few more $$. Haywire is the best bang for the buck.They are based out if Joplin,Mo and if you need an answer they can help and make the panels themselves. Just my opinion. I'd get at least a 18 ct unit. Bought a unit for my Burb a month ago from them.

Will check out Haywire, Thanks.

Hi Alvin,

Don't be afraid to build your own harness based on some other Chevy product. I used most of a '75 C10 front harness in my just completed'71 wiring. Get a wiring diagram on the doner and go to town. Don't let wiring scare you. I solder and heat shrink everything. Ground wires are your friend.

Considering your set-up, I would think you could use an S10 front harness easily.

best wishes,

Les

Les, that would make since and I'm running a serpentine belt system with the brackets and alternator ect. My nephew has pretty much "volunteered" to do it. I'm not scared of it but I do think I'm getting lazy...or old...... or both

Thanks for the idea. Say hello to Sarah for Victoria and I.

Oh, Les, the club had a cruise in at the Beacon last night. I had the Roast Beef A-Plenty and there was over 100 cars there along with an exhibition by the R&D Shag Club. Good event. You all would have loved it.

Alvin its not that it's just that if you lay down on your back your eyes close

Alvin,

The Beacon? You DOG! The city here wants to put High Speed Rail 100yds from our house. We may HAVE to move closer to you and The Beacon! ;}

Les

Alvin, Gazim,
What'd you guys go with, and any opinions yet?

Traeg, I have NOT order one yet. Still trying to decide on just what I'm going to do. I've used Painless, Rebel and another one or two over the years and have not really had any problems with them. Its been a while though and thats why I needed an update.
I got side tracked on a couple other things on the panel and its sort of "in the wings" for now. Maybe after the stovebolt reunion next month I can order one. I'm saving my pennies for Kansas!!!
I'll try to remember and come back here and update when I do.... and I'm interested in how Sullys works out from Haywire and what gazim thinks if he goes that route. I probably have a little more time before I actually wire it.
I like to do a little "research" instead of waiting till the last minute. Thanks for checking in with us thou.....it reminds me to keep up the hunt!!

I ask because I have to replace mine too- darn desert packrats. Here's what I don't understand, you can pay anywhere from $150 to nearly $700 (at LMC, see pg. 93 at http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=92) and honestly I can't tell the difference. Do I need a harness made specifically for my stock '57? I might, as I'm a complete noob at all this, and I've heard of troubles with leads being too long, too short, etc. I contacted Haywire and Ron Francis, and both assure me their less expensive kits will work- But in talking to some people in town they recommended going with Chevy Duty- only problem is Chevy Duty is no longer under that name- and I can't track them down. I'll start a new topic as I don't really understand the basics about what's needed in a wiring harness- so deciding who to buy from is a bit premature.
But keep this thread posted with what you find with your new harnesses, and good luck!

Traeg - the $700 job includes a whole bunch of add-on bells and whistles, even a new ignition switch .... I would suggest that yes, you need a harness specifically for your TF truck, as it will have the correct lengths and layout and the correct connectors for gauges and such rather than a bunch of wires that need to be cut to fit and terminals added on .... OTOH, any of the vendors will have a good quality original style harness for the 55-59 at around $200

Bill

Bill, when you say "vendors" are you referring to a Chevy truck parts vendor, or everybody- How about this harness from Haywire- which has been mentioned in the above discussion
http://haywireinc.com/catalog/shopping_cart.php?sort=3a&osCsid=0d72ivo03dd748fcvhfdbntsf1
like Haywire, Ron Francis has simply what he calls a "retro" Chevy Harness
http://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WR%2D85
But I'm wondering if these harnesses are going to require a lot of cutting/splicing-
plus, they're not mentioning alternator vs. generator, column or dash ignition, etc.
Thanks for all the help on this-

I mean the Chev repro vendors, like the Stovebolt sponser here, basicly "plug and play" [or pray ], using the original layout and connections with very little adjustment needed other than things like the rear wires which will fit the long frame so need to be cut back for the short, and maybe some additional things for updates or options like alternator, which should just be a different "charge system" small harness with the correct connectors

any of the vendors that are wiring specific should have similar, but anything labeled by the number of circuits is aimed at folks wanting to add modern upgrades - you gonna have AC, power windows, power door locks, relays galore, elect fan, etc, etc? that's what the many circuit harnesses are meant for - if you want to put in a modern column with power steering, automatic and column ign, American Classic carries that style harness as well, with the modern fuse panel and switches [and way less than $700]

I've gotten 3 original style repro harnesses from different vendors like this, all with the right connectors in the right place to fit in just like the original did, allowing good original bits like factory turn signals to be plugged right in - if you want a fuse panel [which would have been factory installed only with electrical options like radio], the original style is also available complete with correct wires to hook it in, no need for a modern replacement

Bill

Thanks Bill- very helpful. I had actually looked at the sponsors site (ACTP), but had looked under "electrical". Guess you have to scroll down to "wiring harnesses". In that same vein, try finding a steering wheel for a '57 on that site. Good prices, just need to update their website a bit, if you know anyone there, let 'em know. I definitely want to support the sponsor of this site as often as possible- the Stovebolt Forums are a great resource for newbies like me!
Again, thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow (and less expensive!) track in all my posts- I really appreciate it- this is definitely the style harness I should go with for now.
Alvin and Gazim, I'm still curious how your projects end up- Gazim, I found this post regarding EZ Wiring from Rod and Custom:
http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/0908rc_ez_wiring_harness/index.html

update? seems up to date to me - and I don't have any more contact with them than using their electricity to BS with folks here cuz of their generosity maybe your problem is getting to the right list - just click "view/order parts" on the left of any page, then click the proceed button, then select your year and proceed again to the whole list

this wheel? - it's where it belongs, in the 57, 58, 59 lists [it's the same for those 3 years], under Steering Column Items, down at "Steering Wheels and Horn Button Caps"

there's an awful lot of parts to onea these trucks, just have to scroll the lists and think about how they might be cataloged - one of the reasons I use their online catalog as reference is they've got it well laid out and most things have accurate pictures rather than "artists conceptions" - their prices are comparable to most vendors, cheaper than some

Bill

umm.. yup, that wheel. right in front of my face and I didn't see it. fair price too, though now I'm thinking I'll try to repair mine first.

not hard to fix an original wheel with epoxy putty and a re-paint, Eastwood I think it is, has kits and instructions

Bill

I used a rebel wiring harness,9+3 model ,, got it direct from the owners of the company, had everything needed and instructions were excellent, it cost me 140, they sell everything you need, and he's always available if you have any questions, its not a big company so there's no long phone wait.. it was a good investment for the money..

Hi Traeg,
Haven't seen your name around much. We will have to change that.
The wiring kit from E-Z is still setting on the bench I really don't want to take a chance of screwing something up when I have shows every weekend. I just bought some bitchin exhaust tips and
am moving the exhaust from the roll pan to under the running boards th will come out in a 2x8.tip. Will get a pick if I get them done next week Nobody will notice if I have only one done.

I bought an original style wiring harness from Jim Carter- Could have paid less, could have paid more- wanted American made, and I didn't want to deal with cutting, splicing etc. I'll give an update when I get into it-
Thanks guys, for all the help!-
T

I bought a cheap repro from Classic Parts for like $175 or so. Worked perfectly. I can't see any reason to spend 4 or 500 on anything else, unless you want to start adding fuse blocks and multiple "extra" circuits.

Well its in. What a Bi=ch. If I didn't have help from 2 good friends I would have never made it. EZ wiring isn't EZ. The parts were all there and labeled properly. The directions left quite a bit to be desired. They were one size fits all from a John Deere to a Lamborghini.

I would recommend Classic Parts original type wiring harness for any electrical novice, like myself. Having never done anything like this before, I was really impressed how the wires were the correct length, connectors attached, and already inside insulators usually. It was pretty basic. No wiring included for deluxe heater, accessory juntion block, taillight pigtails, or turn signal switch. I'm about 1/2 way done. Problem is when the old wiring got torn out, I saw about 20 little jobs that needed done before wiring it!

Hey Uncle Alvin!
Well I really like my Ron Frances kit but I do not think the price is justified compared to others out there with near or identical quality.
Painless looks like a Quality kit to me and from Gents I spoke with over the summer at some shows that used there product I dont think you would go wrong.
Tim

I'm "leaning" toward the Rebel kit right now. I used the Painless in my 37 with no problems. I've looked at prices, kits and circuits till I'm half blind!!
I'm going to call Rebel today and see what the deal is...and the 15% stovebolt discount.
I'll keep you posted.

Tim, tell Seth "uncle A" said hello