The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay '50 3100 Rewire

OK so I'm back working on the '50 and I'm ready to rewire the truck. Some background on this 4-year project:

This is my first restoration and quite a learning experience. Truck has been taken down to the frame. I’ve done everything myself except engine short block, head upgrade and body work. I did weld in panels but left the balance of the work to a pro. Upgraded the torque tube rear end with a Patrick’s kit and installed disc brakes on the front. The engine is a 235 out of a ’55 Bel Air. The truck was painted while disassembled and is been reassembled and is 90% complete. I'm ready to do the electrical. I've purchased a new wiring harness from Kwik Wire. I'm converting to 12 volts and purchased a voltage reducer for the fuel gauge, changed the heater motor to 12 volt, have a DA plug for the alternator, a 12-volt coil and 12-volt light bulbs all around. The alternator is in place and I’ve actually test run the engine prior to reassembly of the body. All external lighting is in place.

I’ve installed the fuse block to the inside of the firewall and have the basic wire batches run to their respective areas. The inside is completely gutted so I have full access to the interior. The dilemma is that I sat down and after looking thru the Kwik Wire instruction book realize that I’m completely lost. My knowledge of electrical is extremely limited and the manual was Greek to me. My question is should I call on a professional or is there a good web site that can take this down to the most basic of tasks? I’ve searched this site and several others and it appears that the assumption is most of us have some basic knowledge in electrical. I want to add that I do not have the old harness (it got pitched in the trash during a move). So I have little frame of reference.
Thanks for your input.

My advice. Quit looking at that big pile of wires running every which way and concentrate on one system at a time.

You should have a manual with a wiring diagram. I'm not familiar with the Kwikwire harness but the ends of the wires will terminate the same as the stock harness. I'd suggest starting with the engine. Work one wire at a time, keeping in mind you want the routing to be neat. For wires that will be strung together, run them through plastic wire ties that are left loose enough to run more wires through as you go.

Solder all your connections and insulate them with shrink tubing.

Take your time, do it right and you won't have any trouble down the road.

jss56, I'm in the middle of rewiring my 54 3100. I got the harness from classic trucks. The wires came all numbered and a sheet with directions of where the wires go.
I started with the headlights,(harness came with 3 prong plugs.) So I plugged the plug into the headlights,ran each bundle through the fender wall ( make sure you have rubber grommets )then to a 4 terminal block thats attached to inner fender. Once I did that I laid out the harness on the drivers side fire wall to grill. I had wires that attached to the terminal block on drivers side,and long wires that went around radiator over to other terminal block . When I ran those the harness laid out. The alternator wires were right there, then the wires for the tail lights and running lamps connected to the small fuse box on the engine side of the fire wall, horn wires were also there for the horn relay,the wires for the gas sending unit, tail lights just dropped down under the drivers side fire wall( to be attached to the rear lights. Doing that put the wires for the brake switch and the dimmer switch right where they needed to be. The rest of the harness I fed thru the firewall for under the dash. I connected my headlight switch, Ignition. Waiting for my new gauges to finish the job. I'm also putting a small 6 terminal fuse box in for my heater,radio,siren..and eventually electric wiper motor.
I've posted pics for you to check out atleast some of the wiring.
Again, this was painless and I'm no electrician.
Take a deep breath and enjoy the process.
Take care.. I'll help if I can.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i381/snipewarrior/P1010059.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i381/snipewarrior/P1010057.jpg

Jimmi_V

Tried to open the pics but they have been moved or deleted. Would love to see what you are doing, thanks