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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 | Bought me a 53-3100 last week, just now starting to inspect it and take a bunch of pics prior to working on her. The turn signals didn't work, and the charging system is not working either. The regultor needs replacing, and look what I found under the dash, a bunch of bare wires. The previous owner should be shot, guess I should of looked under there. I unhooked the neg. terminal so the thing didn't burn the garage down with the truck in it in the mean time. http://www.nloc.net/photopost/data/2692/medium/01218.JPG
Last edited by sstock; 03/07/2013 9:21 AM.
1953 Chevrolet 3100261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY GalleryVideo of the 261 running1964 GMC 1000305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | I've seen/bought trucks with much worse looking wiring under the dash, especially when turn-signals have been added.
That job looks like: "Get 'er done - out of sight, out of mind, . . until you smell smoke, if you are lucky.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 | At least yours is plastic covered, mine was rotted cloth ... basically just +60yr old dust covering brittle wires. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | wasn't the 53 still the cloth covered wiring? maybe yours has already been replaced, just poorly - looks pretty good compared to most 60 year old trucks, just need to solder and heat shrink cover the patches properly  Bill | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 | Yup, weather should be nice tomorrow, should be an enjoyable challenge, lucky I know my way round auto wiring.
1953 Chevrolet 3100261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY GalleryVideo of the 261 running1964 GMC 1000305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 | In my opinion, if you're gonna keep it basic (either 6 or 12v), get the $150 harness from Classic Parts and rewire the entire truck. It's an easy job, I did it over a weekend without rushing but if you focus you could probably do it in a day especially if you are familiar with automotive wiring.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 62 | Now this here's some ugly wiring! Yeah, do what Bluemeanie said.....and if you do go aftermarket wiring kit, don't cheap out- there is a difference! ugly wiring! Don J  | | | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 36 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 36 | mine was nuttin but ol cotton wrapped wire disintagrated to nuttin with bare wires showin everywhere but i finished re wirin it all today :)(all cotton wrap wire) ran my last 2 wires to the horn and checked everything...it'll all be better once its done and ur rollin down the road
Last edited by misfits; 03/13/2013 7:58 PM.
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | My '56 came with most of the under dash wired with yellow wire and the original wires tangled up in that rats nest. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 | I agree with red58
Bill is right in seeing that that is not the orig harness to the truck,it,s plastic covered.
Either way You have it beat in that you have a heads up on wiring.
If it were me,I would just clean up whats there,The CORRECT Way,and fire it up.
steve sr. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,159 | If you're going to keep the truck,I'm with BLUEMEANIE. for a NEW wiring-harness,that's a good price. once the job is complete,you have nothing to worry about. They usually add more circuits,than the stock fuseblock. Now if you want to add accessories,you can,with no worries. I've gone both ways,and by the time you trace-down wires that go from 2'red,to 8"green,to 23"orange-yeah,you've seen'em.Every joint in a wire,causes more resistance,causing heat,and less juice,where it was intended. new harness=seamless wires. Less chance for shorts,or mis-connections. Just my opinion. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 725 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 725 | There must be a lot of cheap, yellow wire out there. I got a huge roll of wire and a couple of boxes of Scotchloks out of my '71 before I got to the burned out under dash harness! I like using the original fusebox and bulkhead connectors if possible, but id a new harness has those, I'd say go for it.
Les | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 290 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 290 | | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 | I started the resto on my 53 and every time I turn over a new rock I get a surprise. Look what the PO did, installed too long of a fuse in the heater switch and yo couldn't put a piece of paper between the hot side of the fuse and dash. It is a wonder this truck hasn't burned down as well as my garage. http://www.nloc.net/photopost/data/2692/medium/P1180518.JPGI pulled the drums off the rear brakes the other day and found a fresh brake job, only problem is the PO installed the primary and secondary shoes reversed. Didn't matter anyway it all is going in the trash because he didn't replace the leaky axle seal. I'm going through everything now, taking nothing for granted.
Last edited by sstock; 03/09/2014 2:22 PM.
1953 Chevrolet 3100261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY GalleryVideo of the 261 running1964 GMC 1000305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,518 | For anyone else out there wondering the correct fuse for the recirc heater is SFE-14.
1953 Chevrolet 3100261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY GalleryVideo of the 261 running1964 GMC 1000305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
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