Technical Buy a wiring kit or make my own , or use what I got ?

I used the speedway kit which was OK, make sure you download the complete instructions from there website. I didn't realize they were available in till I had started, they helped straighten some issues I had. My main complaint is there is no actual wire diagram so if trouble shooting is needed later it might be difficult.

Phil

 

I've used Rebel, I've used other brands and made my own. What it comes down to is price, availability and looks. What look do you want, do you want a cloth look (no coverings), are you ok with modern wires but covering them (covering costs more money also), what's available now (wire or kits). You can alter the wiring kits to suit your needs, pull out relays, pull out wiring, making it bare bones or adding to it for more circuits (meaning taking out lighter gauge wire and replacing it with heavier gauge)........it's just a universal box.

My '28 I bought fabric covered wire ($$) because I wanted the fabric look (although most will be hidden).

I would go with your harness you already have and modify it. If you sell it you most likely will have to chip in more money to either buy wire or buy a smaller circuit kit.

But whatever you do don't roll up the unused wires, maybe 1 or 2 for future use. The wiring ball of sadness looks like crap, just remove the wires out of the fuse box.

 

Buy a smaller fuse box ,8 circuit and use the wire from the kit that is marked , always good to have extra wire kicking around for future projects .I have a 21 wire kit I have used to wire 2 model Ts now .

 

One of the jobs on my to do list for my 34 is to rewire it as most wires are blue and there are many 'other' wires that have been added over the years. I've never taken on a task that big so fully plan to use a wiring kit to do that. KISS principal for me

 

Just follow the blue wire, Pete

 

X1000 on the Painless kit! I just rewired my '54 using this. Found it at a garage sale 15 years ago for $25. Knew I'd use it someday!

 

Put me in the Speedway camp as well. I used the biggest kit they offer just in case I want to add stuff later on. It came with some good instructions, a light switch, a bag full of connectors, turn signal plug for a GM column, and headlight plugs, but no other bulb sockets. Had a lot of stuff left over. I bought some braided style loom off of eBay and covered everything under the hood as well as the run back to the tail lights. It looks more period correct than the convoluted plastic style.

 

The first wiring harness I ever installed was in my 1950 Chevy 3100. Dad bought the harness from JC Whitney. I was 15 and knew absolutely nothing about electricity or auto electrics. Somehow, Dad and I got the job done and everything worked! All of the others I’ve done, I’ve made my own harnesses. Our next project is Little Truckdoctor’s C-10. I think we will buy a harness kit for that, so I’m paying close attention to this thread.

 

In over 40 years at my shop we learned to always go with Painless. Just don't use the circuits you don't need. I'm putting a 21 circuit in my Model A coupe because I have it.

 

Last year I was looking for a wiring kit and ended up going with Kwik Wire. When I ordered the kit the rep was super helpful and gave me a ton of advice. I looked it over when it arrived and the quality really shows. The kit comes with a really nice installation booklet which will make installation much easier. I haven't had time to start the install but it's next on the list for the 34.

 

I agree, this was my 1st complete car re-wire. I only used the heater control wiring and the wires on the heater motor, some of the dash cluster that were original.

I needed a Ford column plug which they accommodated. I see it as a benefit, I dealt with KW only when I ordered the kit. The instructions were easy to follow and covered anything you may run into. I would buy another one over any other kit. I also got their HL and dimmer switches.

 

I make my own but I wired fancy machinery so I had a little experience when doing hotrods. If you have some experience in wiring a good schematic is all you need. I make a schematic for each car and install the sheet in the tool bag. Plus you need supplies and wire in a multiple of colors or Brady wire markers.
If you do tackle this task you can run wires cleanly and hide them but don’t forget the rubber grommets and clamps.
If you unfamiliar with building a panel good panel to use is Enos now Racers inc and has been around forever.
If your not comfortable or your first wiring a car or truck a kit is a great way to go. I have used a number of different wire kits painless Ron Francis ez wire and a few others . The thing about kits it’s universal and that it universally fit nothing correctly or should I say cleanly. The kits have too much for a simple hotrod and you pay for that . Plus some wires seem to be undersized for the task. .
The new kits a easy to install like a rebel wiring kit comes with simple instructions that really work nice.
It all depends on your skill and confidence level on the understanding of wiring. I will say the satisfaction and understanding how your car is wired is priceless.
The biggest thing I see in wiring is insufficient grounding and being one of the most important things ..

 

I had the painless wiring kit come with my 40 ford project I bought and it was a good investment by the guy I bought the car from. If the wire is quality, as well as the circuit numbers every 6 inches and connections are well done then it's the way to go. Mine was the 18 circuit and it's more than I needed but it came with the car. Having it all new is one less thing to worry about! just route the wires away from heat and sharp edges and your done!

 

You could always post it on FBM, or similar, and trade for bare bones kit. Someone in your area needing an 18 circuit harness would be happy to help you out, and you'd be happy helping, and get the harness you need.
I've traded stuff of higher value straight across, as I got what I "really" needed, and no money needed to be exchanged.

 

I have done both. On our '37 Buick and the '40 Ford pickup I sold, I gutted a couple junkyard cars and put those harnesses into the old vehicles, per the wiring diagram and color code applicable to the vehicles the harness came from.

 

OMG...so many kits to choose from. Seriously need to Re-Wire my newly acquired 1939 Ford Coupe. It's honestly a disaster waiting to happen. Thinking of just pulling the trigger on the Speedway basic kit. I like doing business with them. Over the years, they have been very generous in donating swag, for all our events.
There is also a Florida based company called EZ Wire, that looked good and was in that $200 price range.
Home | E Z Wiring | Florida USA

 

IMHO this isn't even a question. You use a premade kit from Painless, American Autowire, Rebel or others. I would say you could make your own but for the price of the fuse blocks and the wire, you literally couldn't put a harness together cheaper than for what you can buy some of these other kits for, and you don't have to do any extra work.

Years ago after jackassing around with the wiring in my 57 Ford, a buddy who was better with electrical than I helped me rewire the whole car and I have never had an electrical issue since. On the other hand, when they tried to wire my 61 Olds in the build, they tried to salvage the original harness. What a disaster. Multiple overtaxed circuits, no room for modification... it would have been much less work and a much better result to simply start from scratch with a blank canvas, a new fuse block with enough circuits, and go from there.

You may only need a few circuits, but for a nominal amount more, you can get a bigger block that offers you extra flexibility in the future should your tastes or build change. You'll have options for power windows, a better stereo, or other high draw electric accessories without having to chop into a used up harness. Just tape off the ends of the wires and coil them up behind the kick panel with the fuses out.

 

Did my Buick with a Kwik wire kit. Everything worked first try! I would install what you have, but don't cut off what you don't use. In a year or so you may want to add air or a power antenna or something else.

 

another vote for kit - .my '41 Chevy was first full rewire - low budget - so, went without a kit - used all black wiring - Ha! what dummy - be sure to use good quality crimping & stripper tools

 

I agree with the pro-kit comments. Pick a kit and install that. Unless you are a pro installer like a couple on this thread, you will waste more money and time finding all the parts and color-coded, proper gauge wires than spent on a kit. I made my own harness as a kid in the 60s for my Willys and have been sorry ever since. Since then I always use a Painless or EZ kit (pretty much identical). Great instruction manual, pre marked and proper color and gauge wires, great price.

And above all, DO GOOD GROUNDING ALL OVER THE CAR!!!!! 99.99999999% of all electrical problems on hot rods are grounding issues.

 

I did the Kwik Wire 14-circuit kit on my Ford. The instruction book was quite good. I only had to get creative with a few things and figure them out. I kept notes on post-its and stapled them into the instruction book.

 

I've installed Kwik-Wire, Painless, American Autowire, and Speedway harnesses; but sometimes it's fun to make your own.

 

I like the colored wiring diagram. If I am going to follow a black and white diagram, I have to get out the colored pencils or markers, especially on the multipage ones.

 

Also, use Bosch relays on all high amp locations; headlights, radiator fans, fuel pump, A/C, etc. They are surprisingly inexpensive and save expensive switches. Get them with the plug and lead wires.



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074FSZWV...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

the first generation of wiring kits were o.k.-decent wire sizing and materials-but cutting costs stopped that and now most, if not all, of them are crap. Make it yourself from good wire if its a basic setup.

 

-- just be sure to use different color wires for different circuits - while installing use pieces of masking tape to print on where wires go to - take pictures with cell phone too to help later as to what wire went where

 

Ron Francis wire kit in my 40 has all you need AND the fuse block can be installed with an easy drop down feature so you can see the fuses/wires easier. Another feature I like is color code and circuit printing on the wires , great instructions and instructions on the phone if needed.
I also like the fact that the wires are run up to the fuse block and not permanently attached like some suppliers
Just my experience

 

That's especially the case with Fords like ours that don't even have a fuse panel and instead goes through the headlight switch. Eventually your electrical accessories overpower that single 30A fuse on the back of the headlight switch. You really do need to start from scratch.

 

Rebel wire 9+3 is what I used. Just called him and he tailored my kit to work with the components I was using on my RPU.
Great service and basically a custom wiring harness kit for a good price.
Great follow up and tech help afterwards too if you need it.