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Technical Is there an "Auto Wiring for Dummies-type" book out there?

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by banjorear, Jan 23, 2018.

  1. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,479

    banjorear
    Member

    With my AV8 project, this will be the first time wiring a car. Is there a Auto Wiring for Dummies-type" book out there or one that you would recommend?

    Thanks,
     
  2. JeffB2, Jalopy Joker, verno30 and 5 others like this.
  3. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,479

    banjorear
    Member

    Thanks, so much. I actually have a $25 coupon for Speedway. This will be a great use.
     
  4. Painless Wire...

    They make it very painless!
     
    Center of the Galaxie likes this.

  5. I'm in the process of installing a painless wiring kit right now. I've used other products and wired vehicles from scratch. Painless is indeed painless and a pleasure to work with. Instructions are very good regardless of your level of competence. I think if you have a basic understanding of vehicle electrical systems, it would be hard to go too far wrong with painless.
     
  6. fordrodsteven
    Joined: Apr 1, 2017
    Posts: 98

    fordrodsteven
    Member

    can also search for old magazine articles. There was also a series put out years ago. Maybe by popular hot rodding? They published books /magazines for "How to" do different things. There were books for wiring, painting, carbs, distributors, etc... You might be able to find something and download it to your computer and print out sections as you need it. I've ruined a few useful books out in the garage because of handling them when my hands were dirty, oily.
     
  7. jkski
    Joined: Jan 27, 2009
    Posts: 137

    jkski
    Member

    On the Hamb punch in search" wiring 101" the author is Crazy Steve,some very good info.
     
    Frank Carey likes this.
  8. The go -to guy on the hamb for anything related to wiring is The37Kid. Check with him. he LOVES wiring and does it as a pass time. He is the wiring guru.......:p
     
  9. kevinwalshe
    Joined: Apr 22, 2010
    Posts: 428

    kevinwalshe
    Member

    I used a kit from Rebel Wire. They are a HAMB alliance vendor, great to deal with and sell a premium product. Very easy to use. Just go one wire at a time and you'll be fine. Also, leave the wires long while you are mocking everything up. Wire stretchers don't work that well. ;)
     
  10. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,758

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Another vote for Rebel. Used their 9+3 kit on my '39 with no issues.
     
  11. Binger
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 1,734

    Binger
    Member
    from wyoming

  12. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Rebel Wire, hands down.
    Im an electrical dummy and I wired my truck headlight to taillight with their kit and had zero issues. Wires all marked where they go, plenty of wire to run it nicely and hide it all. Simple instructions and easy to follow.
    Not to mention being an alliance member and getting the HAMB discount!
     
  13. AndersF
    Joined: Feb 16, 2013
    Posts: 884

    AndersF
    Member

  14. teardrop
    Joined: Jan 13, 2018
    Posts: 18

    teardrop

    I found 'Automotive electrical Handbook' by Jim Horner very useful. It shows how to wire a car from scratch.
     
  15. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,479

    banjorear
    Member

    Thanks all. From scratch may be what I’m looking for. I don’t want to sound snobby, but I really want it to be period correct as it would be done in the ‘40’s. Doing a AV8 Roadster on a ‘32 frame. Using stock ‘32 horn rod/light switch set so you’ll be able to see a good deal of the wiring.
     
  16. 26hotrod
    Joined: Nov 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,151

    26hotrod
    Member
    from landis n c

    The RON FRANCES WIRING CATALOG helped me as much as any thing. Be sure to have all of the electrical grounds CLEAN........... This will help a lot..............
     
  17. Anderson
    Joined: Jan 27, 2003
    Posts: 7,155

    Anderson
    Member

    American Autowire has instructions online for all the lots they sell. They are pretty universal diagrams, I go to them a lot. The How To Wire book linked above has helped me through every wiring job I’ve ever had to do as well.
     
  18. TERPU
    Joined: Jan 2, 2004
    Posts: 2,372

    TERPU
    Member

    There's a lot of really great info out there on wiring. Here's a couple things that might help you. All of these learned through practical application and learning the hard way.

    Leave your wires long, start at the fuse box and whatever it takes leave them long until you terminate them.
    You rarely need more than 8 Circuits for most things we build. Sit down and plan it out. Fused Ignition, Starting Circuit, Lights, Brake Lights, Turn Signals (sometimes this is the same circuit), Heater, Wipers. Add from there but those are the basics.
    Ground from the Battery to the Frame Directly, then make sure both the Engine and Trans get ground straps to the frame
    Use good wire and the thickest gauge for the application. Cheap wire results in Gremlins later you don't want.

    And most of all take on one circuit at a time. It's Power to the point of use (Fused Ignition, Starting Circuit, Lights, Brake Lights, Turn Signals (sometimes this is the same circuit), Heater, Wipers) to the grounded point of use. Electricity is drawn to the grounded source of the circuit.

    You can do all this with a simple fuse block, but a wiring kit makes it a lot easier.

    It's like lightning it always runs to the path of least resistance and into the ground.

    Have fun!

    Tim
     
    INVISIBLEKID likes this.
  19. joee
    Joined: Oct 9, 2009
    Posts: 486

    joee
    Member

    what ever you go with don't try to out think the kit......follow the instructions.
     
  20. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,248

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Another vote for Rebel, doing it right now. Oh yeah, I like traditional too but like drinking and religion it's best in moderation. ;) Will it be acceptable? You tell me...
    IMG_20180120_151035702.jpg IMG_20180120_151055659.jpg
    Simple 8 circuit harness, lot of it will be covered, what little does show, well that's fine by me. Went 12V so I can get a rockin sound system in the mix. Good luck...
     
  21. One of the best tricks -
    Get some 3/8 rope and build a mock harness out of that in the car. The cheap paracord works well. Tape off and mark the splits, branches, hangers, fasteners, and such. You can add in 1/8 cord for the few single wires too. Route it the best way you want

    Remove the rope mock harnes and lay it out on a table. Duplicate the mock rope harness out of the wire harness.
     
  22. Pete
    Joined: Mar 8, 2001
    Posts: 4,748

    Pete
    Member


    Yes yes yes....iv had that book for over 15 years, it’s plain and simple easy to understand.
     
    JeffB2 likes this.
  23. Doing it this way makes it so easy your little sister could do it
    It's also the way the pros do it.
    Build the jig around the ropes. Add everything you marked, your mount points, pins to hold the wires and your sanity. Mount the fuse box and run the wires. Tape off the branches, install coverings too if you want.
    Make the final cuts, connections, crimps in on the car
    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
  24. Ralph Moore
    Joined: May 1, 2007
    Posts: 655

    Ralph Moore
    Member

    I went traditional, so I used a schematic off a 1947 Ford car. It had all the components(minus turn signals) that I needed. I added turn signals through parking light wiring in front and added a trailer module for rear(hidden in kick panel. Built my own fuse block, all wiring / connectors were from Rhode Island wiring. Modern wire with cloth covering. Looks correct, I did add a few more fuses[​IMG]. [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  25. Model A Gomez
    Joined: Aug 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,695

    Model A Gomez
    Member

    You could do like I did on my V8 A avatar, bought a roll of black wire and wired the whole car with it. I knew where it all went but sold the car years ago, bet someone has cussed me for that. I'm doing another flathead A and bought an EZ Wire kit for it, seems to be a good kit but has a lot of stuff I'm not going to use. It is set up for power windows, locks, ac, electric fan and a few other odds and ends. Hard to find a kit that isn't set up for all that anymore.
     

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