I have never done a restoration on a car, but one thing that always gets me curious is the wiring. Is there anything simple out there. How do you guys do it? It just seems to me that there are a HUGE amount of wiring, in the dash and in the engine bay.
How do you know which wires to get, where they go etc? Do you keep the shop manual in hand? are there wiring sets available? It seems so overwhelming, because of the amount? I am just curious on the situation.
If you just can't get a manual, take lots and lots of pictures of wires plugged in to stuff, then tag them. Often just the length of a particular wire, or the shape it naturally wants to take will help you find its home.
But as Chris said, the factory manual is sure the easiest.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
I bought a wiring diagram off ebay, it's was in colour and then laminated so U can't get it dirty. Take it out to the shop with u with no problems. I took all my dash harness out and re wired the neccessary wires that were burnt or hacked up. Laid the harness out on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and cut it open. Tagged all wire end with function made it easier to reinstall the harness. Engine harnesses and taillamp harnesses are ususally cheap to by from a repo harness place like M&H wiring. Ususally around 120 bucks each for front and rear. Dash is expensive around 500 to 700 depending on car.
Old cars are easy, U should look at a new car, YUK.
-- Edited by Lemans64 on Thursday 22nd of April 2010 12:35:11 AM
My buddy used a painless system in his car, and you still need to know where the wires go....it's all nice and neet...but you still need to know where to feed them.
Just my two cents but I would use a Painless maybe if I was converting to injection and stuff like that. For an original car I would stick with an original harness.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Just my two cents but I would use a Painless maybe if I was converting to injection and stuff like that. For an original car I would stick with an original harness.
I think I would agree with Carl..
-- Edited by Rolilk on Thursday 22nd of April 2010 10:52:48 PM
Try American Autowire. Far better than Painless. Factory fit , connectors etc. Just finished my beaumont, used a chevelle kit, and almost every wire fit perfect.
(Just my two cents but I would use a Painless maybe if I was converting to injection and stuff like that.) For an original car I would stick with an original harness.
I think I would agree with Carl..
Lemans64 wrote:
I bought a wiring diagram off ebay, it's was in colour and then laminated so U can't get it dirty. Take it out to the shop with u with no problems. I took all my dash harness out and re wired the neccessary wires that were burnt or hacked up. Laid the harness out on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and cut it open. Tagged all wire end with function made it easier to reinstall the harness. Engine harnesses and taillamp harnesses are ususally cheap to by from a repo harness place like M&H wiring. Ususally around 120 bucks each for front and rear. Dash is expensive around 500 to 700 depending on car.
Old cars are easy, U should look at a new car, YUK.
beaumontwagon wrote:
You cant really do it without the shop manual or diagrams.They are all color coded as well so that makes it easier.
Well since you want to RESTORE it, a kit from some place like Painless would seem to be contraindicated. So I agree with all of the knowledgeable folks above, eh?
(sorry for taking the iberty to tweak the above e.g. bold print).
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
I used the 68 Chevelle SS American Auto Wire engine compartment and forward light harnesses on my Beaumont. It was a perfect fit. I've heard that the Painless kits aren't as painless as they lead you to believe. James
1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod