Any experience with riwire (Rhode Island Wire)?

[spitfire]

Hey everyone. My Chrysler has some pretty crummy wiring. Most of it's ok, but the wiring from the generator and the harness to the transmission for the fluid drive is pretty bad. I checked ynz, but there's no way that I can afford $1,000 plus in wiring. I found that Rhode Island wire can sell me harnesses for just the generator and the transmission for about $180 plus shipping.

Has anyone used them? My harnesses are all wrapped in pvc tape. Can they replicate this? Are the wires cloth covered?

Thanks again everyone,

Dan

[suntennis]

I used Rhode Island Wiring to do my entire car and am happy with what I got. Their prices are not low but they put out a nice product. If they do not have the wires for your car, you can send them yours and they will reproduce with the correct colors and length and size.

[james curl]

I rewired a 48 Ford coupe with one of their units. From under the dash, once I laid the wiring harness close to where it went it was apparent where each and every wire terminal went. Was the easiest wiring job that I have ever done. Took two days of easy work to install the whole unit from front to rear.

[martybose]

I rewired my entire car with several of their harnesses; very high quality! The wire is modern wire with a cloth wrap that matches the OEM wire. When I pointed out the missing wire to the left door pillar interior light switch they sent me everything to complete it, plus asked for measurements to add to their information. They were also receptive to building a special harness with modifications; mine came set up for turn signals and the headlight relay setup that I was using.

Marty

Edited May 3, 2011 by martybose
Capitalization error!

[Don Jordan]

I guess I'll kick in my 2 cents: I did my Plymouth front to rear. There was a problem with the tail light. I wrote to them, sent the wire and they had it in the mail in a couple of days. They get my vote.

[Gary Manes]

Both companies have quality products. For some reason Rhode Island makes smaller harnesses which can save you some money depending on your needs. However, if you go whole-hog they are pretty close in pricing.

I used YNZ, and sure enough had a problem with the transmission wiring from the inner fender to the carburetor--there was a wire missing. After several weeks of frustration the manager finally found an old copy of a factory wiring diragram showing the missing wire.

Turns out that they were using a 1947 harness as a template, and my car is a 1948 New Yorker club coupe. Apparently, in '48 this extra wire was added.

But, you will be happy with either company you use I am sure from a quality and service standpoint.

[plymouthasc]

I used YNZ and was very happy. They had many of the sockets and connectors that were exact duplicates of the originals. They returned the parts that were unique to my car. I replated and refurbished those parts and sent them back. When I got the finished harness, it was an exact duplicate of the original.

[RobertKB]

I used YNZ and was very happy. They had many of the sockets and connectors that were exact duplicates of the originals. They returned the parts that were unique to my car. I replated and refurbished those parts and sent them back. When I got the finished harness, it was an exact duplicate of the original.

Did you have them add the wiring for signal lights. I suppose that would take away from the originality of you restoration but it is a safety factory. I used YnZ when I did my '38 Chrysler and was very happy with their entire harness. They were missing the wire to the dome light switch but when I sent them my original I had a replacement very shortly. Very happy with them and have also heard good things about RIW.

[Tom Skinner]

RIWIRE also sells wire by the foot. It is like 33 cents a foot for 16 ga. I stripped my Harness down and re-wired it one at a time and saved a lot of money. This took much longer than buying their Harnesses though. Ask for Travis or Marsha. Super Nice People and Super Nice Service. They are - and their Wiring Products A No. 1. to deal with.

Tom Skinner

Huntersville, NC

[michael.warshaw]

Ynz all way talk to gene

[plymouthasc]

Did you have them add the wiring for signal lights. I suppose that would take away from the originality of you restoration but it is a safety factory. I used YnZ when I did my '38 Chrysler and was very happy with their entire harness. They were missing the wire to the dome light switch but when I sent them my original I had a replacement very shortly. Very happy with them and have also heard good things about RIW.

I opted not to add the turn signals. As you said, the point was to make the car original. I don't plan to drive it much. When I do drive it will be nice enough weather to stick my arm out the window.

I will let the next guy add turn signals if he wants.

BTW Your engine compartment looks great!

[RobertKB]

I opted not to add the turn signals. As you said, the point was to make the car original. I don't plan to drive it much. When I do drive it will be nice enough weather to stick my arm out the window.

I will let the next guy add turn signals if he wants.

BTW Your engine compartment looks great!

Thanks for the compliment. That picture was taken about 8 years ago and the car has been finished for 7 years. Quite a bit of dust and bug guts thrown up by the fan although I try to keep it relatively clean under the hood.

I did choose to add the turn signal lights as now-a-days most people have no clue about hand signals. I drive the car a fair bit and have put over 5,000 miles on it since completion. Not really a lot, compared to some, but enough city driving that I like the turn signals.

I am very interested in seeing your car completed. You are doing a great job! Not sure how you will not be able to drive it as that to me is the greatest pleasure.

[TodFitch]

I opted not to add the turn signals. As you said, the point was to make the car original. I don't plan to drive it much. When I do drive it will be nice enough weather to stick my arm out the window.

I will let the next guy add turn signals if he wants.

BTW Your engine compartment looks great!

I don't have turn signals either. I do find that a fair number of drivers wave back at me when I'm signaling a right hand turn. I guess they don't realize that I'm signaling....

Not so much a problem with left turn signaling as that is pretty obviously different.

[bobostski]

I had turn signal put in my 38 Dodge wiring. They use wire that was wrapped with stainless so if it was expose, it looks good and will holds up better in the weather. Looks like the wire that use to be used on phones in phone booths only a lot smaller gauge. I bought a turn signal switch for the steering column from them and they took out the plastic wire and replaced it with period correct cloth covered wires and then tied all the wires together using string binding like the rest of the wire harness had not plastic tape.

It’s a lot more comfortable driving at night knowing people know where you are going.

[spitfire]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the info. Robert, that engine is beautiful. You have done a good job. I think I will go with Rhode Island wire when the time comes (fairly soon). The Chrysler is my daily driver, so it won't ever be a 100 point show car. I just want it to look fairly original. I'm trying to get my Eldorado completely up to par for the summer so I will have something with air conditioning in the 105 degree days. I don't even know if the Chrysler will run cool enough in that kind of weather. It needs wiring too, well, after it caught fire in the college parking lot (hmm, wonder why I wanted something simple to work on?).

Dan