new wiring harness

[chucky07]

While my engine is out of truck..I thought I'd like to install a new wiring harness as mine is freyed..brittle and horrible...

I've read of two places mentioned so far..YNZ's and RI wiring..

Have any of you guys ordered from one of these...or maybe someone else?

Any opinions of who's is better, easier to install etc..

I am somewhat leary of building my own harness because I've never done anything like this before and as far as crimping wires together..they never hold.hahahah..

thx

kevin

[Thunder II]

It should be SUPER easy to make your own harness. I haven't started mine yet, as my truck will have lots of extras, but a lot of guys here have made their own. As far as crimping..... Dont even think of it. As the circuit (sp?) is used, such as the lights being on, the wires heat up. When they cool down, they draw moisture into the wires. THATS what causes the corrosion, then ultimate failure of the circuit (sp? again). Solder all your connections, and use shrink tube. Where they meet, at junction blocks, use PLENTY of dielectric grease. Hold tight. I'm sure a bunch of other guys will jump in on this one.

[Bob_Koch]

If you want to try it yourself Allen and David have given us pretty good instructions on how to make the harness . Here's the link to the page on the DPETCA website:

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/wiring_harness/wiring.htm

[Guest 51plymouthod]

I got the one for my '51 Plymouth from Rhode Island Wiring & was pleased with the harness. I'd never wired a car before. Everything worked...and the end result, particularly under the hood where the wiring is visable is worth it. The original-style wires really sets off the under-hood area and gives the car a well-finished look.

[central52]

Hi, What is shrink tube, and how does one go about doing it? Ed P.

[Young Ed]

You put it over the wire before you solder the ends. Then move it back up to cover the joint and heat it. Its a plastic that will shrink about 50% in size and then makes a nice cover for your work. Check out harbor freight for it if you have one.

[TodFitch]

In the 1970s I used a harness from YnZ's. Fit perfectly worked great. In the 1990s a body shop cut it out "for me" (said you don't want that crappy old wiring). Did not know YnZ's was still in business so got another one from Harnesses Unlimited. That also fit perfectly and looks totally original. So in my book those are two good vendors.

I had a 57 VW Beetle that I rewired myself. A lot more work getting all the runs the right length, properly terminated then the runs of wires all neatly bundled up. However the price can be right, especially in my case where I was buying surplus wire from the salvage bin at work ($1 for all you took).

If you do it your self, then I'd recommend soldering each connection and using heat shrink. That was mentioned earlier in this thread and I really agree with it.

[Jim Shepard]

Mine is from YnZ's out of Redlands, California. It was pricey, but worked great. Fit is absolutely perfect. They use modern wire with the original cloth-looking and correctly color-coded fabric coverings. All ends are soldered and covered with heat-shrink. It really looks nice.

[chucky07]

well i called ynz today to get a quote on a wiring harness..

They quoted me an ungodly price of 650. 750 if i wanted them to wire it so i can use my tail and brake light as turn signal as well..(dont know how they do that)...and I'd have to buy their turn signal switch to make it work for another 100 and something....

OMG..I said that's alot..The guy on phone said have you bought tires lately (scratching head)...I don't see the correlation but ummm ok..I hung up on him cuz i felt kinda nervous at that point.

Anyways..I've decided to make my own..with all the good info here and the diagrams and all...How hard could it be..and I bet I save enough to do the disc brake thing on the front...

Anyone have a list of the exact ends and connectors I will need? I'd like to order everything at once..and some extras so I can practice soldering as I have never really soldered before..

Thx..

Kevin

[blohmiller]

Why don't you give Painless a call they sow some reasonable prices on the site

this one is $525 which for what you get seams pretty reasonable especially for all the work that goes it to them and they come with fuse blocks too

http://painlessperformance.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=10104

Bryan

[Jim Shepard]

I agree that it would be fairly simple to create your own wiring harness. In fact, after I got mine from YnZ's and saw how simple it was, I made one for my turn signals. Granted, I didn't have the cool-looking fabric covered wires (but I did color-code them using the leads from my turn signals) just like they did. I then carefully wrapped the whole setup in black electrical tape. It looks pretty nice...

[chucky07]

Just got off phone with R.I. Hmmmm i think their business must be very slow...he said to call back later..and it would take 4 to 8 weeks to get a harness..And wouldnt quote me a price. He said they laid off a bunch of people because of slow business...

So I guess I'll definately build my own harness now....

Anyone got a new used harness they want to sell....maybe from a project that you started and can't finish?

kevin

[PatS....]

Try Ron Francis Wireworks

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000278a~Z5Z5Z5AAAPM~P280.95~~~~S27R03VLEH68146115414x~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000278a

[Bill pilot99]

Made my own, take the old one out and label it and do one wire at a time.

solder and heat shink !

[Tony_Urwin]

I would have to agree that the least expensive option is to make your own. The original harness is pretty basic, and easy enough to copy.

However, if you are not committed to an original restoration, the 12V harnesses from Painless or Ron Francis will give you lots of fused circuits, flashers integrated into the fuse block, and wires that are labeled every 12 inches along their entire length.

I found an 18 fuse wiring kit from Painless on eBay. It cost me $275 including shipping, and it was a breeze to install.

[MBF]

I made my own, and where I couldn't match the factory colors I made notes of the changes in the wiring diagram of my service manual. Its not perfect, or quite as neat as one of the $650 harnesses, but it works, eliminates the fire hazard of the old cloth covered wires that in my case were bare in some places. Did it 1 wire at a time, and since I had previously converted the truck to 12v I was able to use slightly lighter guage wiring.(Doubling the voltage cuts the amperage by half!) Take your time, and if you do like I did-put some fuses in anthing other than the headlight circuits (that has a breaker attached to the switch). I also bypassed the ammeter and installed:rolleyes: a voltmeter. since I now have a fair amount of lights on the rack body, added a heater, and radio, and will be adding some other acc's too. Mike

[chucky07]

Well..I pulled my old harness out..and surprisingly enough i got it all out without tearing it up...I was gona make my own, and their is lots of good info here to do it..but I decided against it..

For one, i've never messed with electrical..(brakes and front ends only) heheeh..Secondly I really wanted the original look and reliability of a well made harness. After much research and phone calls..I was able to get ahold of Gene (owner of YNZ's yesterday's parts in Southern Cali...) He's a good salesman. After about 30 min on phone I was sold..so I ordered my harness. It even has the original cloth like the old one with the new updated wire, new turn signal switch, bulbs etc...Now My turn signals will be in with the parking lights..so I can remove the ugly big round ones on the tops of my fenders and the extra ones on the rear...(nice)...

[Jim Shepard]

I think you'll be pleased with it. As I said, I got mine from them and it's really nice. It went in very easily and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow.

[Plymouthy Adams]

maybe the guy from RI wire wanted to have time to contact his booking agent for him and the family's next crusie so he can quote you the RIGHT price..these tailored wiring kits are out of this world high...and ONLY necessary for the concours restorer..(IMHO)

[bob_amos]

Hi guys, I don't check in here often but do spend a lot of time over at the car side of GT's web site. I own an auto electric shop in Riverside, Ca. and have used YnZ's harnesses on a few vehicles. Gene is a great guy to deal with and is always available and very helpful. He will even modify a harness if you have a special need. When I have a vehicle that has a harness beyond saving and I don't have the time or materials to do it in house we always use YnZ. They fit perfectly and look exactly as they should.