Fuse panel
 

Does anyone know a source for a new OEM style fuse panel? My wiring is not in need of replacement but the fuse panel leaves a bit to be desired. I have the harness out and have removed all the tape to inspect the wires. I know complete harnesses are available with a new fuse block so someone makes them. Any information will be appreciated.

Re: Fuse panel
 

If you have gone to all the trouble of removing your harness and removing all the tape for inspection. You have a ton of work to do on the just the harness to get it ready to install. Now you are talking about replacing the fuse panel too? Going this route is just asking for trouble.

Your wiring is decades old. Do yourself a BIG favor and get a new harness. You'll not regret it.

Re: Fuse panel
 

You might contact M&H wiring. I believe they used to sell components separately.

Re: Fuse panel
 

They also will make a harness to satisfy your needs.

Re: Fuse panel
 

I hear what you're saying and respect your opinion but I guess I am old school. I get more satisfaction out of using, rebuilding or repairing the OEM stuff. The wiring firewall forward was hacked, spliced and undersize in some cases, so all will be replaced. The dash wiring on the other hand is in great condition with all good connections. It's a bit of work but not a nightmare to me it's worth the time and when it goes back in I know it will be as it should. The fuse panel is more for cosmetic reasons as it got some overspray when the previous owner painted the dash. Today with deep enough pockets you can build a complete truck from your keyboard and there is nothing wrong with that but it's not for me. Thank for your reply and input I do appreciate it.

Re: Fuse panel
 

Thank you for the information I checked their web catalog and did not see a listing for the fuse panel but I will call them to see if they sell them individually.

Re: Fuse panel
 

Thank you I have checked out their web site they do offer a good selection good to know about them

Re: Fuse panel
 

Good luck with your project.

Re: Fuse panel
 

Thanks, I'm sure I will need some before it drives out of my shop!

Re: Fuse panel
 

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You can actually remove the fuse holders separately and clean them up if you want. I used a dremel with a small round stone on one of mine and another I just bead blasted the whole block without taking it apart. Both worked good. I am like you. I will spend hours cleaning parts up just for the satisfaction. Nobody ever said I was too bright....:)

LockDoc

Re: Fuse panel
 

Hey Leon, Speaking of Bright didn't your dad call you Sun?:metal:

Re: Fuse panel
 

Thanks Loc-Doc for the support and information. I did take a Dremel to mine and was able to clean it up a bit. If I can't find one I will get at it some more. There are still many "old school guys and gals out there like you and I who would rather repair than replace just because we can. When I was 17 many many years ago I met a mechanic who became a mentor. There was nothing on a car or truck he couldn't rebuild. I learned a lot from him one thing was "don't replace it if you can fix it! A lot of replacement parts are nowhere the quality of OEM and don't fit like the originals.

Re: Fuse panel
 

I may still have the old one I replaced in my Burban out in the shop. I don't remember any problems with the housing but the fuse holders had more rust than I wanted to deal with on my daily driver. If you want I I can see if it is still usable? Here is a photo from when I removed it.
The rest of my under dash harness was looked like it had been a high school shop project so I replaced it, but the rest of the harnesses I have cleaned up and are still being used.

Re: Fuse panel
 

Yes if you could check it out I might be interested if I can't get a new one. The face of mine has a lot of over spray which covers the original markings and looks nasty! Thank you for your reply!

Re: Fuse panel
 

Yes, but I was pretty shady most of the time....:)

LockDoc

Re: Fuse panel
 

No problem. The stone I had came with one of my Dremel sets and was 3/16" dia.

LockDoc

Re: Fuse panel
 

I like fixing things also if possible. I just reinstalled my 68 fuse block after a good cleaning. I added the longer wiper wires to move the switch over to the passenger side of the cluster and added a NSS wiring, HEI and relays on the head lights. That should help on the wiring to last another 50 years I hope take the amp load off the whole system. :chevy:

Re: Fuse panel
 

Nice job! Looks a lot better. Did you remove the holders or clean them in place?

There is an amount of satisfaction fixing and restoring the original that I don't get replacing with a repro but sometimes you have no choice. My under the hood wiring all needed to be replaced, it was hacked so bad it couldn't be saved had to put it out of it's misery!

Re: Fuse panel
 

I cleaned it up in place with hand brush and small Dremel tool stones.:chevy:

Re: Fuse panel
 

I have one I have to do, plan on dunking it in some Evaporust and let it sit for about 3-5 days.

So far everything else I have done in this stuff has turned out well. Does not eat brass or stainless. Did not eat regular plastic.

Anyone know anything else on this???

Re: Fuse panel
 

Diluted CLR in a 5 gallon bucket does wonders to old crusty fuse blocks, harnesses and switches. I've taken the loom tape off and put a ziptie at junction points to keep them in the correct position for re-looming later. After a day soak clean up the terminals with a stainless steel dremel wheel. Its a tedious process. De-pin one wire terminal out of the connector at a time, clean, re install that way you dont get yur wyers crossed

Re: Fuse panel
 

I have decided to retain my fuse panel and clean it up as best I can. I have removed some of the single contacts but will clean the multiple ones in place. Thanks to all who replied to the original post and for their cleaning methods. "fix or restore' when possible!

Re: Fuse panel
 

That's how I like doing it.:chevy:

Re: Fuse panel
 

When you soak or spray any of it, it will take the markings off so be careful on that if it matters to you.I too got the dremel after mine and did some cleaning what a PITA but did help alot.

Re: Fuse panel
 

The markings are "easy" to remove. The lower half of my panel was covered with overspray and I knew removing it would remove the markings and it did. On the unpainted section I used alcohol and it cleaned up fairly well. Even without some of the original markings it looks a lot better than it did. I may try to type up stickers to replace but no sure I'm going to do that as it may look worse than without. I know what goes where and correct amperage so don't really need labels