1949 rewire- Most painless kit

[Coach529]

Henry's wiring is become a nightmare. Partial original wiring with stuff added on when I went to 12v, and then again when I added the SBC.

What is the most painless rewire kit? If there is such a thing.

Stock truck with electric wipers, stereo and amp, electric cooling fan, HEI and SBC.

Help me out......thanks!!

[57taskforce]

For my '57 I used the 21 fuse ez wire kit from here: http://www.ezwiring.com/wiring_harness.html. I've got 5 or 6 un used circuits for any later electrical additions that I choose to make(my truck is a lifted 4x4) ie. winch, offroad lights, on board air, etc. It took me a few weeks working a 3-4 hours a week to wire the whole truck. For the price you can't beat it in my opinion. The kit came with pretty good directions including wiring the alternator, starter, gauges, hei, steering column, etc. Each wire is printed with the wires location/ circuit and/or color coded to ensure easy installation. The fuse box also mounts easily with two bolts. The only downside to this kit was it doesn't have a "main plug" at the fire wall to allow easy detachment of under hood wiring from the cab. I used a bare plug with no wires inserted from a 72 c-10 and ran the wires to the plug on the inside firewall side, then did the same for the outside. This plug was nice because it bolts the two sides of the plug together for an easy secure fit.

[OrrieG]

I used the same one as 57. I ran my wires thru the lower cowl to frame to keep the firewall clean. I thought about a connection but I can pull everything except the radiator support without touching the wiring (headlights use the same stock connector at inner fender and I added connector for the park/signals). Had to call a couple of time with clarification questions and the owner answered the phone and had the answer. My build thread has lots of detail on prep and actual wiring. Other kits are more expensive and come with the ends terminated, etc. but I found except for the preterminated column wires and a few more I ended up shortening and terminating them myself. Might be an advantage on complete stock truck where you are doing a plug and play replacement, but for our franken-trucks the EZ works well.

[solidaxel]

E Z wire or Its-A-Snap on the last three trucks

[dwcsr]

American Auto wire is pretty much a plug in system. Every thing fits in the stock locations. Get the classic update kit and it will have all the upgrades you mentioned. If you want a price let me know

[tmoble]

AAW stuff is good. I used it on my 70 Chevelle and now I'm using an AAW update harness for my 57 truck, it's going together with and EFI engine and 4L60E trans among other things.

[Hogger54]

I gotta say, that when I told people I was wiring mine myself(after I told them I wasn't using a kit), they thought I was nuts. But it was actually pretty simple, and I know EXACTLY what is what, and where it goes. Turned out pretty clean too. I used the 4 wires in 1 bundle wire that I got from a car stereo shop for most of the long runs.

[Lo1dakota]

I went with a Rebel wiring harness. 9+3 easy peazy. Labels every 6" or so made in the USA

http://rebelwire.com

[ozzie50]

For the money a big fan of Speedways kit. A lot more connectors then the ez kit. And below 200.

[Daze57]

AAW All color coded and very easy to understand instructions .
excellent kit.................imho

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by daze57

aaw all color coded and very easy to understand instructions .
Excellent kit.................imho

x2.

[Coach529]

That AAW also looks to be the most expensive........

I do not mind paying for quality, but more than double than an EZ kit is hard to stomach.

[Sethmark]

I have the ez kit in my carburated 350. Electric fan and no ac. Clean and easy. NEVER worry about the electrics.

[Russell Ashley]

I was going to give EZ Wire another compliment, but if AAW makes a kit that is preconfigured for the exact setup that you have it might be worth paying more for it for the ease of installation and also for the time it will save.
I am very pleased with my EZ kit but it does take a little time to do it neatly as you do have to cut many of the wires and terminate them yourself.

[dwcsr]

Correct me if I'm wrong but EZ doesn't make a truck/year specific harness it looks like they make all generic kits. AAW is a year/truck specific and uses the stock routing, existing wire hooks and adds the extras for AC , fan, fuel pump. Alt, HEI , Tach ect. So it does cost a little more. It has a dash cluster kit for the year you need to make wiring the gauges much easier

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Correct me if I'm wrong but EZ doesn't make a truck/year specific harness it looks like they make all generic kits. AAW is a year/truck specific and uses the stock routing, existing wire hooks and adds the extras for AC , fan, fuel pump. Alt, HEI , Tach ect. So it does cost a little more. It has a dash cluster kit for the year you need to make wiring the gauges much easier

Very true...........but what is a kit from AAW? I thought I checked a price and it was $500. I can get a 12 circuit EZ for $170.

I am an electrician by trade......so terminating and routing is not an issue.

[Jordanwake]

isis power expensive but looks pretty cool

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Coach529

Very true...........but what is a kit from AAW? I thought I checked a price and it was $500. I can get a 12 circuit EZ for $170.

I am an electrician by trade......so terminating and routing is not an issue.

If your an electrician an AAW kit may not be for you. AAW is made for the guys that don't really feel comfortable with running their own circuits and figuring out what goes where and sourcing the parts. EZ is the aimed at the guy that can handle wiring well enough to get through it. EZ isn't going to have the cluster kit to make it easier to connect up the gauges. The only down side to AAW that I see on this 47-55 kit is the AMP gauge wiring isn't in the kit you do have to do that manually if you still want and actual amp gauge.

Its like anything else on these trucks, you pay according to your skill level and what your comfortable with. The AAW classic update kit 500467 from us is $495 shipped to the lower 48.

[Daze57]

i agree that it is pricey - but for the beginner or the seasoned vet on electrics - it is -again i m o - a very very well thought out kit that makes it not intimidating at all ,
if you can follow directions and follow the color codes - or read the imprint on the wire itself . you should be good to go,
i am not knockin; the EZ kit at all - i just felt for me AAW was the way to go .
and yes i saved a long time to get the kit but for me it was worth it .

[HotRod53]

this is just my 2 cents worth but there are a lot of good wiring harness in the salvage yards if you have the time to pull it yourself and mark it all. should give you all you need and then some. I am doing that for my 53

[Daze57]

^ cool

[DransportGarage]

My '55 sedan has the original wiring and it is very brittle. This car has been coddled since I got it in 1969, lived in L.A. for its first 15 years of its life and has 61,000 miles on it. The wiring is toast.

Actually, the wire insulation in my '93 Astro Van was cracking. I cut a lot of corners, but not on wiring. It may work for some, but I just don't recommend using boneyard harnesses. It's really embarrassing when your ride barbeques itself.

[57taskforce]

The only original wires in my truck are the ones running to the dome light because I didn't feel like running new ones. They are brittle and if the rest of my wiring were like the dome light wires it would be a carbeque waiting to happen. I'd suggest replacing it as stated above

[b.sharp]

I also went with a Rebel Wire because the guy is a HAMB vendor and all his stuff is made in the USA. Great guy to work with and You can reach them on the phone if you have any questions. He has branched out in the last couple years and has several vendors. As stated before all wires are labeled every 6" and makes things very easy to trace and plenty long to reach all locations. I think mine was $149 for the 9+3 circuit, but that was four years ago.

[55dude]

everyone should take the time to learn the workings of a VOM meter! i have been recycling oem harnesses for years. you should have fire extinguisher in your ride,i know my uncle was glad 5 people at car show did when fuel leak set his restored 57 chevy belair blazing! he got off with huge cleanup and hood repaint, car was a 5 year rotiserie resto-rod. hell of a way to make the paper!