Wiring Nightmare

[RatBrawd]

Hi guys! Making slow progress on my 1962 "Bo". The wiring is a complete nightmare. I mean, there are at least 4 add on toggle and rocker switches, speakers hanging that appear to be from 1976, a huge add on tach, temp and oil gauges mounted under the 8 track player, multiple light bulb sockets....I don't even know where to start. Rip it all out and start fresh? Take the time to follow the wires? Also, do I try to make the original gauges function or consider like the Eastwood Blog I saw and replace the gauges in the original cluster with the aftermarket ones for a semi/original appearance? I can turn a wrench no problem but Wiring seems so complicated.

[Dhartley70]

I prefer to start from scratch with a whole new harness.

[racecougar]

Ditto.

[PGSigns]

My 65 was like that. Seemed like every wire in it had a butt splice. Then the wires that wire nuts on them were from another era. I just pulled it all out and put an AAW classic update harness in it. There have been several threads on this subject of late.
Jimmy

[franken]

To start, try checking what works, and what doesn't. Then, gently remove a nasty bit. If its legal, drive it for a week. Repeat. After a while it will get better, and you'll get more familiar w/ the wiring.
I've kept old wiring for a while, but it is old.
A rewire isn't that cheap or easy if you have to terminate wires. There are correct crimpers and incorrect crimpers.

Every electrical circuit is a path is from the battery + to the battery -. You can describe the dome light, starter, or cigarette lighter. Same path. Same current in and back in the circuit.

Test, follow the path for a device, disconnect one end, test again. If the result is different, reconnect ant test again. Back to normal? Device is controlled by that path.

Vehicle electrics are a pain because people change stuff, things rot, wiring gets old and heat makes it brittle. But guess what--my junk still works with old wiring. And I have all new harnesses in the closet waiting...

[Softpatch]

My favorite place into the build.!
start fresh .!
Even if some wiring works.... Because its unknown it suspect
meaning you don't know if its been overheated frayed or has bare spot that could ground out
this way you can up size the wire size in each circuit.
most wire circuits are marginal
Update fuses.
Renew connection.
Update all grounds.
Add extra custom circuit.....
(warning buzzer when you leave Lights on/key off )
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.
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[53lowdown]

+2 I agree with what Franken said. Start by testing / fixing just a few things. You may find that it's not as bad as you think. You may also find that it is worse. Either way, you'll have some experience under your belt and will know if you can tackle the full harness replacement job yourself.

Originally Posted by franken

To start, try checking what works, and what doesn't. Then, gently remove a nasty bit. If its legal, drive it for a week. Repeat. After a while it will get better, and you'll get more familiar w/ the wiring.
I've kept old wiring for a while, but it is old.
A rewire isn't that cheap or easy if you have to terminate wires. There are correct crimpers and incorrect crimpers.

Every electrical circuit is a path is from the battery + to the battery -. You can describe the dome light, starter, or cigarette lighter. Same path. Same current in and back in the circuit.

Test, follow the path for a device, disconnect one end, test again. If the result is different, reconnect ant test again. Back to normal? Device is controlled by that path.

Vehicle electrics are a pain because people change stuff, things rot, wiring gets old and heat makes it brittle. But guess what--my junk still works with old wiring. And I have all new harnesses in the closet waiting...

[Indian113]

I pulled All of my wiring out and started fresh. Not because I wanted too but because I had to. My wife and I were getting ready for a GG'S Show and checking to make sure everything was working. She held the Brake down while I was working on lights and Smoke Filled the Cab. I used the FAQ Section and completely rewired our Truck in one day. That was five years ago and No problems since. If you have a ? this Site has the Answer!