Wiring kits?

-
j par

j par

Well-hung Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
33,694
Reaction score
21,034
Location
Portland Oregon
I'm having a hard time understanding why people would pay so much money for a bunch of wires with a fuse box? I mean they will be putting a fuse box in there where the old one went? Then they'll have to run each wire to where it goes? Even if it is color coded you'll have to really travel that wire all the way to where they go so you can hook it up? At what point do you not just buy a $15 spool of wire and do this yourself? All I really see is someone taking a factory harness out and copying all the wires and lengths and colors that were ran? Really all I see is a $10 fuse box in a $15 roll of wire. I see these wiring kits and they're well over $500 and I always assume that includes installation easily!
 
j par said:
I'm having a hard time understanding why people would pay so much money for a bunch of wires with a fuse box? I mean they will be putting a fuse box in there where the old one went? Then they'll have to run each wire to where it goes? Even if it is color coded you'll have to really travel that wire all the way to where they go so you can hook it up? At what point do you not just buy a $15 spool of wire and do this yourself? All I really see is someone taking a factory harness out and copying all the wires and lengths and colors that were ran? Really all I see is a $10 fuse box in a $15 roll of wire. I see these wiring kits and they're well over $500 and I always assume that includes installation easily!
Click to expand...
I gave $ 130 for my E Z on ebay. Only thing was , it had all chevy ends on it. I either changed to new mopar, or used the good existing stuff, about half and half. I couldn`t force myself to pay that big of bucks for one .
 
The money is in the different colors of wires and the schematic you get with the kit. It takes time and a meticulous mindset to map out their own electrical diagram for the entire vehicle. If you don't already have a stockpile of wires in different colors and gauges, it would cost quite a bit purchase these. I couldn't imagine troubleshooting an electrical problem with all the wires the same color and gauge from a single spool of wire. To those with the time, skill, and just love for that sort of thing; I recommend going out and finding a newer vehicle at a junk yard and cut out the longest bundles of wire you can so you can have your colors and gauges. However, I do get your point on the insane prices of some of these wiring kits. I've heard of sets costing upwards of $1k because they made just for your model/year vehicle. Aside from maybe the one at the very top of that list, they don't even take the time to measure wire...that's too much time and work. All those kits are really "universal" when they are advertised as otherwise. Me, I purchased a RF kit for about 300 on sale. To me it was worth it because I had a set amount of time to finish the project and by having all the tedious work of diagrams etc. already done for me. But there's no way I'd pay upwards of 1k for a wiring harness lol
 
fishfly said:
The money is in the different colors of wires and the schematic you get with the kit. It takes time and a meticulous mindset to map out their own electrical diagram for the entire vehicle. If you don't already have a stockpile of wires in different colors and gauges, it would cost quite a bit purchase these. I couldn't imagine troubleshooting an electrical problem with all the wires the same color and gauge from a single spool of wire. To those with the time, skill, and just love for that sort of thing; I recommend going out and finding a newer vehicle at a junk yard and cut out the longest bundles of wire you can so you can have your colors and gauges. However, I do get your point on the insane prices of some of these wiring kits. I've heard of sets costing upwards of $1k because they made just for your model/year vehicle. Aside from maybe the one at the very top of that list, they don't even take the time to measure wire...that's too much time and work. All those kits are really "universal" when they are advertised as otherwise. Me, I purchased a RF kit for about 300 on sale. To me it was worth it because I had a set amount of time to finish the project and by having all the tedious work of diagrams etc. already done for me. But there's no way I'd pay upwards of 1k for a wiring harness lol
Click to expand...
It's one of these generic kits that I'm very much talking about also. You know you can buy different colors of wire for like just a few dollars per spool for each color? Those basic kits really just do the basic wiring and you usually have to run it all the way through to where it goes? Me personally I just took the whole dash out and everything put up on a bench so I can just stand there with my soldering iron and run new wires to the basic things. I'd have a hard time thinking I couldn't diagnose a problem with a wire that I soldered in to the fuse box ran and soldered an end on and plugged in? Course I ended up doing a custom deal with my own custom switches and stuff like that but putting it just back into a simple fuse box would have been just as easy, actually easier.
As far as the colored wiring schematics I just took the phone that I'm voice commanding in now and voice commanded 73 duster wiring schematics and then pushed images and bazinga! Then I went down to Office Depot and had the lady do the same thing on her computer and said can you print that out and she said no problem and I had it blown up and everything for under $2. So again it's an option for those who want to do it themselves. And of course for those who are counting numbers there's only like 27 or 29 wires that go into the engine compartment and that includes all the headlights and everything.
IMG_20180107_202636.jpg
IMG_20180302_110851.jpg

Don't let the spaghetti scare you! LOL
 
Well, J par, not everybody is as good with auto electrics as you and I and a few others. About 40 years ago, I did a frame off restoration on a 65 Corvette that had had a fire under the hood. I made my own wire harness with about $20 worth of connectors and about $20 worth of wire. Like you said, It isn't a problem. However I think very few would try it. Wiring scares most people. Funny thing is that if they knew how easy it was, they would not be afraid at all. Each item simply requires current, a ground and some type of a switch. Piece of cake or should I say spaghetti. LOL
 
yea I can't disagree with what's been said. A few bucks for a roll of wire is a good deal if the quality is there. I prefer TXL type wire. I failed to mention the kit not only saved me time, it's also good quality and there are some features I like...it also came with extras I needed anyway.. terminals, switches, fuse box, etc. One thing I learned from wiring a vehicle is there seems to be all these little situations or things that come up requiring me to make a purchase to remedy and I also have to stop what I'm doing-but I should prepare better. So there was a fraction of convenience there..but like I said...not enough for me to pay these insane prices. No, it's not that difficult. I'll admit that I had some reservations up to and shortly after I made those first cuts and began pulling all the wire out.
 
fishfly said:
yea I can't disagree with what's been said. A few bucks for a roll of wire is a good deal if the quality is there. I prefer TXL type wire. I failed to mention the kit not only saved me time, it's also good quality and there are some features I like...it also came with extras I needed anyway.. terminals, switches, fuse box, etc. One thing I learned from wiring a vehicle is there seems to be all these little situations or things that come up requiring me to make a purchase to remedy and I also have to stop what I'm doing-but I should prepare better. So there was a fraction of convenience there..but like I said...not enough for me to pay these insane prices. No, it's not that difficult. I'll admit that I had some reservations up to and shortly after I made those first cuts and began pulling all the wire out.
Click to expand...

LOL, pulling the wire was easy for me. Putting it back -not so much. My wiring job looked really neat, till I went fuel inj. and changed a few other things, now it almost as bad as factory . Well, not quite !
 
The Ron Francis 300 dollar one is actually a good deal. Each wire is printed label on the wire to where it goes and the directions they give you is very good almost trouble free. I think it’s not smart to just run red and black wires to everything. Good luck finding a problem down the road or the person cussing your butt out owning the car next.
 
dustyaman said:
The Ron Francis 300 dollar one is actually a good deal. Each wire is printed label on the wire to where it goes and the directions they give you is very good almost trouble free. I think it’s not smart to just run red and black wires to everything. Good luck finding a problem down the road or the person cussing your butt out owning the car next.
Click to expand...
My son and Grandson will own the car next and so on. I would think again I would have a hard time not knowing what's going on with my electrical wiring if I ran all 27 wires myself no matter what color they were. I would know what ran what and I can find one end of a wire with a simple continuity tester right?
 
Just right down where each color goes in a paper and stuck it in the glove box for later use
 
I agree with the restoration stuff. But Im doing an entire car with one of those hundred dollar universal kits off of ebay. I think I got my moneys worth. Considering what the fuse box and wiring goes for in a parts store. But I could be mistaken.
 
HankRearden said:
I agree with the restoration stuff. But Im doing an entire car with one of those hundred dollar universal kits off of ebay. I think I got my moneys worth. Considering what the fuse box and wiring goes for in a parts store. But I could be mistaken.
Click to expand...
Yes anything around $200 or less is doing pretty good considering all the parts and different grades of wire and colors. I'm just getting that these $700 Universal kits and things like that they're just way way overpriced.
 
They didn't figure out the world for you they just give you a diagram of a car that they made millions of. All 27? 29 wires?
9 to the headlights and horn, 8 or so to the starter/solenoid and such, and about 10 or so to the distributor/charging system heat and oil sensors and such.
 
Last edited:
I think I got a pretty good deal on my wiring kit. I swapped some parts I wasn't go to use anyway for a brand new Painless kit a friend of mine found in the trunk of a car he bought.
Win/win all around.
 
ocdart said:
I think I got a pretty good deal on my wiring kit. I swapped some parts I wasn't go to use anyway for a brand new Painless kit a friend of mine found in the trunk of a car he bought.
Win/win all around.
Click to expand...
Now you just hit my favorite price:thumbsup:!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
j par said:
Yes anything around $200 or less is doing pretty good considering all the parts and different grades of wire and colors. I'm just getting that these $700 Universal kits and things like that they're just way way overpriced.
Click to expand...

My old man used year one stuff. I personally think it is garbage. It seems to be made of machine and tool wire because it is very stiff. The fuse box is a bigger joke than the original. Terminals fall out of the bulkhead connector.
 
Ill tell you how much I agree with you when I get to the dash stuff. That may be daunting.
The universal harness doesn't have the exact wiper motor wiring but I can build that if I can find terminals for the connectors.
 
Price is relative. I have done partial harnesses and enjoyed doing them but with a 10 and 4 year old in the mix and almost no time to work on the car these days un-interrupted every 5 minutes, <$500 for a high-quality printed sleeve kit just works. I want this to be done once, done right, and drive the car as much as possible.

And I don't know about you but when I do get free time to work on the car it is also combined with time to drink some beers. And having printed wires and a neat kit is some added insurance for that scenario IMO.
 
seabee said:
Price is relative. I have done partial harnesses and enjoyed doing them but with a 10 and 4 year old in the mix and almost no time to work on the car these days un-interrupted every 5 minutes, <$500 for a high-quality printed sleeve kit just works. I want this to be done once, done right, and drive the car as much as possible.

And I don't know about you but when I do get free time to work on the car it is also combined with time to drink some beers. And having printed wires and a neat kit is some added insurance for that scenario IMO.
Click to expand...
Wiring diagrams and beer? LOL Now there's a combination! LOL
EDIT: I can appreciate a man who likes a challenge! LOL
 
Haven't quite got the hang of the "quote function yet as I was trying to respond to famous bob.
I tried to keep my original harness as intact as possible. I just remember making the cuts, pulling it all out and seeing laying in the floor of the garage thinking "there's no turning back now". Its a nice feeling having new wire, connectors and such from headlights to tail lights and knowing that if one takes care and patience to do it correctly, you've likely eliminated most/all the electrical problems that come up with the old original wiring at every connection point, the fuse box, elimination of bulkhead connector, etc. As was mentioned, some think they need an "exact replica" of the original either due to their aversion to wiring thinking they will get stuck or maybe they have a show car that needs to be all original or as close to it as possible. My approach was pretty much dead-on with what seabee said with regards to kids, beer, time, and "added insurance". Someone mentioned a wiper harness...I did need to make that. Used my leftover wire from the kit and had all my colors..easy peezy. I've done temporary restorations on a section of wire when I didn't have the time or just for a quick fix but unless you have a an original complete factory wiring that is in perfect condition I think it would still be subpar to the newer/less expensive kits...for one the circuitry is usually more simple - the layout/connections..and that is important to simplify trouble shooting but more importantly makes the components more independent of one another. Stabile and reliable. For those considering purchasing a kit...just do your research on the features for what you want. A very nice kit can be had for around 300 maybe 350 or even less as was mentioned.
 
I was trained in electronics in the Navy 37 years ago and kept doing that in the space program after. About 1997 my boss asked me to switch to electrical fab (cables mostly) to support the space station build. Lot of building harnesses on form boards since. One day I'm going to do one for my own car. Comparatively will be a piece of cake. But considering even cheap parts and labor I can see how the price gets up there for quality custom stuff. But with my background I won't pay it.
 
moparmandan said:
I was trained in electronics in the Navy 37 years ago and kept doing that in the space program after. About 1997 my boss asked me to switch to electrical fab (cables mostly) to support the space station build. Lot of building harnesses on form boards since. One day I'm going to do one for my own car. Comparatively will be a piece of cake. But considering even cheap parts and labor I can see how the price gets up there for quality custom stuff. But with my background I won't pay it.
Click to expand...
I think yellow rose has a space program but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the brownies that he makes! LOL
 
I bought about 1200 feet of 16g wire and rewired mine myself. I got rid of the bulkhead connectors and use this that I made

conector box.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top