wiring

[cwhubb]

After spending quality time under my dash, contorted, dislocated,twisted,and pinned under the dropped steering column wishing I knew a left handed armanian, just my opinion... I believe we car guys over look the state of the wiring when we judge the price of a car we want to buy. The state of the engine, body, interior and drive train certainly is the main factor in price but next time I'm going to ask about the condition of the cab side electrical system, I'll gladly pay a little extra for a correctly done job vs the can of worms that is usually found on a 40 plus year classic.
Just saying

 

[Jason69 RR]

here! here!

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Yep, I am still replacing / fixing things. Almost got it though. A whole new harness isn't that much now and would be well worth it. But I have non OEM parts like a one wire alt and MSD box so I would have to modify a brand new harness anyway to make it work.

So why not just fix the one I have and keep repairing / replacing as needed? That philosophy has been working for me to this point. All my electrics work too. It was a challenge to undo what the PO had done for sure but worth it as the majority of the OEM wiring was still useable in my case.

If I do a factory nut and bolt resto then it's a different story.

 

[cwhubb]

thats what I'm doing now repair replace

 

[sleepar]

A new harness is still only factory gauge wire... use an assortment of colored wires with a gauge or so bigger overall headlights to taillamps... 16 ga becomes 12ga and theoretically bump every thing up... the difference is noticeable and then the one wire alt and volt meter swap will improve over that... Dunn accessories off the battery direct with there own fuse and switch and relay each the less load the original wire or design the better.... I use heat shrink connectors and then I wrap in friction tape then loom that so I have virtually eliminated chafeing and corrosion for the future... boat/marine grade electrical supplies will out perform auto store grade quick fix it stuff.

 

[AMX364]

After replacing a harness in one car, I think on the next one might just take apart part of the harness and rebuild one at a time. Packard 57 connectors are very common in most cars.
edit: I like a bench to work on.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I call them stereo monkeys.

 

[451Mopar]

After messing with my '69 Coronets wiring, I just expect the wiring to be shot after 45-years. I cut into the dried out harness, and even in the protected center sections the wires inside were tarnished so bad they were almost black. I still use them for now, but I will likely rewire the entire car using a modern style fuse block (alot more circuits), and GXL or better wire.