Rewiring Help Needed

alextank8 · Apr 9, 2011

Hey guys i have a 65 fastback that needs complete rewiring. Any ideas on which kit i should buy:

http://www.cjponyparts.com/painless-performance-complete-chassis-wiring-harness-14-circuit-1965-1966/p/WH6466/

http://www.cjponyparts.com/american-autowire-complete-wiring-harness-classic-update-kit-1965-1966/p/WHC6466/

Also should i rewire myself or pay someone to do it. Thanks

2+2GT · Apr 9, 2011

Unless you are building some Chip Foose-like modified, neither. Use the OEM stock-style wiring. All I see about those kits on forums is people having problems, having to modify them, etc. I have rewired entire cars with the stock OEM type wiring in a day. Think about it, it was designed to be installed on the assembly line in a few minutes for each piece. Even as a retrofit replacement job, it shouldn't take much more than an afternoon.

If you can change a tire, you can change this wiring yourself.

alextank8 · Apr 9, 2011

Do you know where i can find one for a 65, i looked and was only able to find a complete rewiring kit that fits a 67/68 fastback

2+2GT · Apr 9, 2011

Too easy. There were several for 65, the early 65 with 2-speed heater, later standard with 3-speed heater, and deluxe interior/GT with 5-gauge cluster.

You can find it all here:

http://www.mustangbarn.com/catalog.pdf

mustangmutt · Apr 9, 2011

If you buy factory replacement harnesses you have to build the harness piece by piece, or I should say section by section. Under dash, Headlight, Tail light, Fire wall to Engine, Alternator, etc etc etc. It will end up costing more than the aftermarket ones, but it will save a lot of time, and is easier to install by yourself. Unless you are very familiar with how circuits work and fundamentals of electricity, I wouldn't recommend installing an aftermarket kit no matter how easy they are advertised to be. Also, if a section of your wiring is still in good shape or was recently replaced you don't have to buy that section.

alextank8 · Apr 9, 2011

well the car im buying doesnt have any wiring in it. it was all ripped out by the previous owner so I just wanted to know the cheapest route as well as the easiest route.

2+2GT · Apr 9, 2011

alextank8 said:
well the car im buying doesnt have any wiring in it. it was all ripped out by the previous owner so I just wanted to know the cheapest route as well as the easiest route.

Cheapest and easiest are mutually exclusive. Pick one.

Actually, in this case easiest and best are the same.

alextank8 · Apr 9, 2011

cheapest

2+2GT · Apr 9, 2011

Good luck with that. The OEM wiring will cost about $80 more than the American Autowire, but the Autowire will be far more difficult to install. The Painless actually costs about $100 more than OEM, and is similarly difficult.

mustangmutt · Apr 9, 2011

I have no experience with the Amarican Autowire kit for Mustangs, but after reading the description on their website, it seems like a very well equipped kit. I have installed one of their universal kits in a 62' Chevy II and I liked it.

The Painless kit has a fuse box that I like better only because it is compact. But the labor to install the kit was not much easier then if I had just installed a universal kit which costs a lot less. So, to me it is not worth the expense.

This guy makes a real nice universal kit. It is high quality and it is inexpensive, if you don't mind GM color codes (most all universal kits are GM color coded)

ZZ-20 Wire Harness

This is not like wiring up a stereo. It is very labor intensive and technical. You must plan and design the harness to fit and rout it neatly. Universal kits typically supply the power circuits for all the switches, but not the harness from the switch to the component. IE: it gives you power to the wiper switch, but you have to build the harness from the switch to the motor. They also have some circuits you might not use, like for power windows or other accessories. Like 2+2 said, unless you're building some Chip Foose custom the original replacement harness is much easier to install. It is also less technical. I have made some good money repairing other peoples wiring nightmares because they tried to get by on the cheap only to get in over their heads installing a kit that was "easy". It's real easy to end up with a bowl of different colored spaghetti, or much worse, an electrical fire.

Bottom line, unless you are a skilled Automotive electrician and do the work yourself, there is no cheap way to re wire a car. If you buy the inexpensive universal kit and pay someone to install it will probably cost more than if you had bought the higher cost factory replacement harness and installed it yourself

ETEL64 · Apr 9, 2011

69 Mach I rewire

I went originally with a universal and I am real good with schematics. it was difficult just looking at the circuits to see how they tied in. cost was ~300. when I got closer to the install time I realized it was going to take a lot of trips and searching for factory connectors etc. a pandoras box was opened. then I looked into the AAW kit ~ 600. I am 50% done installing it and found it to be way easy. all the connectors are there and the instructuions are great. yeah there was the crimper that they dont advertise you need but they are rentable. good luck.

2+2GT · Apr 9, 2011

The OEM wiring needs no crimping at all. Just plug and play.

alextank8 · Apr 9, 2011

so which one would you guys say is the most dependable rather than easy to install, my dad is really good with electrical stuff, he rewired our whole house three years ago.

Az Pete · Apr 10, 2011

This guy has a good option.....send him your old under dash...he refurbishes them.....and low cost. Yes, I know him personally and have used several of his harnesses for under dash.

Welcome to Midlife Harness Restorations

2+2GT · Apr 10, 2011

alextank8 said:
so which one would you guys say is the most dependable rather than easy to install, my dad is really good with electrical stuff, he rewired our whole house three years ago.

Without a doubt, the OEM repro is the most dependable. The wire connection plugs are sealed in hard rubber blocks, something that's nearly impossible to do with a crimped-together system. My 66 was a daily driver from new until 1997, and the wiring is still perfect.

Az Pete said:
This guy has a good option.....send him your old under dash...he refurbishes them.....and low cost. Yes, I know him personally and have used several of his harnesses for under dash.

True, except in this case alextank8 has no wiring at all.

Az Pete · Apr 10, 2011

2+2GT said:
Without a doubt, the OEM repro is the most dependable. The wire connection plugs are sealed in hard rubber blocks, something that's nearly impossible to do with a crimped-together system. My 66 was a daily driver from new until 1997, and the wiring is still perfect.

True, except in this case alextank8 has no wiring at all.

He has them in stock most of the time....just pay a small core charge.....check his site.

mustangmutt · Apr 10, 2011

alextank8 said:
so which one would you guys say is the most dependable rather than easy to install, my dad is really good with electrical stuff, he rewired our whole house three years ago.

The OEM replacement is the most dependable. If your dad is capeable of re wirint the whole car, show him all the options we presented you with and let him determine which option he feels best using.

tx65coupe · Apr 12, 2011

I just finished installing basically a full chassis OE style reproduction wiring harness in mine. I would definitely go this route. Everything is the correct color that matches the repair manual as well as the correct length and pre-terminalized.

bocksta · Apr 12, 2011

If you have nothing in the car now you should go with the OEM replacement harness.
I have an aftermarket harness in my car an i had to use many of the OEM connectors to make it work, like the wiper switch ,ignition switch ,headlight switch.

88gt · Apr 12, 2011

I purchased the EZ2Wire zz20 kit for my '65 fastback...factory replacement underdash harness was on backorder for 3 weeks...zz20 was in stock and at my door in 3 days.
Plus, I get rid of those glass fuses and gain more circuits if I need them.
.
Install starting this weekend...

Rewiring Help Needed

alextank8

New Member

2+2GT

alextank8

New Member

2+2GT

mustangmutt

Member

alextank8

New Member

2+2GT

alextank8

New Member

2+2GT

mustangmutt

Member

ETEL64

Member

2+2GT

alextank8

New Member

Az Pete

2+2GT

Az Pete

mustangmutt

Member

tx65coupe

Active Member

bocksta

Member

88gt

Similar threads

Rewiring Help Needed

New Member

New Member

Member

New Member

New Member

Member

Member

New Member

Member

Active Member

Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency