What painless kit should I use on my 68?

68stang351

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
850
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39
Savoy TX
Has anyone else done this before?
I was thinking about using the "universal non gm column" kit, but I think I'm going to have to modify it to work with my turn signal switch, and possibly my ignition switch. $310 for the 12 circuit, $328 for the 18 circuit.

Or maybe the 65-66 kit, but it's $500+, and I'm not sure what kind of modifications would be necessary for it to work in a 68. Like the guages and stuff.

I'm thinking probably the 18 circuit universal kit, has anyone put one of these even in a 65-66? I'm wondering about the column wiring modifications.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I put a Painless 12 circuit in my 65 last year.... Was not really that hard, just time consuming.... It all depends how nice you want it to look.... I took my time and hid everything I could.... I also modified the harness to include headlight relays... e.t.c....

Like you said hardest part was matching up the painless wiring diagram to the original column wiring for the turnsignals e.t.c....

Painless universals are set up for GM conectors... Buy a GM headlight dimmer for the floor and you wont have modify that....

Excellent product... Wiring all labled very easy to trace.... Just take your time and all will work out well....

Billy
 
Did just the engine compartment harness toast, or did the under dash toast as well?

Depending on your wiring skills there are a few roads you can go.
* If just the eng compartment harness toasted you can
a.) replace it with a new harness
b.) create a home made harness and run things like lights and horns off relays (this would lessen the load on the light switch and original main power feed)
* If everything toasted you can
a.) Wire the entire car from scratch
b.) Use a generic harness (GM based) and modify the pieces as need be
c.) Use the 65-66 Ford based harness and modify the pieces that don't match up to you car.

Having wired an entire car from scratch (1968 Dodge Charger R/T) and having done many electrical upgrades and modifications to many cars I will say this: If you want the least headache put a factory harness back in and add auxillary fuse block (I use the painless ones) and relays to handle the power hungry items. This will lessen the load on the original system and will be the quickest way to get her going again.

You can also have a company like Centech custom make you a harness
http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/muscle/k2040.shtml

Here are some links that also may be useful to you

http://www.centechwire.com/
http://www.ezwiring.com/
http://www.americanautowire.com/