Looking at my punch list of things I need and a wiring harness is coming up on the list soon. I have used kits from Haywire, Ron Francis but never from EZ or Painless. I am looking for a small panel and preferably one that the wires exit one end rather than coming out of the bottom. I have about 3"-3.5"in height where I am wanting to install this. I see a huge difference in prices. What gives? Are you just paying for the advertising? Thanks Root
Root, there are a ton of threads,pro and con, on almost every wiring kit available. I have used them all and including making my own,in wiring kits you get what you pay for,,the cheaper kits have poor directions and you will have to outsource some of the components,but you can save money and if you know what you are doing they are a good bang for your buck. The more expensive kits ,ie Ron Francis & American Auto Wire supply you with everything you need,including clear directions,even my granddaughter could wire a car with one of these kits. HRP
I have read several posts that turned into cryfests, so it's hard to discern who really had a bad product and who should never wire a car.
I'm using American Autowire on my sedan make over going on now. Great product and like HRP said, you get what you pay for.
I hadn't thought about all the incidentals that might not come with the kit. That would drive the price down.
First I'll say I haven't used it and I make my own. But.... American autowire's kit looks pretty complete, and complete saves time. We all know that Saving time costs money someplace. If the included components are high quality and suit your needs I'd say its a good buy. But since I haven't had my hands on it I can't say personally. But based on other guys remarks I might give it a go myself.
I'll say this,I have used 2 American Auto wire kits on my Deuce pickup and the Ranch Wagon,yeah it cost a little more but as was said earlier,time is money. HRP
I like the looks of the AA kit. I am building a sliding tray to mount it on, that's why I lean towards the smaller fuse panels.
Typical wiring harness fabrication set up, layout and process if you wanted to do your own. Hot rods are so much simpler though. Same concept but much more involved, this one will keep you busy for a while.
For smaller stuff that doesn't have tons of power stuff and accessories, I stull LOVE the Hay Wire Pro-T kit. I do about three of them a year. They are complete down to the headlight plugs, and are made with a very nice, flexible grade of wire. The American Autowire kits I have used I haven't been as impressed with, and it seems I am always undoing every bundle in the kit to support the way I want things to run, rather than what they think I should do. I don' like the "stiffness" of the wires they build their product with either, they just never seem to lay where I want them to. I'm not even going to discuss Ron Francis, as his "customer service" will drive you nuts...
This is about the smallest and nicest fuse box I've found. It's 20 circuits & split so it's 10 switched and 10 constant. More than enough for any normal hot rod. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/neat-little-fuse-panel-for-your-hotrod.943364/
I've used Painless and RebelWire. Both provide good instructions and tech support. Rebel wire is made in the USA. Not sure about Painless. Painless' kit is more sleek, whereas is Rebel Wire is more DIY-looking, but at half the cost. Both are good products. Next vehicle I wire will probably use Rebel Wire because I like to support small companies, and they are a LOT less expensive than the big boys.
I'm familiar with the layout boards. We use them on our aircraft harnesses. I just have no interest in doing it myself. I prefer the kits that are pre-wired from the box. I actually hate wiring. I understand it, but you either love it or hate it. I am the latter. I do appreciate nice routing and clean installations. My tray is going to be 11" x 16" and it has a 4" tall x 12" wide opening it will recess into. It will make more sense when I post on the Tribute Truck update.
A quick update: I sent both Rebel and AA a request for dimensions. Both responded within 2 hours. Haywire also, via phone.
I bought the '40 coupe with an "EZ" wire kit already (?) installed, had to do it over as the crimping on the teminals were poorly done by the "craftsman" I traded my truck for. I re-did the wiring with crimped ends/solder/heat shrink and tied correctly and supported with adel clamps under the dash. The finished product looks & functions well. I have used a "Enos" black box where you supply your own wire and route as required, this way you can use quality grade USA manufactured wire and color code/or number as required. I was an aviation election in the Navy and did lots of repairs & replacements on cannon plugs & junction boxes so to me the wiring has to look good, be well routed and bundled with ties (I like waxed Flat Nylon Tie material but it takes a lot of extra time, Navy traning) You don't want shorts or poor connections, so get quality copper wire and good crimping tools and Lay out the wires before final installation.
I have this kit in my Chevy, Root. Handled everything I needed with just enough extra. http://www.affordablestreetrods.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=results/category_id=76/mode=cat/cat76.htm Tony
One more reason to recommend Haywire... Ken! Since late summer I have done three of his kits in customer cars, and since I posted earlier today, I had to run up and finally solve a problem that I have been chasing with one of his turn signal kits. I can call him up, he talks to me nicely, comes up with a solution and the world goes forward. Did that again today, great guy! Soooooo much better than most for customer service.
Painless is made in Ft. Worth, Texas. They host a NSRA Safety Day each year. We tour the building each year. I think American Auto is best for the money when doing their year model specific harness. Done several tri 5 Chevys. Rebel works great also.
Universal 20 circuit, small fuses and box, wires come out bottom to each side as you choose, cheap and comes with instructions. http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Circuit-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item20ed9a4561&vxp=mtr Bob http://www.bobsretrophobia.com/
I am not even close to replacing the harness on my truck, but this of interest for me. As I look at wires on airplanes, I look for the cleanliness of the job. If the job does not look good, it probably wasn't done right. So, do any of the kits have the wires coming out both ends, or just one end? If it comes out one end, the job will look much better. Sorry, to the OP if he thinks I am trying to hijack the thread. Those are just some of the thoughts that I have. Mark
I stock haywire harnesses at the shop and I have a 54 in the shop with a rebel harness in it at the shop if you want to look at them in person
Just installed a 20 circuit harness in my Chevy and have to say it was way easier than I would have imagined. Everything and I mean everything, all the plugs, fuses, terminals, switches etc were included. All wires are labeled every 6 in and long enough to reach every point in my car and then some. The schematics and instructions were right on and easy to follow and the best thing is the cost, $164.00. They are manufactured in house by Speedway. Will definitely us it again in my next project.
Hot Rod wires in texas is who I used. http://www.hotrodwires.com/12Circuit.html They also provide good customer service.
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