I am trying to hold off from going to the garage this morning. I seldom start a job I just don't like but my backs up against the wall. My later model Peekup was the factory stripped model. So as I have money and time available I hit the U-pull-it and get upgraded interior pieces. Now its time to install everything. I have pieces of several wiring looms that fit the individual components. Today I must start on entigrating them together. I am not looking forward to this. Does anybody else hate wiring besides me ?
I don't mind it at all, and actually get a slight bit of entertainment from some of the "electrical woe" posts on the board. I normally don't respond to them anymore because they seem to always end up having a lot of posts with conflicting information in them, and people willing to argue both sides of a point. Better to sit on the sidelines, glance at my electrical engineering degree hanging on the wall of my office, and maybe just grin a little bit.
I don't mind it either. I'm related to several EEs, but that doesn't keep me from being able to wire a car.
I find it to be the****utic, so I guess I am 1 percenter. Just go slowly, make solid connections and strive to keep it tidy. The right tools are a must, too.
I love the part where we make use of repaired worn parts ... regulators, relays, switches, etc. Most of the new parts sold today for replacement are not even close in quality or reliability.
Wiring is my thing. I can't do decent body work an can't weld worth a damn. I wire my cars from scratch with spools of wire. I've got a copy of How to Wire Your Street Rod and it's all I need. Just the diagram of GM column internal wiring justified the purchase price. It's from Dave Irwin, P.O. Box 644 Mustang OK 73064. Don't know if it's still in print. I've had mine a while. But it may not help you sort out pieces of factory harnesses.
When it comes to replacement parts , be careful of the gold that comes from across the pond. Some times it's a piece of dung out of the box.
I could have had it done in a week but I wanted everything to work. I'm farther along than what this photo shows... Honestly, I'm not digging' it.
my first was my '49 ford. got one of those peruvian wiring kits from jcwhitney. some wires too short. take care pulling the bundle that goes to the trunk. biggest headache was the wiring that went to the dimmer switch wound up right in the way of a large self-tapping screw that goes through the firewall. had a hell of a time figuring out why the circuit breaker kept tripping. getting the turn signal switch and brake switch in synch was another problem. having a service manual really helped, though.
Sounds like yours is just plug and play. I hope it goes well. Newer stuff can be a real headache if it wants to be.
Wiring causes me a bit of stress. I suppose because it's not my area of expertise. The payoff is when I get done and everything works. At that point it always seems like to a minor miracle has occurred. I never really get used to it. But maybe that's just me. I'm still amazed by the wonder of flight.
Gotta put on my game face and start on the wiring in my '59. The dash is out, instrument cluster cleaned of excess old wiring, everything is labeled. New windshield is going in first though and have to paint the dash as well. I have a decent kit and people around who like to do wiring.
I actually enjoy wiring generally. It allows me to exercise my brain and think problems though without having to bust my *** physically.
Chasing electrical dragons is just part of the deal. I had a 3 inch piece of wire that was up river from the one I had just replaced that was driving me nuts. The bundle of wires had fried. There was only one of three was hooked up so the OO just taped them all up together and it started and ran. I figured something was up when it smoked but didnt produce a gratifying amount of smoke.
Wiring is real fun for me while I am doing it. It is very frustrating when a problem shows up. Then it is rewarding after hours or months of working out a problem. I am no pro, electric is still a black art to me. I don't remember who it was but when I first joined a hamber gave me some great advice. Make sure you don't let the smoke get out of the wires.
Wiring is one of the favorite services I offer at my shop. I take the seat out! Make sure you have some kind of light that provides enough illumination and WILL NOT melt or burn things. Use bread ties to keep bundles of wire together as you add wires. Just wrap around the bundle, without twisting, makes them easier to add to. Keeping wires together makes the job easier and less of a mess for your mind to deal with. Another way to bundle is to cut a larger piece of shrink tubing to run between point A and B. Position it roughly where you want it to end up, run wires thru it, and shrink it after all circuits are in.
I am a 94%er. Even though I was in electronics in the military and worked with my dad in his TV repair shop, I have never enjoyed wiring.
Until I broke down and purchased a quality wiring kit instead of making my own I dreaded/hated it but that was just a part of building hot rods. I really don't mind it anymore. HRP
most of the time you need a good known ground work from there I run a ground to every item I run little more time and cost of extra wire.anyone who has chased a circuit or light whatever .that they know is good when testing before installing than pulling your hair out try to figure what the hell is wrong.someone mentioned letting the smoke out.that is a sure sign you fuked up somewhere and the fun starts.contrary to the belief a fuse is not necessary soon find what fire insurance is.now you have a smoldering wire problem and your insurance agent pointing out the fine print.but I guess you can console yourself on the money you saved on the fuses.NOT
I enjoy it. I've wired 5 cars from scratch and have done a lot of wiring on my OT Vette. Get a power probe. Fantastic tool.
one of those things that helps when you DIY because YOU know what you dun did. I wish I done my 57 myself. I did a few so far, so when I work on the car I know were stuff goes. It helps to know your system when you wire yourself. Always a learning experience as I have dome different brands and a couple motorcycles. If it were the same harley or ford over and over again, it would be a boring thing to to.
I love it, I'll be doing my '50 with a Painless EFI/Ch***is kit though just so its easier integration
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