Ok, so at the moment i'm still cuttin out the rust(lots of it) in the 52 4door, then comes the roof chop. Right now, the NZ dollar to USA dollar conversion rate is the best it's ever gonna be, so I need to order my wiring harness sometime within the next month. It's either gonna be an EZ Wiring Harness or an American Autowire Harness. Can you guys give me your opinion on both of these kits, I know about the obvious price difference and am willing to pay if it is a better buy. If you've had experience with both, that would be even better. Thanks in advance.
Why not Rebel Wire? They're members here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211648&highlight=rebel+wire
Hi ive used the ez wire kit on 5 rods so far and I have been more than happy w/them especially for the price
How easy were the instructions to follow your first time around, did you have to guess at anything or are they really that simple to follow?
I used a Ron Francis set on my 51 and found it to be virtually flawless. It's probably one of the highest in cost, but the panel is awesome and tech support was great. just go with your gut!
The instructions for EZ are some of the worst I've seen... you have to kinda know what you're doing with automotive wiring to make them work. If you're pretty sharp with wiring, it's a good product. (They had some trouble in the past, but it seems they got their quality control issues resolved.) The American Autowire kit is definitely a much nicer kit. The instructions are some of the best in the industry, and their clamping system is rated as the least likely to ever work loose. No personal experience with them, but I've heard so much good about Rebel, though, that I'll probably be getting one of their kits for my Fleetline.
Rebel Wire, HAMB supporter and very personalble fellow and just a damn fine kit at an affordable price. should be 'nuff said.
I haven't used EZ or Rebel (I plan on Rebel for my next Project). I have used an American Autowire 'Highway 22' package. Good directions, color schematics, nice to be able to run the wires to the fuse box instead of the other way around. It's pricey but it has a key switch and other pieces with it.
EZ is just what it says its easy. the first time it was a little confusining wiring the blinkers in but just had to walk a way and take a little break and then get back after it. I wouldn't use anything else. easy mounting fuse block to any flat surface with 2 fasteners. Great directions and labeled wires
I used the EZ harness, having never done any real wiring on a car before, and found it pretty easy to follow and to do. (And everything still works!). However, I had a complete 1978 Impala parts car and I used all of the switches, sockets, plugs, etc, out of that. If you don't already have all your switches and sockets, you'll spend quite a bit buying all that stuff and would probably be better off with a more complete system at a higher initial price. Whatever you do, get one that has the wires labeled every few inches like the EZ kit - it makes life SO much easier!
American Autowire - for all the good reasons about them listed by others, plus they use heavier gauge wire with thicker insulation. If you have ever had an electrical fire you'll know that cheap is cheap for a reason. My business partner and hot rod buddy is an ex Development Engineer from the GM Proving Grounds in Arizona and does everything by the book - in fact he wrote a lot of the book. He used to prototype and make wiring harnesses at GM. We run a high end Electronic Fuel Injection development company and use their products frequently. We use their multi way bulkhead/firewall plugs for quick disconnect and their heavy duty cut out switches. If you ever want to pull the engine or lift the body off the disconnect plug is a Godsend.
I second the vote for the Ron Francis kit. I've used it in 5 different projects without a hitch in any of them. Wiring is one area not to go cheap in.
Ok, so it looks like the decision is now between American Autowire Highway15 and Rebel 9+3, i'll see how far I can twist glenn33's arm, haha....
Don't let the price of the Rebel Wire kits fool you, they're handmade in the USA and they're NICE...and Glenn's a great guy to be acquainted with...
i used e-z wiring in my roadster pu and like some body else said if you know something about wiring it helps no complaints just the volt meter moves when you put the turn signals on other than that no problems on the other hand I used ron france for my henry j and had no problems even called them to get the diagrahm for seperate turn signal stat and they walked me through the wiring in 10 minutes well worth the extra price and for the fuel injected 4.6 ford motor in it i used scott from the detail zone and in 2 days the car was running without any problem that was a scary exsperience and alot of wires but with 15000 miles and not one problem as for my next project my 30 sedan that rebel set up looks like the way to go
I haven't been to all the companies sites, but these guys have a panel that comes with all black wire that I'm getting. Anyone else have an all black wire kit? http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/keepitclean/product.l***o?prodinc=wiringpanelsystems
I have used EZ Wire in my last `57, and American Autowire in the one I am currently working on. I like both of them. Both are easy to install, though EZ Wire instructions are kind of sp****. If you have a good working knowledge of automotive electricity, it's easy though.I had mine cut to length and installed, everything working on my last one in about 10 hours. I am just starting this one, just took it out of the box, but it's pretty much the same, except for the aforementioned heavy gauge wire and better insulation. Can't see paying the extra premium for the painful kits...
I have used American auto wire, Painless, Ron Francis, and ONE ez wire, it was a bunch of ****. ez wire paperwork was so ****py, I used another company for their tech line and got it finished, Have wired more than a dozen cars in the past 18 months and will not use any more ez ****. Check wire quality on any kit, american auto, painless and ron francis use the good stuff, also what comes with the kits, what switches etc, one may seem more money, but if they give more product who wins? would like to find out about the Rebel kits, where would i locate any info?
PM glenn33 here on the HAMB for info on the Rebel Wire kits...hopefully I'll be installing mine in a few weeks, it's my first install, but the instructions from RW look easy, along with the printed markings on the wires...
I've used several American Autowire kits and they are excellent especially for the first time installer.The directions are terrific. I wired my sedan in less than a day and had a good time doing it. It's pricey compared to other kits but it's well worth it because you get all the extras(ignition,light and dimmer switch) and the wiring is of higher quality. If you value your time the higher cost is worth it. I put in a cheaper kit for my father-n-law and it was a big pain in the *** and took three times as long.He said it was still worth it because he still saved 150 bucks. Thats because my labor was free and he did'nt value my time.Now I don't value our time together that much
American Autowire Hwy 15..If I can do it anybody can..Nothing is hard wired in and the instructions and wire labeling was great.. Duane.
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