When did they stop using cloth covered wiring?

I'm trying to keep to the late '50s-early '60s time frame for my coupe. '61 283 SBC, F-100 drums, Mor-Drop axle etc etc. I've always loved cloth covered wiring, just not sure if it fits the time frame. So when did plastic covered start being used? I'm leaning more toward using cloth covered, just don't want it to look out of place.
Cheers,
Stewart.

 

I think it was around 1956, my 55 chrysler has cloth covered the 57 has plastic. If someone was building a rod in the late 50's they would of used one or the other or both.

 

53 Olds was cloth, 54 Buick was plastic.

 

Mike S has new cloth covered in his Willys. i will ask where he got it today.
Don

 

I've seen new rolls of it on FleaBay I think, they also use it in the motorcycle world a good bit since a lot of the time you can't hide all the wires.

 

I know where I can get it, I just need to know would it fit the time frame I aiming for.
Cheers,
Stewart.

 

In the 70's and early 80's I used to do a lot of wiring. On fleet vehicles. One of the customers liked the cloth, didnot like the new fangled plastic, thought better wear protection cause of plastic under the fabric, etc.
Anyway I was able to buy this stuff from GM, genuine Delco-Remy, until the early 80's.

I also used this on my own cars and still have some in stock.

I'd definitly use it on a 50's 60's car. At least on visible wiring.

 

go ahead , you will like it

 

For cloth-covered wire,google Antique Electronics Supply in Arizona

 

The wiring in a '55 Merc was plastic, not cloth.
However, I think the cloth wire looks nice, and really doesn't look "out of place" for late 50's early 60's. I ran plastic wire, but put it in cloth/asphalt loom (like The Hot Rod Company has) and has an early 60's feel to me.
Also, Ford in '65 was plastic wire wrapped in plastic to make the harness (rather than cloth), like an electrical tape, but I think it's specific for making harnesses.

 

Does anybody make a harness usig cloth wire? Or would I have to buy it all and make it my self?

 

I think it would look great, if it's a period rod, who's to say someone couldn't have used a cloth harness from a mid fifties car when they wired it, the harness wouldn't have been that old. It looks much better in cloth anyway.

 

i think socal had a wiring kit, but i could be wrong, i would build mine myself just cause it would be alot cheaper


cloth wire would be period correct IMHO

 

yep, in the day if someone built this car, they wouldn't have ordered from a catalog, they would have sourced from a junkyard, and used whatever was available, mid fifties cloth wire would have been like using new car wiring today. cheap and plentiful. as simple as a harness from those days would have been, it might have been able to be used nearly like it was

 

I never saw a hot rod harness built with fabric covered wire until the late 90s. Restorations sure but not hot rods. In the early 60s we scavenged wire and electrical components from parts cars. We taped up a bunch of the original wires and reused them. The harnesses were wrapped in black vinyl tape when they were done. I still have some mid 50s OEM ign. switches, fuse boxes and HL switches in case I ever build a car from that era again.

That being said... I'd use it. If nothing else, it shows the level of detail that you are willing to go to. A hotrodder could have bought that wire back then so don't fret it. If someone notices the wire they will want to look harder for the rest of the details. Most people won't notice but that's OK.

 

Same here.

I have never seen a rod with cloth wires all these years until "modern days" when people started trying to recreate an "old" look that may not have ever been, at least not in my times (mid 50's on).

If you ever saw cloth wiring on a rod back then it would almost have to be on a ratty car with black tape splices on it. (uh oh, ya think that may give some rat builders an idea?)

Maybe if you were trying to get an early 50's or earlier time period, good looking cloth wiring may work, but not very much later it all had vanished. If you were trying to get a 60's look it might not look "authentic".

Hell, who cares. I don't try to do accurate or authentic "period pieces" anyway. Make it look cool in your eyes and have fun with it.

 

I would like to have it in my A Build..But want a complete set up. A pre made harness that will get the job done.
anyone know who might be offering this? I know "chevies of the 40's offer , but they are vehicle specific..and expensive.

just looking for a hot rod basic..

 

Stewart, you know your just looking for an excuse to use the cloth cover stuff. Go ahead, you'll never regret it and if you do plastic it will always gnaw on you "wonder if I had" type of deal. Don't make me come down there and start beating on you.

Frank

 

I want to use cloth now I just have to find it???

 

Socal still sells the kit. It says simulated cloth? Does that mean its plastic made to look like cloth? The kit is 795.00 you would think it would be the real deal for that much.

 

Try looking at Mac's Antique Auto, macsautoparts.com

 

some of the old cloth wire covering looks and feels like asbestos to me, i could be wrong.

 

Check out the Rod and Custom websites tech section. They have an article their on a new harness that's made out of cloth covered wire. The So Cal one is nice, but expensive. Have'nt had any experience with either. My neighbors build lowriders and they use cloth covered wire exclusively. They're 30's and 40's cars though. Stuff looks really nice. If I did my 57 over again I'd use this.
Good Luck,
Seth

 

'55 Willys has cloth wiring factory. I would imagine most guys building a rod worked from the factory wiring in the car, unless they gutted it entirely. Most late '50s car wiring harnesses aren't that complicated to pull out and re-use either.

 

American Autowire sells cloth covered kits in various sizes. We used his regular kits for the modifieds for "Real Hot Rods". Mike, the owner is a real nice guy, and a pleasure to deal with.
Cheers,
Stewart.
P.S. I've decided to go with the cloth wire!!!!

 

Plastic covered spark plug wires w/ cloth on other stuff like voltage regulator, gauges etc. I love the look of the cloth stuff, first caught my eye on Don Orosco's restoration of the **** Flint roadster, with a flattie that has a kindof synthetic cloth spark wires

 

I talked to american autowire the make the one that So cal sells. That is the only one they sell with the cloth wire. I asked if they sold any other options withthe cloth wire and they said no.

 

Cloth covered wire does look Kool but I think it is a '30s-40s look.by the end of the '50 everybody had gone to plastic covered wire. If your looking for a late '50 early '60s look don't use cloth covered wire but do use gl*** fuses.

 

There's a recent thread about cloth shrinkwrap. Wrap your plastic wires, best of both worlds!

 

My 56 is plastic wires wrapped in cloth tape. The resistor wire for the coil is cloth, though. That might be a cheaper way to get the same look.