Hello Everyone, I have read through all the previous posts and found the wiring harness diagram but nobody ever says where you can buy a new one. I found one at EZ wiring and wasn't sure if anybody has any feedback on them. If anybody has anywhere to buy one with detailed instructions the info would be greatly appreciated. I have a 1957 Ford F100 V8 312 Y block with just the basics: lights, dashboard, and basic engine parts. NO A/C, no radio, nothing fancy. I could also use a new instrument panel as well, my speedo and gas gauge do not work if anybody has a site or store. Regards, Keith
Wiring your '57 Ford pickup is not any different than wiring any other '50s vehicle. Whatever brand of wiring kit you buy, even though your truck has a simple electrical system with few accessories, buy a kit with more accessory circuits than you think you need. There is very little difference in the price of a kit with fewer circuits and one with more. It's better to have more circuits than you need than to need more circuits than you have, and it makes it easier if you want to add something later. There are many good brands of wiring kits on the market. The next one I buy will come from Rebel Wire because he's a HAMB sponsor and one of us. The problem with your gas gauge is more likely to be the sending unit than the gauge, NOS gauges are not too hard to find as Ford used the same ones for a bunch of years and models, likewise the sending unit. Late '50s and into the '60s Ford used 6v gauges with a voltage reducer in the gauge feed circuit, so bear that in mind if you use the stock gauges. As for your speedometer, make sure that it's the speedometer and not the cable that's bad. Disconnect the cable from the back of the speedo and drive it, see if the cable turns. If the speedo itself is bad, there are several vendors advertizing regularly in Hemmings who rebuild speedometers. United Speedometer Service in Atlanta did the one in my '55 Ford years ago.
If you're wanting to find a harness specifically for your vehicle, you're probably out of luck. You might do a google search to see if there's a restoration supplier for late 50's Ford trucks. That would be your best chance of finding a tailored harness. Most likely, you're going to have to get a universal harness. There are a number of good suppliers out there. You can do a search on HAMB for "wiring harness" and come up with LOTS of different threads about them. After searching, I chose the Rebel Wire 9+ 3. I haven't installed it yet, but looking at the instructions and the harness, I think I'm going to be quite pleased with the end result.
the one i am thinking about using is the speedway motors econany (spelled that wrong) i dont remember how many circuits it is about $130 and its already got the fan relay and everything else pre wired in blinker flashers everything is labled just need to run all the wires.. all the reviews said it was just as good as painless but more then half the price.
Excellent thanks everyone for your responses. I am pricing them now, I have never wired a car before but it is pretty much stock so shouldn't be too bad. Yes as far as the speedo, the teeth that go into the transmission is broken so i need to try and replace the cable and teeth. I will also look at the sending unit also for the gas gauge. You guys rock!! Thanks for all the help Keith
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