Technical How many hours would it take to wire a '32 Ford?

Too many factors to estimate labor time for wiring. Attention to detail and design will be the difference in a system that works and one that works well and is serviceable. The pics in post #73 with all the wiring in one color are probably not the best example of wiring.

 

I easily had over 50 hours into wiring my ‘58 from scratch, and it was pretty basic. I think using a pre-made kit would have shaved some time and saved a little money too.

 

I love questions like this.
How long does it take to build a bridge?
How long does it take to mow my lawn?
How long does it take paint to dry?

They all have the same answer.
It depends....

 

I have never found a premade kit that didn't require some or major modifications.

I have had a handful of people went the premade root call myself and my father to wire their cars because the kit "That had everything they needed" according to the tech line fell well short.

 

Exactly! They can be a good starting point . . . but as far as I'm concerned, that is about it. Now, if it is a wiring harness to replace an OEM harness (100% stock), that is a different deal altogether.

 

I can’t help wondering if when buying a kit, is it possible that they made a decision that ‘fell well short’.
Or maybe we just had better success.
I live out in the country, so to avoid trips to town for extra bits and pieces, I decided to go with the version that had the most accessories, ie, the biggest kit available.
The extra cost over the most basic kit wasn’t staggering, and although we wasted a lot, we were very pleased with it.
Only one component was missing and that was due to different indicator requirements in New Zealand, versus USA, which is the market the kit was made for.
Would do it again !

edit:
we used an American Autowire - Highway 22 kit- ie 22 circuit, although for my needs, I am sure that a 15 circuit one would have been adequate .

 

The question is open ended, as an answer depends on just what level of a job is desired and what is the level of completion of all the other build pieces. A hundred hours or two, can be quite reasonable. My cabriolet was done initially to get the car into a shakedown phase, before interior and paint. After a couple shakedown years, it was carefully removed and all loose ends labeled to make final installation a bit easier. For the last couple jobs, I made liberal use of fusible links and relays and always use 3 wire 10SI alternators and the Enos Black Box and Rebel kit supplied GM colored wire. I got an extra box or two when I learned they were quitting.

I never forget burning up the wiring of my father’s 56 Ford big window as a teen. For some reason I was smart enough to starve the fire of oxygen, so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I want my wiring jobs to be as safe as possible, and just go slow and methodical, one circuit at a time. That said, I know my wiring jobs take a long, long time, but I have never had a problem later on.

 

Our son sells Rebel Wire kits here in Australia and they make them specially for him to suit RH drive and with separate indicator circuits.
He supplied the kit and wired my latest 32-5 window and the time taken would have been similar to what most people here are quoting and he's a nurse by trade.

 

Thank you for all the replies! The amount of knowledge on the Hamb is incredible! I'm thinking of (or going to?) have a local guy do it who just works on 1 car at a time in his spare time. He does really nice work at fair prices. I'm more concerned about how long it's going to take him than the money. But he did say around $1800. He'll build the harness from scratch, he said that would be more sanitary. It's a glass car with no paint & no interior except aluminum bomber seats. Battery is in the trunk & shift light is a basic hot wire/ground/on-off switch/button on shift handle. It'a not a race car, it just burns off a lot . Gauges are in the dash & dash isn't removable. The power windows already have the wires going through the door into the car & don't need to be replaced. Dome light is battery powered. It does have a pertronix ignition in the Mallory distributor & an MSD box & a shift light if that matters. Thanks again! This gives me a rough idea of the time involved! Bill

 

Who cares just do it.....

 

I've wired all my cars myself. Sometimes used a complete wiring harness from a GM car with changes to it to work with the car being wired. I've scratched wired the simpler cars and my 34 was the first time I used an aftermarket kit...........EZ wiring. Sped things ups considerably.
I doubt I could scratch wire your car in less than 40 hours.

 

With all the parts ready to be installed and /or wired up, should take all day plus 3 6-packs of Michelob Ultra. That's how long it took Frank and LeeRoy to do my roadster.

 

Local guys that do wiring are talking $100 a circuit using a kit. I used the Tebel kit on a 54 Chevy and was very happy with the outcome. Usually use American when more circuits are required

 

The answer is, as long as it takes. Time and material. Pricing will vary.

 

I dunno... most of my effort was in the secondary wiring end of things, terminations at the head and tail lights and parking lights. Also anything under the dash and hood took a little thinking and drinking.

 

I rewired part of the 66 KW I bought after finding a large rats nest of old wires that went somewhere but really just no where. The crazy thing is KW used cream colored wires with a little aluminum numbered tags on them . A lot of the aluminum tags were missing. It took a few afternoons to get it done

 

This thread has lasted longer than any wiring job I have ever undertaken.

 

You're one of the lucky ones that can, not everyone has the same skills.

 

Or...I just get bored rather quickly and need to finish what I started before I buy something else and build that instead.

 

I got a painless kit. 1st time ever wiring a car. took about a week (after work hours). followed the instructions, anything i was confused about, I googled. Worked great. wasn't very hard. Time will depend on your level of detail. heat shrink, routing, etc. A huge advantage is now I know exactly where all my grounds are, routing etc. If I ever have an issue, I'll know exactly where to start looking.

 

Hey, 32
Since 1957 I have wired about 90 street rods. Most were loaded.
Back in the day, I would snag the harness from the donor car.
I use a Ron Francis kit.
I am a Master Electrician in 23 jurisdictions.
DO NOT, DO NOT try to scratch wire your '32.
Jim, bangin' on old cars since 1957
410 474 2244 cell, 410 535 1933, 410 535 1932

 

WHY ???

 

Personally, I won't use ANY off-the-shelf 'universal' harness kits as their shortcomings exceed their utility value IMO. Yes, building a harness from scratch is more work and will need some skull sweat, but the info is out there...
Wiring 101 | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

 

I had a customer bring in an old Jeep with wiring woes and he wanted me to look at it. Neatly done... but 110% done in GREEN wire. I told him I couldn't help him.

IF you opt to have one done from scratch, make sure you get a wire list with it. A simple from-to with wire gauges would be okay. With my harness kit, I still made a formal wire list in Excel with notes where applicable.

 

I use reputable pre-made harnesses.

With no interior present, the time-budget for a complete harness installation is one 8-hour shift.

 

Maybe the question should be how many beers will it take while rewiring

 

Less time then you have wasted asking how much time will it take

 

American auto wire, Painless, Ron Frances to name a few.
It's not rocket surgery.
Do your home work.
Brain surgery is easy if you've done it once or twice.

 

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