Hey group, well the new suspension looks and works great! I am having some problems with my wiring situation now, as when we pulled the front sheetmetal, alot of the wirings original braided coating was brittle and broke. I was wondering if anyone has a suggested wiring kit, if you did yours, was it simple enough.. etc. I have a good understanding of electricity,so I know what is involved. Just looking for a heads up. Thanks!
I just ordered a Ron Francis kit for my Victoria. I've used Ron Francis kits on two other cars and couldn't be more pleased. They are absolutely worth the money. They are not generic, but are designed specifically for your make, model and equipment. You tell them what equipment you're using, they make a kit that is compatible. Pretty cool. I will report on the new kit when I get it, although it may be a little while before I actually install it. I am not an electrical expert, but the directions which come with the Ron Francis kits are first cl***, as is their tech support. Yes, they cost more, but in my opinion you get what you pay for.
yeah...you gotta replace that stuff. I had a 54 Chevy pickup almost burn down due to that brittle cloth wiring shorting out. I got the fire put out, but not before it scorched my carpet and left burn marks on the paint on my dashboard.
You might also want to contact a fellow HAMB member:glenn33 His company is Rebel Wire,great prices and a lot of positive feedback from fellow HAMBers,and if you have a problem, just pick up the phone or send a pm,and they use 100% USA parts.
I agree with Jeff on this one . Give glenn33 a PM and he will help you with anything you run into with his wiring harness . Just think if the wiring broke that easily just think of what it is like under the dash ! Do it right the first time and rewire the entire car . Almost every kit made now is labeled every 6" on what it goes to BUT it's the service that you will need when you get stuck and Glenn33 is the man that will help you out anytime ! RetroJim
Definitely rewire it. When you do order the kit, make sure you get all you need. i have found that the headlights, the taillights, cross-over wires are separate. Also, get the rubber grommets, new better than dried out old ones. Also, do not take the turn signal wiring off until you find someone that has one, which I haven't yet.
I work for the Boeing company and build wire harnesses for F-15 fighter jets. Weird for me to order a wire harness for a car (believe me, I know). But I called Glenn33 tonight on my dinner break at work. Very nice guy. Ordered the 9+3 harness from him. Really great deal! You also get a discount for being a HAMBer!! Said it will get sent out tomorrow and I should have it within 5 days. Whole transaction took less than 5 mins. I've never rewired a car before, but with this kit I'm confident it will be easy. Good luck!
dragon....keep us posted on how it actually installs. I've used a couple different brands and have had mixed results.
Glad to hear you went with Glenn33 . He is one great guy and the kits are super too . He will help you out no matter what the problem is . Good luck and take your time . Also read the instruction real well ! RetroJim
Just got my harness via UPS today! Really excited! Quick shipping too. Hope it all fits in there like it should! I will update with the results later this weekend. Wish me luck!
Ok. So all the wires are routed. Havent terminated the second end yet. Easy to install though. Ran into a huge snag trying to get the motor in. I dont think the motor mounts I have are the correct ones. The engine is really ****eyed when we have to p***enger side motor mount in. Never been so frustrated with a car in my life.
Thanks, I'm tryin. I just found out yesterday too that the flywheel that came with the engine, doesnt even fit. So now I have to get a new one. Seems like one good step forward equals 20 horrible steps backwards.
Got my Rebel Wire kit in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Finally got to installing and it is super easy. I'm taking my time and doing it right, but I came into a snag wiring the stock turn signal lever. The original braided coating was practically non-existant, so I'm here looking at a 7 pin switch, scratching my head. I looked around and other people are having the same situations. Anyone figure it out?
The stock turn signal setup was not working for me so I replaced it with a universal chrome turn signal switch which also has the provision for safety flashers,it is also more friendly to use with aftermarket wiring.Up until 1955 turn signals were optional in some Fords so it was common to use these aftermarket switches.Speedway has them for about $25 and has a special of $6.99 shipping on anything up till Christmas.
I did a Ron Francis kit on my 53... It was so easy to do! It took me longer to take out the old stuff than it took to put the new kit in and get it going! After a complete removal and cleanup, I spent only 5 hours to have the kit completely installed and everything working.
That's good news, Geno! I'm also using a Ron Francis kit, but haven't got to it yet. Also, SlmLrd, I had not seen your last post when I returned your PM. Thanks for the diagram. I can work with that one. The ones in the manual and the other one I got online are far too complicated for me to figure out. This one, thank God, shows the connectors as they exit the main switch circuit board, which is essential to figuring out which one is which. Thank you, thank you, thank you. That's the "missing link" to getting this job done. < = happy guy X3!
dittos....I'll be using that diagram too. I'm trying to avoid using an aftermarket switch and want to retain the stock one on the column. I bought a wiring harness from HotRod Wires. I've talked to the guy that owns the company a few times and it looks like the kit will go in easy enough. Of course, actually installing it will tell the real story.
i recently got a 40 hour bid to rewire my 53 so......IF it gets done it will be by me. right now i am on hold with the car. we have a new baby on the way so I am thinking about selling it.
Go to www.ronfrancis.com for more information on the kits he offers. They are good, very good, but not cheap. They are a complete rewire which includes a change to 12 volt operation. They do offer more traditional kits which replace and update the original wiring while retaining 6-volt operation. Too much info to share here. Go to the website and see for yourself.
I cannot believe the overinflated prices Ron Francis charges,his turn signal swich is the same as the Signal-Stat unit I have(USA Made) I paid $27.95 he gets $69.95.Go to the main board and look up glenn33,his harnesses are 100% USA made of high quality material for half the price,there are tons of compliments on his product here on the HAMB and several other websites.With the bucks you could save you could get an Alliance membership and save even more and still have more bucks left in your wallet,and support a fellow HAMBer.
I've heard good things about the ronfrancis stuff, but it is expensive....over priced in my opinion. I can understand someone like Drake pricing their stuff high...I mean damn....they're the only game in town on some of their items. They've gone through considerable trouble to make high quality reproductions of some very needed pieces. But there are multiple high quality wiring kits available, and ron francis prices their stuff like they're the only player out there. And it's not just evident with the wiring itself. Some of the off the shelf parts that they outsource are priced WAY above the compe***ion who are using the exact same pieces. Now Painless kits on the other hand, I've heard multiple bad accounts about them and some shortcomings that make for a very difficult install. I wouldn't use them at any price.
I really recommend that you look at these guys. http://www.hotrodwires.com/ I talked, at length, to Bill Stanglin, the guy who owns the company, at the big fall swap meet in Conroe, TX. Not only was the guy just about the most helpful guy I've come across in a long time, but he has personally picked up the phone twice since then when I've called to get some help. His stuff is high quality and laid out so that a slightly trained monkey can work with it. I'm really close to installing the 18 circuit kit I bought from him and have started to mock it up in my office to see what I have, and after taking a close look at it, I'm sure I'll be able to pull this off with his kit. And that's saying a lot for me. I'm no electrician....not even close. I guess the cherry on top of the sundae for me was that his pricing was very good. I felt like I got a superb kit at a great price.
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