geauxbear
Forum Newbie
Posts: 33
Reg: 05-23-11
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 05-08-12 05:18 AM - Post#2223695
I have a 1964 impala ss and was thinking of updating the chassis wiring harness. It does not have the original 327 but a 350 in right now. Can anyone tell the advantages and disadvantages of updating? Also which company manufactures the best wiring harness, I have seen the painless wiring one in Classic Industries and also heard of another that is called EZ wiring. If anyone has used these please let me know what you liked or disliked about them. I would to hate to buy something that is not of quality or exteremely hard to install. Thanks in advance for your input. 
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Allan In NE
Contributor
Posts: 921
Reg: 12-27-11
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05-08-12 05:49 AM - Post#2223702
In response to geauxbear
Just my opinion, okay?
I've never understood why anyone would "buy" a wiring harness.
They are sooo darned easy to make and you can do it for almost nothing.
Just lay the old one out on your shop floor and go to work with wire, terminal ends and some black tape.
Allan
| Lifelong GM automatic transmission specialist |
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64 impala ss
Contributor
Posts: 172
Reg: 02-03-10
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05-08-12 05:49 AM - Post#2223703
In response to geauxbear
I just recently completely rewired by 64 SS. I used American Auto Wire. Not only are they a sponsor here but Donny is frequently on this site to answer questions and provide help. You can get AAW kits through many of the Chevy suppliers catalogs or get it direct. To get direct just click their banner at the top of the site. I think AAW's prices might be slightly higher than some of the others but it was worth it to me. Tons of support and help was available and their kits were completely and totally factory exact replacments (if that is what you want). They also offer update kits if you want to add more electical items the car did not come with from the factory.
The best part of the kit I used is it was a "plug and play" type kit. All connections, plugs, sockets, everything was done. I just removed the old, put in the new.
Dale
Edited by 64 impala ss on 05-08-12 05:52 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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kingkreeton
Contributor
Posts: 474
Loc: Wilmington NC
Reg: 04-15-11
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05-08-12 06:10 AM - Post#2223709
In response to 64 impala ss
X2 on American Autowire. Plug and play and excellent tech support.
BTW: You can get AAW products from other vendors (AAW) cheaper than buying from AAW's website. Unfortunately I found that out the hard way after I purchased most of my harnesses through AAW. While on the phone with their tech support, the AAW rep asked why I wasn't replacing everything at once. I told him the prices were a little high and I could only afford to do a little at a time. He actually told me to check Rock Auto prices for AAW's product. I did and the savings is worth it for sure. Do yourself a favor, buy AAW products.
Shane
64 Impala SS: 350 4 speed |
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 Jim.Biron
"6th Year" Platinum Supporting Member
Posts: 2309
Age: 62
Loc: Saugerties, NY
Reg: 04-10-08
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05-08-12 07:04 AM - Post#2223725
In response to kingkreeton
X2 on American Autowire.
X3 on American Autowire
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 Kdurgin
"5th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1853
Age: 51
Loc: Maine
Reg: 10-28-07
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05-08-12 08:06 AM - Post#2223745
In response to Jim.Biron
X4 Donnie is top notch too.
62 Impala SS 383 Small Block, Tremec TKO 600, 3.70 gears. Black.
2011 Corvette Grand Sport dry sump 6 speed 436 H.P 2LT. Black.
1965 C-10 SWB BBW Fleetside Black.
2003 100th Anniversary Harley 2 tone Silver and Black Road King.
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skunk22
Senior Member
Posts: 472
Loc: Ripley, Tn. USA
Reg: 07-05-01
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05-08-12 12:13 PM - Post#2223817
In response to geauxbear
I have used American in the past with no problems. The last two Chevelles I reworked I used M&H without any problem. Both were plug and play. I hate trying to cut, crimp and tape wires so I never use the universal harnesses. I would recomend American or M&H not sure of the cost differences.
Skunk
Skunk's Den
1964 Impala Conv. LT-1
1966 Corvette 427
1969 Super Bee 440
2005 Mustang
1965 Mustang 2+2
1966 Chevelle
Always looking  |
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geauxbear
Forum Newbie
Posts: 33
Reg: 05-23-11
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05-08-12 01:46 PM - Post#2223836
In response to kingkreeton
Thanks for the info I will definitely check it out.
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geauxbear
Forum Newbie
Posts: 33
Reg: 05-23-11
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05-08-12 01:47 PM - Post#2223837
In response to skunk22
Thanks for info.
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doubleE
Valued Contributor
Posts: 3694
Loc: Eagan MN
Reg: 06-02-03
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05-08-12 05:33 PM - Post#2223928
In response to Allan In NE
Just my opinion, okay?
I've never understood why anyone would "buy" a wiring harness.
They are sooo darned easy to make and you can do it for almost nothing.
Just lay the old one out on your shop floor and go to work with wire, terminal ends and some black tape.
Allan
Allen, I hear what you are saying, I agree to a point. If you are handy in the electrical field and know how to solder correctly this is a do-able project. If one pays attention to the details and uses adequate size wire for the various circuits you can save a few bucks.
But if you are not proficient in these skills I would advise one to purchase ready made harnesses for the ease and safety.
One thing you don't want to and I did on a 55 Chevy 1/2 ton is to rebuild a harness using much of the original brittle wire. At the time no one was making replacement harnesses and money was really tight. I did not have any problems but I consider myself lucky looking back.
If you plan to take this on, what worked for me was to lay out the original harness (or what was left of it) on a sheet of 4x8 plywood. I used nails to hold the wires in place. Next I unwrapped the harness exposing all of the conductors. I replaced all suspect wires with proper gauge, soldered all splices/connections, and used heat-shrink tubing on each splice. Once this was completed I tested all circuits with a continuity tester. Last I wrapped it up using non adhesive tape as it was from the factory.
I reused the original connector hardware which involved some fancy soldering work. This is one area where the repo'd harness wins hands down using new factory type connector hardware.
There is another rout - going with non factory harnesses like Painless, Ron Francis, and others. These are not cheap but vary high quality.
Eric
| Proud owner of
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