Restoration - Rewire?

[martymart]

I have a complete stock (except front disc brakes) November 1970 FJ40 with 3 on the column. I am in the middle of a frame off restoration and debating if I should rewire the entire cruiser. The harness that I pulled out looks fine, but it is over 40 years old. I have very limited skill with electrical so this would be an undertaking. I am curious of others recommendation.

Thanks for your feedback

 

[Cruiserdrew]

One of the best things I ever did to my FJ40, was a complete re-wire with a new harness and modern fuses.

 

[Captn Conch]

For those of us electrically impaired it would indeed be a daunting undertaking. (Such as my brain warp from merely wiring in a GM alternator last week which turned out to be a simple no brainer.) My December 0f '70 built '71 40 has only had the front fenders, hood, bib and top removed, but I have found my wiring is still flexible and solid, the end point connections benefit from cleaning. I did install modern bladed fuse box. But if you got a frame off underway I would certainly take this opportunity to rewire. I bet you would regret not doing it later on down the road.

 

[bikersmurf]

I'm going to be contrary. I'd not rewire unless there are issues with the existing wiring. I would, however, unwrap the harness, check all the connections, replace any hardened wire, and clean all the plugs... and then rewrap it. If anything is questionable I'd contact @Coolerman about parts to and/or rebuilding your OEM harness. I wouldn't put an aftermarket harness into a frame off restoration.

I have an aftermarket Quick Wire harness I bought from a local cruiser owner who ended up parting out his 40 because he was unable to complete the rewire and get everything working right. In my case, my truck is so far from stock, that a stock harness would need to be highly modified to make it work (SBC, Off Road lights, Halogen backup lights, Sealed aftermarket turn signals, 120 amp alternator, Air Bags).

 

[mdsims]

I have a complete stock (except front disc brakes) November 1970 FJ40 with 3 on the column. I am in the middle of a frame off restoration and debating if I should rewire the entire cruiser. The harness that I pulled out looks fine, but it is over 40 years old. I have very limited skill with electrical so this would be an undertaking. I am curious of others recommendation.

Thanks for your feedback

My 40 is an 11/70 as well. Spring green. Here's a registry thread. Feel free to post your information over there.

40 Series Registry

 

[Tools R Us]

I have a complete stock ... frame off restoration ... The harness that I pulled out looks fine...

For a stock restoration I would dink the value pretty good for an aftermarket harness. If yours is in good condition why change it? Know of several early 40's that still run well on the original harness. For a wheeler, swap, etc, rig, then maybe replace the harness,,, maybe.

 

[jestlurnin]

@Coolerman is the man. Send him your harness and then install the masterpiece when he sends it back. Nothing worse than chasing down electrical gremlins....ask me how I know....

 

[David70FJ40]

+1 on the updated harness. The harness on my 40 built in 3/70 had been hacked up and I didn't trust it. I had a 12 circuit harness installed by a professional shop who made allowances for future additions and current needs and I like the results.

 

[Cleg]

If you get a replacement harness it is my understanding that they do not come complete with the Toyota connectors for plugging everything in.
You would still have the task of either removing the connectors from your old harness and marrying them to the new one and/or cutting & replacing the pigtails of the individual electrical components.
Either way, you will need to fully understand the wiring before you are finished.
Someone please correct me on this if I'm wrong.

If your old harness is in decent shape my vote is to rebuild and re-use it.
With the entire harness spread out on the floor, repair is not difficult, just a little tedious.

Set yourself up with a good soldering iron, new primary wire, an assortment of terminals, heat shrink tubing, good quality electrical tape and zip ties.
Strip off the wrapping and check, replace and solder and shrink sleeve any questionable element from one end to the other.

While you are at it you can stub in connections for a radio or future accessories.
I added some fuse holders, one by the battery to act as a fusable link.

 

[Youpicktokim]

My background is from Hot Rods, common place to do a re-wire.
Many aftermarket kits available-Painless, EZ wire, etc. which utilize the newer blade type fuses, and come in different amount of circuits, depending on your needs.
On my '39 Coupe and '40 PU I currently own, I installed these kits along with others (very easy installations), with wires being marked every 10" or so.
I'm considering doing one on my '64 FJ40, although I wanted to keep it relatively original (PO already converted to Delco Remy alt.).

 

[martymart]

I have a complete stock (except front disc brakes) November 1970 FJ40 with 3 on the column. I am in the middle of a frame off restoration and debating if I should rewire the entire cruiser. The harness that I pulled out looks fine, but it is over 40 years old. I have very limited skill with electrical so this would be an undertaking. I am curious of others recommendation.

Thanks for your feedback. There appears to be two different opinions spread fairly evenly. My intention is not to sell the FJ40. Because I fear my limited electrical knowledge, so I am leaning, but still undecided, towards laying out the harness on a piece of plywood, unwrap it, and go through each wire. If a terminal is falling apart or aged badly, I'll hit up Coolerman for terminals.

However, if someone re-wired an FJ40 and had zero knowledge as me, I would be interested in lessons learned.

Thanks

 

[martymart]

I have a complete stock (except front disc brakes) November 1970 FJ40 with 3 on the column. I am in the middle of a frame off restoration and debating if I should rewire the entire cruiser. The harness that I pulled out looks fine, but it is over 40 years old. I have very limited skill with electrical so this would be an undertaking. I am curious of others recommendation.

Thanks for your feedback. There appears to be two different opinions spread fairly evenly. My intention is not to sell the FJ40. Because I fear my limited electrical knowledge, so I am leaning, but still undecided, towards laying out the harness on a piece of plywood, unwrap it, and go through each wire. If a terminal is falling apart or aged badly, I'll hit up Coolerman for terminals.

However, if someone re-wired an FJ40 and had zero knowledge as me, I would be interested in lessons learned.

Thanks

 

[Coolerman]

Another option is to have me build you a brand new OEM harness. As an option I can even use a modern 6 circuit blade style fuse block that fits the stock location. I don't know how the value of a Cruiser with one of my OEM harnesses would be affected, but I bet it would add value, not detract from it like an aftermarket harness. I use better wire (GXL type, better temp ratings and gas/oil resistant), all new connectors and terminals and wrap it in non-adhesive harness tape so no sticky mess in 5 years. Absolutely plug and play into your FJ40.

It will also match the factory schematic perfectly, allowing for easy troubleshooting should the need arise. That's something that the aftermarket harness doesn't offer...

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I used a lot of Coolerman parts when I rewired mine. Had his option of him building a new harness been available, I would have done that.

The one bad thing about an aftermarket harness is that the fuse block has to be relocated. It sounds like @Coolerman has solved that.

But there's nothing like clean electrical. Everything works, all the connections are new and good, easy trouble shooting with marked wires, really highly recommended.

 

[thebigredrocker]

I was going to suggest you fasten the harness to a 4'x8' plywood sheet and go through it. Then I saw an offer from Coolerman!! You will not be disappointed with a Coolerman harness. It will be FLAWLESS and a huge time saver. All the wire colors will match OEM schematics and his connectors will plug right in. He can even add some fancy stuff like a fog light circuit. I lucked out and got a 71 harness he built. I'm still grinning ear to ear.

 

[martymart]

Another option is to have me build you a brand new OEM harness. As an option I can even use a modern 6 circuit blade style fuse block that fits the stock location. I don't know how the value of a Cruiser with one of my OEM harnesses would be affected, but I bet it would add value, not detract from it like an aftermarket harness. I use better wire (GXL type, better temp ratings and gas/oil resistant), all new connectors and terminals and wrap it in non-adhesive harness tape so no sticky mess in 5 years. Absolutely plug and play into your FJ40.

It will also match the factory schematic perfectly, allowing for easy troubleshooting should the need arise. That's something that the aftermarket harness doesn't offer...

Coolerman , I sent you a pm

 

[btbuild]

Hello
I see that this is a old post. I too am doing a restoration and am very interested in having coolerman build a new harness for me. Does any one know if he still offer this option.

Barrett

 

[DSRTRDR]

why not contact Coolerman(Mark) directly to find out ?

as someone who rewired my '72, I might offer some opinions:

- my harness was hacked up for trailer wiring, affecting ignition and starting to the point of unreliability, so we installed a Painless aftermarket harness

- would it have sufficed to repair just those few sections of the OEM wiring that were badly damaged ? - probably yes, in which case the total re-wire may have been overkill - but unless you have unlimited time and patience, chasing electrical problems in previously hacked-up wiring can be beyond exasperating . . .

- if you go for a complete re-wiring experience with an aftermarket (Painless or somesuch) kit, be prepared for having to re-create some connections those kits do not provide at all, particularly when using stock dash switches - you need to be creative in matching aftermarket (=switch-to-power Detroit/hotrod-thinking) with Toyota wiring (=switch-to-ground-to-conplete-circuit) philosophy

 

[btbuild]

why not contact him directly ?

as someone who rewired my '72, I might offer some opinions:

- my harness was hacked up for trailer wiring, affecting ignition and starting to the point of unreliability

- would it have sufficed to repair just a few sections of the OEM wiring ? - probably yes, so the total re-wore may have been overkill

- if you go for a complete re-wiring experience with an aftermarket (Painless or somesuch) kit, be prepared for having to re-create some connections this kit does not provide at all, particularly when using stock dash switches - you need to be creative in matching aftermarket (=switch-to-power Detroit/hotrod-thinking) with Toyota wiring (=switch-to-ground-to-conplete-circuit) philosophy

Thanks I have tried to pm him with no response. Was wondering if he was still doing harnesses. Yes I would prefer to send him my harness to look over and rework if the harness is decent in his opinion. I would like to upgrade the fuses though. I know, like you said my rear harness was pretty "hacked up"
I have to say the electrical is a big weakness for me. I have minimal experience with it.

Thanks
Barrett

 

[DSRTRDR]

to give perspective: I had 4 electrical problems (that stranded the truck) within the first 6 months on the original wiring - since re-wiring, I have had one blinker bulb blow, and the fuse for the ARB compressor, but not much else in more than 10 years since - and yeah, over the past few years, the left blinker indicator light bulb keeps falling out of the socket in the instrument panel, causing wonkiness