Wiring Woes

[David70FJ40]

I would bet this has been discussed at length here but I will take a chance anyway.

The PO's have cut up the wiring to such a point that I can't make heads or tails out of much of anything left. Wires are cut and hanging, wires go no where and the colors have been covered with paint and bed liner. I am at a point where I will start to loose more hair unless I can find a solution.

Is there a stock wiring harness available? Is it a tough install? If the stock version isn't available is there a suitable harness that a novice can install? Last question, is there anyone here who has tackled this endeavor that would be willing to help?

 

[Roxx]

Painless has a kit.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

I have used painless, EZ, and another one I can not think of. The one I can not think of right now had the best tech support. I can figure out when I get back home who it is if you want. They actually custom built a harness for me this last truck.

Sent from my SM-G920V

 

[Rice]

I did something of a hybrid between a painless kit and the OEM harness but that was during the frame-off and when the entire body was stripped out. What I might suggest for your assembled rig is to install an extra fuse block (I put mine on passenger side inside the firewall) and run circuits only for what does not work or works poorly. If you get a fuse block I suggest one with the horn and hazard relays already in place and one that lets you pick which circuits you want constant hot and which you want ignition hot.

Example: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/prf-30001/overview/

 

[elkaholic]

I have used painless, EZ, and another one I can not think of. The one I can not think of right now had the best tech support. I can figure out when I get back home who it is if you want. They actually custom built a harness for me this last truck.

Sent from my SM-G920V

Centech harnesses maybe? I used one years ago. You tell them I am putting x engine in y truck and I want a whole harness. Send them some $$$$ and a few weeks later, you have a beautiful piece of work ...

 

[NCFJ]

I've not seen a Painless harness for the 40 but I've installed one on a 78 CJ7 and it was a piece of cake. Good equiptment, each wire had the circuit printed on it. Simple and so worth it to me. Old electrical can fast become a never ending chase of ghosts in the machine. Things like headlight wiring and horn wiring are big on the replacement list.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Centech harnesses maybe? I used one years ago. You tell them I am putting x engine in y truck and I want a whole harness. Send them some $$$$ and a few weeks later, you have a beautiful piece of work ...

Centech is them.

Sent from my SM-G920V

 

[FJinTegaCay]

Before ripping everything out and starting from scratch, you might want to consider the resources Coolerman offers. While his website might be lacking in design, it has a lot of great resources. @forrest5000 and I used wiring and connections purchased from him to get the LV's electrical sorted out and I'm glad we did.
Cruiser Wiring

 

[roadstr6]

I will echo what David says and add this...I am often amazed at the quality of the wire and insulation used on the old 40 series trucks. It may be covered in 3 coats of paint and look like it has been dragged down the road but every single time I have had to deal with wiring the wire itself and the insulation is pliable and can pass for new once I clean the gunk off with some acetone or MEK. The connectors don't fair as well though and often need to be replaced. Obviously if the wires have been hacked on and respliced alot, you may need to start over. I've rebuilt alot of these switches too, to avoid buying pricey replacements and they almost always work once you clean them up. It is time consuming but for me, time well spent in most cases.

 

[Trollhole]

There is nothing painless about a painless harness in a 40. Check and see if Coolerman still makes his harness's and spend the money and save yourself a whole lot of brain swelling. He makes 73-74 and down harnesses. A painless harness won't increase the value of your truck but Coolermans will.

 

[David70FJ40]

Spoke at length today with the hot rod shop that did the paint and body work. They suggested a brand of harness they install a lot. It will have 21 circuits with plenty of extras for future additions and changes at a much less cost than Painless or the other 4WD shops online. So I will take the 40 there on Thursday and have it back early next week.

Thank you very much for the help and advice.

 

[Trollhole]

I'm interested in seeing how much they charge.

 

[David70FJ40]

His labor rate is $35/hr plus parts. I found his charges are very fair as compared =to the work he has done. I have seen some of the other cars he has built and they are all show quality.