So I want to re-wire my car...
#1205552
03/29/12 12:58 AM
03/29/12 12:58 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Georgia
72440CUDA
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Georgia
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...for several reasons. 40 year old wiring that has been hacked, spliced, melted, yada-yada. It has a draw that will drian the battery over night. So I'm looking at my options for a replacement kit. Year One harnesses, American Autowire Classic update harness, Painless harness. I'm looking to bypass the stock ammeter and the AAW harness already does this. http://www.americanautowire.com/7074Cuda.html However, I'm runnung factory air, but this kit won't support factory air. I'm not sure if I could incorportate my original A/C wiring to work with it. I would also need to swap to a one wire altenator. This is more of universal blanket kit for e-bodys with factory connections. The Year One harnesses would be more of a factory restoration replacement. I would need to order each section separately. I would need to modify it to bypass the factory ammeter. I'm also running MSD ignition, some after market gages, and an updated stereo. So regardless, I would have to modify it. I'm not sure if it would be good to run a higher output alt. with this. The Painless seems like it would be the most work and it wouldn't come with factory style connectors. I'm leaning more towards the Classic update harness because my car isn't 100% stock. Any thoughts suggestions. 
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: 72440CUDA]
#1205553
03/29/12 01:47 AM
03/29/12 01:47 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 489
NE
bigtail
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 489
NE
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Everyone that I have read that has used the American Autowire swears by it. Way cheaper than yearone, and allows you to upgrade.
This page is made up completely of recycled electrons.
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: bigtail]
#1205554
03/30/12 12:51 AM
03/30/12 12:51 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Georgia
72440CUDA
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Georgia
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Cool, just ordered the AAW update harness from a supplier on e-bay. I should have it at the house just in time for when I get back. AAW looks to have excellent tech support/diagrams. I think the only thing I'll need to do is look for a 1-wire alt. 
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: abodyjoe]
#1205558
04/01/12 01:31 AM
04/01/12 01:31 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Georgia
72440CUDA
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Georgia
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Awesome. Thanks for the input. I'm looking at the Powermaster 140 amp 1 wire GM style alt. Might be overkill for now, but I might switch to electric fans later on. I'm already running electric fuel pump, A/C, MSD ignition, and stereo. This harness has wiring for stock heater and a power wire for "aftermarket A/C" but it isn't a direct plug and play for factory A/C. I guess there were too many different ways this wiring was ran between the years. I'm sure I'll be able to make something work. I hear you about the ignition harness. I have a new replacement that I had to cut and splice because the factory dash side connector was burnt. At least with this harness, I'll fininsh cutting the connector off, crimp new fittings and use a new connector. Sounds like I might be the first one here switching to the update harness. I'll be sure to share my experience here during the build. I can tell already this is going to snowball on me. I'm going to want to clean up my engine bay and hide wiring, MSD box, A/C and heater hoses, switch to all matching Autometer gauges... 
Last edited by 72440CUDA; 04/01/12 01:38 AM.
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: 72440CUDA]
#1205559
04/01/12 08:50 AM
04/01/12 08:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,084
Berlin, N.J.
abodyjoe
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,084
Berlin, N.J.
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Quote:
Awesome. Thanks for the input. I'm looking at the Powermaster 140 amp 1 wire GM style alt. Might be overkill for now, but I might switch to electric fans later on. I'm already running electric fuel pump, A/C, MSD ignition, and stereo.
This harness has wiring for stock heater and a power wire for "aftermarket A/C" but it isn't a direct plug and play for factory A/C. I guess there were too many different ways this wiring was ran between the years. I'm sure I'll be able to make something work.
I hear you about the ignition harness. I have a new replacement that I had to cut and splice because the factory dash side connector was burnt.
At least with this harness, I'll fininsh cutting the connector off, crimp new fittings and use a new connector.
Sounds like I might be the first one here switching to the update harness. I'll be sure to share my experience here during the build.
I can tell already this is going to snowball on me. I'm going to want to clean up my engine bay and hide wiring, MSD box, A/C and heater hoses, switch to all matching Autometer gauges...
may as well go with the big amp alt. the harness will handle it so why not. you'll be able to add anything you want down the road. lol.
i guess being a classic update they figure your gonna upgrade to a non-original a/c set up. either way it should be an easy wire job to get it to work.
keep us updated on how it goes. hopefully they will bring an entire line of mopar harnesses out. and call them and give them your feedback when your done. i know they will like to know how it goes either way.
the day i was picking up my kit we got to talking and they were saying they were thinking of putting out a line of classic updates for mopars. they were worried about selling enough of them. i told them to go for it. that enough guys are modifying their cars with modern motors that they should sell. they ended up being pretty impressed with mopar sales after the wiring article of my dart hit the shelves in automotive enthusiast magazine. guess it made the decision easier for them. i didn't think that many guys actually read that magazine. lol.
It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. www.MoparMisfits.com
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: abodyjoe]
#1205560
04/01/12 12:49 PM
04/01/12 12:49 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
wldtm
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
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i have installed a painless kit in a mopar, before it came out and i am currently finishing up a american autowire kit.
If you want more of a "factory" look then I would choose the american autowire.
I have not had too many complaints about either. The directions in the american autowire were not real user friendly, but I was also using a camaro kit in a firebird, so its not a real fair comparison.
the only thing i really did not like about the painless kit, is it did not retain the bulk head style connector, where it looks like american autowire will.
On both cars, the wiring was hidden inside the fender well and at the top of a core support.
I might have a small "issue" with the american autowire kit, but havent worked on it since i found it.
good luck
jm
Interested in having you car wired? Drag car, street car, EFI swap?
PM for details
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: ScottSmith_Harms]
#1205563
04/01/12 01:12 PM
04/01/12 01:12 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
wldtm
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
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Quote:
Question for all you guys.
What made you decide do you go with aftermarket/non original wiring when beautiful high quality reproductions are available which simply swaps out with your old factory wiring?
1) the painless kit was for a hemi dart, so it didnt need stuff like wipers/horns/some interior/exterior lights
2) the other gm car was a resto-mod. it has an ls2, so factory wasnt even a concer.
3)and from what i have seen, the other reason for a car not being restored to factory, cost would be the other reason.
Interested in having you car wired? Drag car, street car, EFI swap?
PM for details
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: wldtm]
#1205564
04/01/12 01:14 PM
04/01/12 01:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
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Quote:
1) MSD ignition
2) Non-Stock Coil Placement
3) Ability to route wires according to my choosing.
1. Ok, why can't you run MSD with a stock harness?
2. One or two wires modified warrants replacing the entire harness?
3. Like what/where for example?
Quote:
1) the painless kit was for a hemi dart, so it didnt need stuff like wipers/horns/some interior/exterior lights
2) the other gm car was a resto-mod. it has an ls2, so factory wasnt even a concer.
Ok, I get #1 and #2.
How much is the Painless kit as compared to the M&H harness?
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: ScottSmith_Harms]
#1205566
04/01/12 01:27 PM
04/01/12 01:27 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
wldtm
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
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the under dash harness from year one (probably a little overpriced) for an e body is about $550. add on front and rear lights, and thats 200-300$ more. add on engine harness and thats about 150-200$ the american autowire is 699$ for all of it. Again, restoration, probably wouldnt recommend the classic update kit from american autowire, but for a nice driver, street/strip, cruiser, not worried about originality I would consider it. I do like the factory look alot, but when you add on aftermarket radios, msd ignition, elec fuel pump, there is an accessory plug on american autowire kit, with extra fuse places for more accessories. 
Interested in having you car wired? Drag car, street car, EFI swap?
PM for details
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Re: So I want to re-wire my car...
[Re: ScottSmith_Harms]
#1205567
04/01/12 09:29 PM
04/01/12 09:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,084
Berlin, N.J.
abodyjoe
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,084
Berlin, N.J.
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Quote:
Question for all you guys.
What made you decide do you go with aftermarket/non original wiring when beautiful high quality reproductions are available which simply swaps out with your old factory wiring?
the highway 22 kit i got for under $400. its protected by a mega fuse, has circuits for just about anything i ever want to install. no amp gauge, can run a higher amp alt safely, more fuses with less on each fuse, doesn't use those glass fuses, built in relays and flashers, wires are not pre connected to the fuse box so i had the freedom to put the box anywhere and run the wires the way i wanted them. just a lot nicer set up then OEM in my opinion. for a stock resto the year one set up is fine. hell i have installed bits and pieces of M&H harnesses and they do fit and work nice on a stock car. i'm sure there are other reasons that didn't come to mind right away.
It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. www.MoparMisfits.com
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