Now that it is warming up and I can actually spend some time in the barn with my 1951 F1 that I picked up in December, I went out and started making plans for what to work on next. Near the top of my to-do-list is re-wiring (the previous owners wiring behind the dash looks like a fire hazard). Does anyone have suggestions for where to get a good wiring harness?

 

Original or Modified.
Rebel Wiring ,Haywire, Ron Francis.
If original possible Carpenter ,Classic Haulers [Mid Fifty].
Depends on budget also. I'm sure other will reply also.

 

The previous owner switched out the flat head for a 289 with an automatic transmission. Aside from that I would like to keep it as original as I can. I hope to go back to the original gauges when I redo the wiring. I am open for suggestions as to what the best choice would be. As far as pricing goes I am willing to spend around $200-$300 if it's a good setup.

 

Not sure why you would want original cloth wiring and 6v positive ground system. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with 6 volt systems just harder to find parts. Aftermarket vendors such as Rebel, EZ etc. are most likely made for hotrod negative ground 12v systems. These systems work great and don't take away from the "LOOK" of your old truck.
If you still want to keep the original type harness it'll probably be over your $300.00 limit.

 

If you aren't darn close to stock (engine, alternator/generator, accessories) I'm not sure I see the point of buying anything resembling a stock harness. You'd be cutting and re-wiring from the get-go. The alternator is likely in a different place, needs a bigger wire, and almost surely has a regulator that is wired differently. With an alternator, and typical accessories, you'll probably want an actual fusebox instead of two circuit breakers. Not a whole lot left of that stock harness. The wiring to the headlights, tail lights, and a few other things would be nice to buy pre-made.

To use the stock gauges, you'll need to adapt the temp and oil pressure senders from the flathead to the 289.

 

I've got a rebelwire 9+3 harness in my 48, good quality,all wires are labeled individually,and came with good instructions.

 

The EZwiring 21 circuit harness is excellent choice and value, for something simpler (but not necessarily cheaper), Speedway motors has a 16 circuit harness.
IMHO any harness >200.00 is charging for advertising and exorbitant profit, not for wire.

 

I wanted to post anonymously but couldn't figure out how.....what does IMHO mean (I'm going to be really embarrassed right)?

 

IMHO in internet shortcut speak: In My Humble Opinion...

 

In My Humble Opinion. And don't worry about it. You never know until someone tells you.

Edit: Ax beat me by seconds.

 

And all this time I thought it was "In my honest opinion".

 

If you are new to the "lingo": Top 50 PopularText & Chat Acronyms & IM Shorthand - NetLingo The Internet Dictionary: Online Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Acronyms, Text Messaging, Smileys ;-)
Or you can ask any 8 year old with a cell phone. ROTFLMAO!

 

Thank you for your humility.

 

This is the internet. Everyone is always honest.