Wiring Harnesses...looking for feedback
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Placitas, NM
Wiring Harnesses...looking for feedback
I'm getting close to the point of needing a wiring harness for the '55 build and wanted to know who has experiences (good or bad) with the harness manufacturers out there. My only experience has been with Painless from five years ago and was pleased with there tech support because I ended up needing a lot of it.
I've looked at Painless, EZwire, American Autowire, and Ron Francis. AA and RF seem to be the most expensive but wire from the device to the fuse block which is a great feature.
Let me know who's used which systems and what you think of them...Thanks
I've looked at Painless, EZwire, American Autowire, and Ron Francis. AA and RF seem to be the most expensive but wire from the device to the fuse block which is a great feature.
Let me know who's used which systems and what you think of them...Thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,622
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From: okla
I have used EZ wire and like it just fine, however I have also used a Ron Francis and it was far easier for me to do a really neat job. That said, I will use EZ wire or Haywire[used one previously also] next time just because they are much quicker and easier.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
Most of my experiences have been with Painless, and they are great. Easy to use, good instructions and great tech support.
Ron Francis is way too proud of his stuff, imho. He does build a quality product, but for the cost, he'd better. Reading through his literature, though, one gets the feeling he has a pretty high opinion of himself. The attitude always bugged me, personally.
While I have heard of American Autowire, I know nothing of their products.
A lot of guys have good things to say about EZ Wire, and their price definitely is right, especially compared to the others. I haven't used their stuff for a long, long time, clear back to when all their harnesses were run with black insulated wire. Sure, the circuits are labeled, but that won't help you much when troubleshooting or simply tracing through a large wrapped bundle in a dark, cramped space. They have since gone to colored wiring, and I would give them a try on an upcoming project.
Ron Francis is way too proud of his stuff, imho. He does build a quality product, but for the cost, he'd better. Reading through his literature, though, one gets the feeling he has a pretty high opinion of himself. The attitude always bugged me, personally.
While I have heard of American Autowire, I know nothing of their products.
A lot of guys have good things to say about EZ Wire, and their price definitely is right, especially compared to the others. I haven't used their stuff for a long, long time, clear back to when all their harnesses were run with black insulated wire. Sure, the circuits are labeled, but that won't help you much when troubleshooting or simply tracing through a large wrapped bundle in a dark, cramped space. They have since gone to colored wiring, and I would give them a try on an upcoming project.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: WEWAHITCHKA FL.
ezwiring was what i used also. It was ez just like the name said. I couldn't beleive everything worked. lol lol
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We used American Autowire on our '55 and I was quite pleased with it. I chose it originally because the fuse block was not pre-wired so I could wire in circuits as I needed them and not have a bunch of unused wire hanging from the fuse block while new systems got installed.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Pflugerville, tx
We used American Autowire on our '55 and I was quite pleased with it. I chose it originally because the fuse block was not pre-wired so I could wire in circuits as I needed them and not have a bunch of unused wire hanging from the fuse block while new systems got installed.
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Sam
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From: Pflugerville, tx
Sam
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From: concord nc
my girlfriends dad used ez wiring on his 53 f1. we had very little issues other than just a backwards wire here or there. very very pleased with the product other than the clown that installed it.
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Senior User
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From: Placitas, NM
More questions
Thanks for all the feed backs, keep them coming. So far, what I've gathered is Ron Francis and American Autowire wire from the device back to the fuse block so you only have to run the circuits you're actually going to use and you can make a cleaner install. No unused bunches of wires. I had that experience with Painless. EZwire seems to be the best bang for the buck and similar in design to Painless.
Two questions...
1. For you EZwire users, how did you handle the unused circuits, what did you do with the wires?
2. I intend to mount the fuse block behind the seat with my other electronics, anyone have experience with problems or pitfalls?
Two questions...
1. For you EZwire users, how did you handle the unused circuits, what did you do with the wires?
2. I intend to mount the fuse block behind the seat with my other electronics, anyone have experience with problems or pitfalls?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,622
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From: okla
The Ron Francis kit allows running each wire to the panel, this was much easier, for me, to route the wires neatly. I am not saying that would be true for everyone. The unused circuits in the EZ wire type harness I have simply rolled up tightly and stored in out of the way "pockets" to save for "someday". I have mounted all of my panels under the dash. I do have a friend with all his electronics behind his seat in a street rod with no problems.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Thanks for all the feed backs, keep them coming. So far, what I've gathered is Ron Francis and American Autowire wire from the device back to the fuse block so you only have to run the circuits you're actually going to use and you can make a cleaner install. No unused bunches of wires. I had that experience with Painless. EZwire seems to be the best bang for the buck and similar in design to Painless.
Two questions...
1. For you EZwire users, how did you handle the unused circuits, what did you do with the wires?
2. I intend to mount the fuse block behind the seat with my other electronics, anyone have experience with problems or pitfalls?
Two questions...
1. For you EZwire users, how did you handle the unused circuits, what did you do with the wires?
2. I intend to mount the fuse block behind the seat with my other electronics, anyone have experience with problems or pitfalls?
I mounted the fuseblock up to the left of the steering column, then ran the wire bundle down thru the top of the tranny cover, some back out over the engine and some under the floor to the chassis and forward and back.. I was short a few inches on a couple wires to the headlights with this routing.. everything else was long enough.
I also did direct wiring for the heavy loads to keep the drag off the fuse panel. (headlights, fans, fuel pump, airbag pump are all direct powered from the battery with relay control from the harness)
Sam