I am rewiring a 54 effie and have settled on an EZ kit after reading all the advice on the board. Couple of questions for the board experts

Do I need to also buy headlight crossover wiring (stock type) and headlight pigtails to accomodate the headlights?

My donor engine is a 302 with electronic ignition, any special concerns or additional requirements that I need to accomodate?

Is this a job better left for experts or can a novice reasonably expect success - just at a much slower pace?

thanks in advance for any help

wfish

 

Headlight connectors come new in the kit. It does help to buy their headlight switch, since they diagram it in the instructions....not necessary, but just makes life easier.

The electronic ignition can be grafted into your donor ign. wiring system relatively easily since eventually you'll end up with a key hot and a battery hot connection.

I did the stock ignition, but later changed to an MSD box, because I wanted to clean up the stock wiring in the engine compartment, plus MSD instructions have detailed instructions on splicing into stock electronic wiring, so it was simple.

 

Contact the EZ Wiring tech guys. They'll have the answers for all of it. They are very good about knowing what mistakes others have made.

 

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Wiring is not difficult if you take your time and don't get overwelmed by the number of wires you start with. Plan your routing in advance, drawing a plan drawing as to where you'll run the wires helps with that planning, then cut all the wire bundles apart and re bundle by which routing they'll take i.e. under dash, engine compartment, rear. Carefully remove any wires from the fuse block you won't be needing and put away for future additions, this is likely going to simplify things a lot unless you are adding a lot of accessories. EZ provides a horn relay but not a headlight relay, you can wire stock headlight without one but it won't hurt to add one with the stock lights and you'll be all ready to substitute quartz halogens by just swapping the bulbs. Try to keep as many wires bundled together as possible that will run together tieing them together with small zip ties or even string. Don't cut too short! leave some extra wire at each connection. Test everything. After you're done get some split corregated tubing in appropriate sizes to cover the bundles for a neat finished look. Add some clips to hold the bundles in place in straight lines and you're finished! You're now a re-wiring pro!!!

 

I like to use pieces of slit corrugated tubing it is easy to lay the wire in and keep everything the same length. The short pieces you need, can most likely be purchased at your local auto parts or farm supply store. If you wanted to use long pieces like 25 or 100 foot I would say try a place like www.digikey.com. Digikey is cheaper but you need to purchase the tube in volume from them.

 

Here's another welcome to FTE. This is a great place to share knowledge on these old trucks. It's the best resource around aside from the shop manual...

 

Hell Rob, This place is better than the shop manual.. WE can and will tell you how to cootie-bob and that isn't covered in any manual that I know of. This is the greatest collection of geeks, motorhead, losers, dweebs, loafers and dam serious restorers and rodders. If they can think of it, somebody here has done it and probably more than once.

 

wfish,
I am facing the same issue and have decided on the EZ-wiring 21 circuit harness. In my research I stumbled upon this link
http://www.alanhorvath.com/54chevy/ezwire_day1.php
I know, I know, it deals with a truck from the other side of the fence but and old truck geeek is an old truck geek no matter what brand he fiddle with. Anyway, he details his installation in a '54 Chevy and provides some good advice.

Welcome to the board, 55bubba is right, this place is great! Full of very friendly and knowledgeable folks that are willing to help out. I've recieved tons of great advice and tips.

Bobby

 

That Alan Horvath is a great link! Thanks for posting it. Never saw it before.

 

Wfish, welcome to the forum, I recently installed the EZWIRE kit in my 51 F1, It worked out well for me. I have a wiring diagram from a Rod & Custom magazine printed in 1973. Its generic but I still refer to it on all my wiring projects. If you would like me to e-mail you a copy just click on my user name and select send a e-mail message. Then send me your e-mail address, otherwise it will be deleted.

Rod

 

Thanks for all the great advice. The link was great also. I tried to email you 51 for the diagram you offered, but I need a few more days on the board before the system will let me. I'll try again in a few days.

Thanks again.

wfish

 

wfish,
The board won't let you post an email addy. You have to get creative about it and post it like this

truckgeek (at) wherever (dot) com
truckgeek_wherever_com

or other variations...it can usually be figured out

Good luck
Bobby