1954 Wiring Nightmare
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1954 Wiring Nightmare
Hello, I have a 1954 ford iam trying to fix up. My wiring is shot and i havent been able to find a wiring harness under approx. $600.00 and that is from JC Whit. Any suggestions about a good parts house would be appreciated.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
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From: Waynesville, OH
Welcome to the forum Red. 
We've got a great bunch of folks here and they'll provide a lot of info and some good-natured ribbing as well. When you get a chance, set up your gallery so we can see some pictures of your truck.
As far as wiring harnesses go, I can think of a few names off the top of my head. Ron Francis, Haywire, EZ-Wire, and Painless. I don't have experience with any of them, but we're sure to get some of the regulars by shortly for lots of opinions. Seems like Ron Francis is one of the best quality but may be on the pricey side. Hang around and see what the rest of the crew thinks.
We've got a great bunch of folks here and they'll provide a lot of info and some good-natured ribbing as well. When you get a chance, set up your gallery so we can see some pictures of your truck.As far as wiring harnesses go, I can think of a few names off the top of my head. Ron Francis, Haywire, EZ-Wire, and Painless. I don't have experience with any of them, but we're sure to get some of the regulars by shortly for lots of opinions. Seems like Ron Francis is one of the best quality but may be on the pricey side. Hang around and see what the rest of the crew thinks.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Welcome!
Do you want a stock wiring harness 6V +ground, or do you want a harness that will allow you to convert to 12V -ground with a fuse panel and room for expansion/accessories? Mid Fifty www.midfifty.com has both stock and update harnesses for less than 1/2 JCW prices. Order one of MF's catalogs as well, it has a wealth of information and diagrams that will help you with fixing up that 54. Be sure to do searches on here on any topic, most of the common questions are covered regularly.
Do you want a stock wiring harness 6V +ground, or do you want a harness that will allow you to convert to 12V -ground with a fuse panel and room for expansion/accessories? Mid Fifty www.midfifty.com has both stock and update harnesses for less than 1/2 JCW prices. Order one of MF's catalogs as well, it has a wealth of information and diagrams that will help you with fixing up that 54. Be sure to do searches on here on any topic, most of the common questions are covered regularly.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Kansas City area
Welcome 1954 GA RED -
As AXracer suggested you can find a lot of information using the "search". You will also find some good information at the top of the page on the sticky threads titled:Group Tech Articles in Progress and Reference Threads.
Also get yourself a Shop Manual for the 54 if you don't already have one. They can be purchased through the FTE sponsor Motor Haven.
As AXracer suggested you can find a lot of information using the "search". You will also find some good information at the top of the page on the sticky threads titled:Group Tech Articles in Progress and Reference Threads.
Also get yourself a Shop Manual for the 54 if you don't already have one. They can be purchased through the FTE sponsor Motor Haven.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Minnesota
Option #2 is to just make your own harness. There is relatively little wiring in old vehicles. What I've done in my other projects, and will do in my 53 is to get a good water resistant fuse box from an import and wire from there. They will have all the circuits and relays you could possibly need, and if you get both sides of the plug connection, you can reuse that for your new pigtails.
The box in my 46 ****** is from a Toyota SR5. $10 at the junkyard plus about another $25 worth of wires and connectors did the whole job.
The box in my 46 ****** is from a Toyota SR5. $10 at the junkyard plus about another $25 worth of wires and connectors did the whole job.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
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From: Harpswell Maine
I like the approach by old jeep. I have been thinking that when the time comes I may use the same approach. What would be really great, although not necessary would be if someone sold just the marked wiring in a package since the junkyards are full of modern electrical panels complete with relays etc. Does anyone know if there is a source for just the marked wires?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
I doubt you'd save much money by buying just the marked wire over a kit, the panel itself is pretty cheap, it's the wire that costs, and by the time you spliced or wired all the terminals to attach the wires to the salvaged panel you're going to be out money. You could go out and buy 20 or so spools of different colored wire, but that would be a LOT more expensive than a kit. The only way I see that making your own harness would make sense is if you are doing a simple OEM style wiring and you bought a large spool of each ga wire you need disregarding color coding and run one wire at a time and/or mark them each yourself. Just be prepared for a nightmare when you need to do any trouble shooting. Anyone who would do this tho for a multi circuit fuse panel IMO is either a serious masochist or has WAY WAY more time on their hands than I have to work on their truck.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Earth
All things considered, it's so much easier to go buy a pre-wired fuse block. They really aren't all that expensive. Everything you need is there. I only have experience with Painless Wiring. I have the 18-circuit universal Street Rod harness in my '53 and I couldn't be more pleased. At the time, I think I paid around $280 for the kit. It does come with a few extra pieces to help in the wiring process. All the wiring is labeled as to which it gets wired to. The directions were great, and their tech people are just as great to deal with. If you are short on patience, I would recommend a prefused kit. I think Ron Francis has gotten cheaper than what they used to be, and I think Centech??? is one of the cheapest kits out there, and I have read on other boards where some hot rodders are using their kits and like them just as much. I think I got my kit through Summit Racing. JMO 
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
My EZ Wire mini 20 kit was ~ 175.00 IIRC You can also get smaller setups ~ 5 or 6 cicuit basic wiring which is enough unless you are going to put in a lot of acessories.
NEWS FLASH!!!! EZ Wire has just reduced the price of their mini 20 kit to ONLY 130.00 !!!!!
http://www.ezwiring.com/ GRAB THIS!
NEWS FLASH!!!! EZ Wire has just reduced the price of their mini 20 kit to ONLY 130.00 !!!!!
http://www.ezwiring.com/ GRAB THIS!
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
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54 GA RED, I put a Painless in my 53, and I'm an idiot. But I'm sure many of the other options will works just as well. By the way, you came to the right place. This forum was a God-send when I installed my wiring, and I'm sure they'll help you just as much. G <><
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,375
Likes: 5,385
From: Central PA
I got the stock wiring harness form Mid-Fifty for my 54 F-100. It was easy to put in. I suggest you remove the old one a little at a time as you put in the new one. Then you are sure you are putting it in the right way.
I just bought the main harness from the cab to the front. Running wires to the tail lights/blinkers is easy.
Abe
I just bought the main harness from the cab to the front. Running wires to the tail lights/blinkers is easy.
Abe