Hey all, what's up?
I've been working straight thru. the last two weekends on a clients house, today was my first free day in a while. so i got onto the '51. this afternoon for a couple of hours. i made 3 new wires. first the 10 gauge that runs from the circuit breaker thru the ammeter to the starter relay. second the 10 gauge from the far right of the voltage regulator to the circuit breaker than the 14 gauge from there to the ignition switch. and thirdly i made a new 14 gauge from the gauge board to the ignition switch. feels great to get some more time in and progress on the truck. also purchased a new 6V battery at advanced auto for $50.00 full year exchange. i managed to work at 36* with several layers of clothing.

 

It will be more than worth it the first time you drive it out the driveway and go cruise'n. So keep it up and stay warm, same problem here with the cold

 

I guess I can't complain that I can't put the second layer of paint on my frame because its 45 degrees?

 

Congrats on making some forward progress!!

Keep making those little steps and before you know it you'll be crusin'

Bobby

 

That gets me motivated. I'm planning on starting my wiring on my 56. Got the painless fuse block and wire just need to get the time.

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

 

Here's a tip for those doing their own scratch rewiring: It's difficult to find enough different color wires in the correct sizes and in small quantities so the DIY harness maker often ends up using whatever color he can find in the right size. To identify the wires later for trouble shooting and possibly helping out the next owner, use your computer and printer to print out identifying lables in a small but easily read typeface, cut apart. Buy some clear heatshrink tubing for the wire size you are using. Cut a piece 1/2" longer than label, and slip on wire before adding terminal. Slip the label inside tubing and shrink near end of wire. You now have a weatherproof nearly indestructable labeled wire.

 

AX
Were do you get clear shrink tube?

 

Just to add to X's comment. I wire industrial control systems, it's my business, and I use a Brady label machine that makes self-laminating labels. These are great when you're wiring control panels with 100s of terminations and well worth it but for the weekend wirer they're kind of pricey. A new machine costs $750 and up and the labels are very expensive, that's where they make their money. I have found quite a few Brady printers on uPay for $30-50 for used ones that work like new but still it has limited used outside of a professional wirer.

The other tool I use is a Brother's label maker. They have self-laminating labels too that are next to impossible to remove once they have been applied to a clean surface and let sit for a short time. I personally know the Brother labels are next to impossible to remove because I have used them to mark control systems in some of the most harsh enviroments. One customer makes hydraulic valves for industrial equipment, everything in their plant is covered with a layer of hydraulic fluid. This stuff eats up and hardens most plastics in a matter of a couple of weeks. We have to use oil resistant cable that runs $5-10 a foot. The Brothers labels have been on some of the systems I have installed for over three years without signs of deteriation.



The Brothers label machine are fairly inepensive, about $50-60 at Homedepot, and many other stores. The label ribbons are around $12-15, and seem to print forever, at least a lot longer than the Brady's. They are also great for marking everything around the garage, and house, that's the selling point you can use on your wife.

One thing about the Brothers printer, don't try to buy one on eBay. Before I bought mine I checked eBay and they cost more, with shipping, than if you go down to your local chain store and buy one.