Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and would like to get some guidance from those of you that have rewired your K5 and what you went with. I'm restoring an 89 K5 4x4. TIA, Chris
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Complete wiring harness recommendations
- Thread starter srqmedic
- Start date
Disclaimer: I don't know about this guy building a complete harness kit for the whole truck AND he was very slow on communication. He has some shakey feedback on another forum but my experience was good (besides comminucation).
I bought a custom dash (only) harness from Harnessworx (aka Jabin Wood) on Facebook, all my interactions were via the Jabin Wood account. The harness was 100% plug & play and he added a few / deleted a lot of circuits per my request. The finished product was really nice.
While shopping I checked with Painless also. I don't know about their replacement harnesses but their "custom" harnesses are NOT truly custom. They will not add or delete circuits in a kit, you either use what's there or zip tie it up out of the way (actual recommendation to me from their tech line). Their harness also comes as cut to length and add wiring connectors yourself, I thought that was not reasonable based on their price of $500+ (Harnessworx was literally half the cost).
I have since read a lot of recommendations for American Autowire (?) but I have no personal experience with them, I think some folks here do.
I bought a custom dash (only) harness from Harnessworx (aka Jabin Wood) on Facebook, all my interactions were via the Jabin Wood account. The harness was 100% plug & play and he added a few / deleted a lot of circuits per my request. The finished product was really nice.
While shopping I checked with Painless also. I don't know about their replacement harnesses but their "custom" harnesses are NOT truly custom. They will not add or delete circuits in a kit, you either use what's there or zip tie it up out of the way (actual recommendation to me from their tech line). Their harness also comes as cut to length and add wiring connectors yourself, I thought that was not reasonable based on their price of $500+ (Harnessworx was literally half the cost).
I have since read a lot of recommendations for American Autowire (?) but I have no personal experience with them, I think some folks here do.
Btw, welcome to the site! 
thank you I will check them out.
thank you, I haven’t checked American Autowire. I’ve been familiar with Painless just wanted to see what other options there are.
These guys also exist but I have no personal experience using them. Adding them here as another option for you to consider.
www.ezwiring.com
www.ezwiring.com
EZ Wiring 21 Standard Wiring Harness
EZ 2118 FUSES 21 CIRCUITRadio, Coil, Dome Light, Backup/Cruise, Horn, Cigarette Lighter, Fuel Pump, AC/Heat, Radio, Turn Signal, Horn, ACC, Wiper, Gauges, Hazard, Fan, Power Window, Power Door Locks, Brake, Headlights (Color & Black have same)
www.ezwiring.com
Home | E Z Wiring | Florida USA
At EZ Wiring, we strive to bring you the best wiring harness for the best price. Our harnesses are universal to fit any job.
www.ezwiring.com
Great, Thank you! I also like tacos
If you are keeping the factory TBI on the engine, the aftermarket harnesses might not supply any wiring for that. Hopefully they will tell you easily.
You said that you are restoring an '89. Are you looking for factory correct wiring?
And if you have the mini-quad headlights, remember that the plugs are different than when compared to other headlights.
Great points, and some things I didn’t think about. I will probably be changing things up and doing a Holley Sniper, and I did see something about the wiring on the new LMC Lights in another thread.
I’ve checked into some of the companies, and keep going back to painless. They don’t show anything for an 89 but I will probably have to call and see what the experts say.
The harness that’s in it now is brittle, and has been hacked up so much that I just don’t want to chance a fire, so it has to go.
I’ve checked into some of the companies, and keep going back to painless. They don’t show anything for an 89 but I will probably have to call and see what the experts say.
The harness that’s in it now is brittle, and has been hacked up so much that I just don’t want to chance a fire, so it has to go.
If you aren't needing the TBI wiring and are using aftermarket headlights, then I would look at what the products are for an '84 to '86. Those should be close to what you could use.
If they support using the factory instrument cluster, there are a few differences in the pin-out between the TBI and carburetor trucks from what I have read. Nothing that you couldn't overcome as far as I know.
If they support using the factory instrument cluster, there are a few differences in the pin-out between the TBI and carburetor trucks from what I have read. Nothing that you couldn't overcome as far as I know.
Does your 89 have an electric tailgate? If so Painless and American Autowire might not work for you since their direct fit harnesses only list provisions for the front windows and locks last I checked. If you have manual windows they should work fine though. Also check out Ron Francis wiring, I know a lot of the hotrod guys use those kits and their website says they can be custom tailored depending on whatvsteeeing column, distributor, etc so I would think adding the rear window wouldn'tbe a problem. No personal experience with either yet though.
The rear window has a separate harness on an electric rear window.
I do have the electric tailgate, will check them out, thank you.
I did the EZ Wiring kit over 10 years ago on my K10 and really liked it. 14g or bigger for everything and wires labeled every 6" or so. I have aftermarket gauges and planned on making upgrades on the future so the extra circuits were nice to have. However, Keep in mind it is a truly universal kit that is no where near plug and play. That said it's geared towards 70s and 80s GM vehicles. It uses the same steering column connector and fuse box, however it does not have the large firewall bulkhead connector on the back. You have to come up with something to seal that hole to pull the wires through. Also plan on doubling the price of the kit to buy all the necessary pigtails, connectors, wire loom, tape, etc.These guys also exist but I have no personal experience using them. Adding them here as another option for you to consider.
EZ Wiring 21 Standard Wiring Harness
EZ 2118 FUSES 21 CIRCUITRadio, Coil, Dome Light, Backup/Cruise, Horn, Cigarette Lighter, Fuel Pump, AC/Heat, Radio, Turn Signal, Horn, ACC, Wiper, Gauges, Hazard, Fan, Power Window, Power Door Locks, Brake, Headlights (Color & Black have same)
Home | E Z Wiring | Florida USA
At EZ Wiring, we strive to bring you the best wiring harness for the best price. Our harnesses are universal to fit any job.
Once you get into the 1988 to 1991 square bodies the after market wiring harnesses are hit and miss. Some sections of them will work, and others not at all. Most aftermarket wiring harnesse are designed for pre 1987 carburated square bodies. My 1991 V3500 square body crew cab with TBI and a 4L80E is such a 1-year only odd-ball truck that when I had the engine out of it, I re-wired the whole engine compartment one wire at a time because there is no aftermarket wire harness for this truck.
