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late 70's wire harness

RootBreaker

RootBreaker

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Ok so I have a post in WTB section..

however I need to figure some thing out..
how many circuits do I have?

I have a typical 1978 chevy pickup
manual windows
manual door locks
no air conditioning
manual trans

prices are EXTREME!!!!
I may have to go to a junkard and look around!!!!!


ez wiring sells:
12 FUSES 12 CIRCUIT - ebay $140
18 FUSES 21 CIRCUIT - ebay $145

painless wiring sells:
10205 for 1973-1987 - google $555

anyone else out there make one?
 
$140 does not sound too bad, does the kit come with every thing you need? Buying the extras would cost more money.
I've put a 79, 80 wire harness in my blazer, but I had to replace the engine compartment harness with new wires. I spent wayyy more than $140 to fix my harness.
My cousin told me he spent more money fixing a harness then he thought also.
 
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yeah the ez wiring kit is from tail lights to head lights..

the only thing is since it is a universal and not a direct replacement (as the painless is for $555).... is I would have to take my old harness out, patch the hole from the OEM unit... and rill a 1 /14" hole for the new wires... not a biggie as these wires run straight from the fuse block to the item....

downside is taking the front clip off will be more difficult... however I would just need to unplug EVERYTHING under the hood and lay them aside....


Im gonna wait for my father.. he knows a guy that owns a junkyard... and he has to go there next week. I will bug him to check for one... if the guy has it... 99.99% sure it will be free... yes free is nice.. and oem... however im still thinking... new is always WAY better...

when I go to redo my wiring as I am going to either buy new or junkyard oem.... I am going to do the headlight relay setup too.....plus 140a alt upgrade so will be nice....
 
Is there any reason you can't put a newer (blade fuse) panel in the truck? Assuming it's not been hacked up, based on age the connectors and wiring should be better at least, and the blade panels are better designed for accessories.

Just an idea, good harnesses are out there, probably moreso with very few accessories. If you wanted to do things like go with the newer column (high beams/wipers on it) key buzzer, etc. that would be an option then too. I know some people don't like that stuff, it's personal opinion.
 
several years ago, i put a painless 18 circut harness in my truck and it was a pain in the ass and doesn't come with any connectors. Its been 5 years and havent touched it since, afaik, it hasn't even blown a fuse. My wiring that was in there was the tube fuses and it was burnt and nothing worked. Oh, when you buy any kit, you have to dork out and remake all the grounds as they don't come in the kit. Wow, on 555.00, it was 369.00 when i bought it.
 
dyeager535 said:
Is there any reason you can't put a newer (blade fuse) panel in the truck? Assuming it's not been hacked up, based on age the connectors and wiring should be better at least, and the blade panels are better designed for accessories.

Just an idea, good harnesses are out there, probably moreso with very few accessories. If you wanted to do things like go with the newer column (high beams/wipers on it) key buzzer, etc. that would be an option then too. I know some people don't like that stuff, it's personal opinion.
Click to expand...



I have never had a glass fuse style fuse block.... I have the blade style now... I have had wiring issues for YEARS.... and recently.. my headlights went out while I was out and it was dark out.... kicked the fuse panel and it worked... the next day I went out and took the fuse block apart.. found a wire that was shaved from years of vibration... and it was shorting out now and then... so I think it is time for a headache free harness...
 
dyeager535 said:
Is there any reason you can't put a newer (blade fuse) panel in the truck? Assuming it's not been hacked up, based on age the connectors and wiring should be better at least, and the blade panels are better designed for accessories.

Just an idea, good harnesses are out there, probably moreso with very few accessories. If you wanted to do things like go with the newer column (high beams/wipers on it) key buzzer, etc. that would be an option then too. I know some people don't like that stuff, it's personal opinion.
Click to expand...
The late seventies harness has the blade style fuse box plus it does not have that many extra circuits for smog.
 
JDNobodi said:
it does not have that many extra circuits for smog.
Click to expand...

what is that??? :haha:


the pricing I put there was for the mini fuse style... im not liking that..
so $180 for the full fuse style...
the ez wiring 21 is where im leaning...
I get more circuits... for stuff that is new to my truck.. like electric fuel pump.... as just 1 example....
 
My stock '77 wiring went crazy ~1.5 year ago. It was dropping power to the ignition off and on and then one day it lost all power to everything. No fuses blown, fusible links still intact.

I rewired mine from scratch using one of the EZ wiring harnesses, it was cake. Very well put together, it even included Chevy electrical connections. Pretty easy to wire up, good quality and cheap. A+ in my book :D
 
38377k5 said:
My stock '77 wiring went crazy ~1.5 year ago. It was dropping power to the ignition off and on and then one day it lost all power to everything. No fuses blown, fusible links still intact.

I rewired mine from scratch using one of the EZ wiring harnesses, it was cake. Very well put together, it even included Chevy electrical connections. Pretty easy to wire up, good quality and cheap. A+ in my book :D
Click to expand...


I sucked it up and bought one... I managed to find one in the buy it now that was cheaper....but still not cheap!!!!!
anyway also it was all black wiring... not sure if that was a good choice...

I went with the ez 21 since it has more than I need for circuits..
but I can use the electric fuel pump fuse as I have no clue which wire right now is the electric fuel pump.... also I have light switches and other stuff that will use up the rest of the circuits....
 
38377k5 said:
My stock '77 wiring went crazy ~1.5 year ago. It was dropping power to the ignition off and on and then one day it lost all power to everything. No fuses blown, fusible links still intact.

I rewired mine from scratch using one of the EZ wiring harnesses, it was cake. Very well put together, it even included Chevy electrical connections. Pretty easy to wire up, good quality and cheap. A+ in my book :D
Click to expand...


everything i read said this came with all wiring except for ground wires... did you run into any issues?
 
I just bought the exact same harness :haha:

Now that I have it in my hands I can say that it is pretty tit. Every wire is labled about every foot or so. Click on my build thread I just updated it on the wiring I have ready to go in.

I don't see and ground wires in the kit, so I bought a spool of 14gauge black wire for that. Also I got a ton of different wiring connections and heat shrink wrap from summit.

Its going to be a bitch of project, but I think it will a HUGE improvement in my truck.
 
Chevy305 said:
I just bought the exact same harness :haha:

Now that I have it in my hands I can say that it is pretty tit. Every wire is labled about every foot or so. Click on my build thread I just updated it on the wiring I have ready to go in.

I don't see and ground wires in the kit, so I bought a spool of 14gauge black wire for that. Also I got a ton of different wiring connections and heat shrink wrap from summit.

Its going to be a bitch of project, but I think it will a HUGE improvement in my truck.
Click to expand...


nice.... I cant tell.. do you have the quad headlight setup like I do?
I will be watching your build....

I plan on putting this wiring kit in...
wiring in relays to headlights - got 8 relay/16 fuse pack from 1989 olds 88
redo all my wires for rollbar and fornt bumper lights
add 140amp alt - got it
0 gauge wire to bed batteries - got it
add 200amp stinger relay - got it
use wire loom for it all and wire loom connectors - got it all...

so ground wires dont come with the kit.... what devices require ground wires? do our factory harness..... go out and bring the grounds back?
 
RootBreaker said:
nice.... I cant tell.. do you have the quad headlight setup like I do?
I will be watching your build....

I plan on putting this wiring kit in...
wiring in relays to headlights - got 8 relay/16 fuse pack from 1989 olds 88
redo all my wires for rollbar and fornt bumper lights
add 140amp alt - got it
0 gauge wire to bed batteries - got it
add 200amp stinger relay - got it
use wire loom for it all and wire loom connectors - got it all...

so ground wires dont come with the kit.... what devices require ground wires? do our factory harness..... go out and bring the grounds back?
Click to expand...

If I remember right, there wasn't much that require a ground wire. Gages, dash light and radio, and some other things. Under the hood would be for the lights. It was mostly 14 and 16 gage wire. There is some stuff activated by having the ground side switched. The courtesy lights and windshield wipers come to mind.
 
RootBreaker said:
nice.... I cant tell.. do you have the quad headlight setup like I do?
I will be watching your build....

I plan on putting this wiring kit in...
wiring in relays to headlights - got 8 relay/16 fuse pack from 1989 olds 88
redo all my wires for rollbar and fornt bumper lights
add 140amp alt - got it
0 gauge wire to bed batteries - got it
add 200amp stinger relay - got it
use wire loom for it all and wire loom connectors - got it all...

so ground wires dont come with the kit.... what devices require ground wires? do our factory harness..... go out and bring the grounds back?
Click to expand...

No I have the single headlight setup. I've never looked at the wiring for a quad light setup so I don't know how different they are.

Also I didn't think of the alternator. I should definately upgrade that with the rest of the electrical system.

There's a ton of accessory wires that I will taking out, like the trunk light, power windows, power locks, a/c wires, and third brake light to name a few.

This is also going to be a good time to add a trailer light harness connector.
 
Chevy305 said:
There's a ton of accessory wires that I will taking out, like the trunk light, power windows, power locks, a/c wires, and third brake light to name a few.

This is also going to be a good time to add a trailer light harness connector.
Click to expand...

ahhhh dont take out.... to take out = delete... = never have.... so I would find a way to spool them up and tuck them away somewhere..

this is gonna rock for me because having a '78...
I had a manual choke, no electric fuel pump... so right off the bat I will have those 2 used.. and know where those wires go now!!! As I dont know that at the moment...
then extra circuits... I will use for offroad lights, winch controls and other stuff.... I would like to find a way to "cover" up the ones I use for different purposes so I remember what it was... like I dont have A/C .... maybe use that one for my offroad lights... well then would be nice to say... OR-Light or something like that....

im gonna rip ALL wires out.. use wire loom and all... and seems these wires will reach all devices... like my electric fuel pump... I just have red hot wire.. now it will be a black wire that says... fuel pump...... :wink1:

this is the last thing to make my truck reliable.... my truck has been off the road all last year and not ran yet this year... but I have to go through inspection in december... which if I dont go... I have to re-take the tilt test.. not that it is hard.. but a pain in the @ss.... :crazy:
 
maybe i should add some winstar fans... :thinking:

as far as headlight relays, do I need a relay per light or will one work for a pair?
 
Chevy305 said:
maybe i should add some winstar fans... :thinking:

as far as headlight relays, do I need a relay per light or will one work for a pair?
Click to expand...


I believe 1 per high... 1 per low beam...

what you need to do is go to a junkyard and buy you a 1989 olds 88 relay fuse pack...

8 relays and 16 fuses.....

it looks crappy and i already took it out... im redoing ALL WIRING in my truck.... gonna do it right this time....


relays.jpg

relay_fuses.jpg
 
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