Need wire harness

[StupidsexyflandersUSN]

I have a beautiful 81 k5 named charlotte. I put a SBC 350 out a 77 C10 and i need a harness, i am having a hell of a time finding one to compare to EZ HARNESS and PAINLESS and even finding a diagram to compare and use what i have. But i would much rather replace to 30 year old wires....any input would be appreciated. This is my first k5....and a learning experience my last truck was diesel hahah and this one will be a duramax soon too i hope.

 

[Kain]

aaw is the way to go http://www.americanautowire.com/
they will build you a complete harness, unlike painless you have to supply the grounds

 

[ion]

American Autowire will not touch the harnesses on the 73-87 chevy trucks. I am a west coast dealer for them. They won't do anything on them because of the computers in the 1984 and up models.

They keep putting it off, but if they get enough of people wanting it, then they will make it.

 

[ion]

But if you go with the american autowire harness kits, they best one to use would probably be the Highway 22 Kit, you get 22 circuits on that one, and it's the one LMC Sells for the 73-87 Chevy/GMC Trucks, they list for $450 but i can get them for $419.95

Or another option is the power plus 20 series kit. It has 20 circuits and it's a little bit less complete than the highway 22 kit, and it lists for 300, and i have it for 279.95

 

[RootBreaker]

not sure how much as in computer driven yours is..
but i purchased a ez-wiring 21 kit.. beautiful kit..
however I used my tail light harness and headlight harness... so i used the main fuse block and in cab wires..

i took it a step further.. i also cut every wire and put it through the factory harness.. best thing i ever did..

only recommendation i have is this..
buy the color coded wire set.. I bought all black as $10 cheaper.. yeah it says what it is every foot.. but when people say.. oh oil gauge is green... ummm no it is black that says....oil.........oil.........oil....
try and dig through a pile of wires.. is frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[StupidsexyflandersUSN]

the 20 series super sounds good...im on a tight budget in an e3 in the navy and pay is tight. i just want my dirty girl runnin already. my buddies with broncos keeping runnin their mouths hahah anyways i appreciate the input and i will look into that kit and check the posted links

 

[Cili]

I personally would say Painless. I put one in my 71 C10 last year and it was awesome. Every wire color coded factory color, labeled on the wire, and gave tons of extra wire so you could route it however you want. Also came with wiring diagrams so you could track down problems later on. As said above it didnt come with grounds, but i think I only had to make like 4 at the most. It also came with a maxi-fuse to protect the fuse block.

 

[45acpJr]

I would try ez-wiring, I installed their 21 circuit kit and it worked out very well for me. And it cost a fraction of the Painless kit. I think it was around $300

 

[Cili]

My painless kit cost like 375.

 

[ion]

My painless kit cost like 375.

Was it universal or specific for a year and model, when did you get it and where? They sell for 611 at summit. that's for the "Factory Fit" for the 1973-87 Chevy/GMC Trucks?

 

[StupidsexyflandersUSN]

1981 k5 wiring diagram

does anyone have a useful diagram? I have been having a hell of a time finding that i dont have to pay for a subscription, which is pointless if i am only using it this one time.

 

[RootBreaker]

My painless kit cost like 375.

$155 for mine.. $175 for color coded.. so 1/2 the price.. and has the GM stock fuse block...

does anyone have a useful diagram? I have been having a hell of a time finding that i dont have to pay for a subscription, which is pointless if i am only using it this one time.

well no one has a "full" diagram... you just ask up what part and we can do our best to tell you where it goes..

what are you having issues with?

 

[onetonbb74]

Was it universal or specific for a year and model, when did you get it and where? They sell for 611 at summit. that's for the "Factory Fit" for the 1973-87 Chevy/GMC Trucks?

I bought mine when it was 375 as well, it was the first thing I did to my k20 10 years ago, universal 18 circuit with fuse block and ignition switch gm harness plug. Even put a bunch of guages in as well. It was expensive, but it was needed, there was a dash fire in my truck when I got it and had nothing to work off of. Later down the road I went tbi, wanted everything to plug right in like an 88 suburban, so I got a junkyard harness from an 87 crew cab and my 88 tbi harness plugged right in like factory.

 

[ion]

I bought mine when it was 375 as well, it was the first thing I did to my k20 10 years ago, universal 18 circuit with fuse block and ignition switch gm harness plug. Even put a bunch of guages in as well. It was expensive, but it was needed, there was a dash fire in my truck when I got it and had nothing to work off of. Later down the road I went tbi, wanted everything to plug right in like an 88 suburban, so I got a junkyard harness from an 87 crew cab and my 88 tbi harness plugged right in like factory.

ahh i gotcha, yeah 10 years ago painless was cheaper than dirt and made a product that was about 10X better than today's