Inliners International Forums General Discussion Electrical Wiring Harness 81 GMC

Anybody ever installed a wiring harness? How much do they cost?
Vehicle is a 1981 GMC with inline 6 and no power windows or locks.
I think I can do it, just need some moral support and a few tips.

There are several manufacturers of wiring harnesses. I use American Autowire which tend to be more expensive, but they are based in my area and they have a great technical department. Whatever kit you buy, just make sure each wire is word coded, not just color coded. This tells you exactly where a particular wire attaches.

I've done a few. Some with replacement stock type harness and a couple with kits from Painless. They all came with good instructions. READ the directions and take your time. You will be fine. It's not as hard as you might think.

Thanks for the tips, and the moral support.

I've used American Autowire, they have the best instructions I've seen, color pictures included.

Whatever brand you choose, make sure they lable the wires. All but the cheap rip off harnesses lable what the wires do, right on each wire every 6 inches or so (just an ink stamp, but real handy).

I've heard good stuff about Rebel Wire, but I have never tried them (they are supposed to be less expensive but still good quality).

I have 3 vehicles to rewire in the near future (next few years, depends on how the projects go).

FWIW I have wired a few street cars without a kit, given the choice I won't do it again, too big a PITA (having said that, you can expect me to say I helped someone wire their grocery getter with blank spools of wire in about 4-6 weeks ).

Thanks Nex, I looked up American and Painless, I can't afford their products. I paid $400 for the truck so I have a hang up paying $800 for a wiring harness. I believe it is worth it, just have a hang up.

Check Rebel Wire if you can. As I said, I hvan't used them but I've heard good things about them (like they're cheaper).

Ever think about hitting a U-Pull-It yard and removing a harness from an existing truck, that way you can do it one section at a time between the weatherproof plugs and the cost would be a lot cheaper.

U-pull-it crossed my mind. The problem is the wires are weathered.
My truck used to be a farm truck so it was never washed. I may end up U-pull-it because I could lay all the wires out and do them one at a time like you said.

I think that is what the Russians did with captured military equipment.
The FANCY term is Reverse Engineering.