Wiring Harness - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Effeckt · 01-14-2013, 07:34 PM

I was talking to my mechanic regarding wiring harnesses and he said that he has always gotten them for about a couple hundred bucks. From what I've seen they always seem to run for a lot more than that, at least for our trucks. I searched Painless' website and saw it up there for $700. Is there something I'm missing or are they just that much money these days? It is definitely on my agenda to address at some point but if there is something I am missing and I can get it for much less, it may get moved up on my list that much further.

CrewCab59 · 01-14-2013, 08:40 PM

Yes can buy cheaper kits ( universal ) not direct wiring. That's not always good depending on the installer, will it look factory no.

It's not a place to cut corners, cheap is fine but having a fire isn't worth a few bucks.

Effeckt · 01-14-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrewCab59

Yes can buy cheaper kits ( universal ) not direct wiring. That's not always good depending on the installer, will it look factory no.

It's not a place to cut corners, cheap is fine but having a fire isn't worth a few bucks.

I'm totally with you there. I just paused when he said that and wanted to make sure I had it right. I will stick with the plan to get the Painless harness when I get the chance.
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**Tom Vogel** · 01-15-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effeckt

I'm totally with you there. I just paused when he said that and wanted to make sure I had it right. I will stick with the plan to get the Painless harness when I get the chance.
Posted via Mobile Device

Seriously change your plan and get the American Auto Wire classic update kit. You will thank me.

Call Wes at Classic Heartbeat in Wash State. He is the man, and will help you alot with advice. He is a well known and respected vendor here.

72blaz · 01-15-2013, 11:20 AM

I agree with getting the Autowire Kit....it's awesome..Painless was good on my Scout...but knowing now what I do..I would have gone American Autowire on all my vehicles.

rsavage · 01-15-2013, 11:23 AM

I have bought a couple of harnesses from LMC for my trucks. I don't know who makes them for them but they were excellent. All the terminals, plugs, and ends were on the correct colored wires. Plug and play. I have used M & H harnesses on my GTO and they were also excellent. I would never buy a harness that didn't have the correct factory colored/striped wires, pre-installed plugs and terminals, and factory-type taping.

Effeckt · 01-15-2013, 11:34 AM

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I haven't put in wiring harnesses before and appreciate the direction on which to check out. I will look into them both.

**jaros44sr** · 01-15-2013, 06:58 PM

I have used M&H, and cant complain about any of it. Like Savage said, all plug and play with the correct ends and wire color

fun in dirt · 01-16-2013, 11:17 AM

American Autowire is what I like. Put one in a friends '67 Chevelle a few years ago & just bought another one last week for my Blazer. Comes with great instructions & knowledgeable tech support, that actually answers the phone!
The vehicle specific kits are more expensive (little over $500), I just got the universal Builder 19 for $356 from Summit for Blazer. It is just as detailed as the specific one was for the Chevelle.

BB72CHEVKT · 01-16-2013, 11:18 AM

I picked up a painless from Summit for $389 for my burb and had it installed by a shop and there were no complaints.

Effeckt · 02-11-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB72CHEVKT

I picked up a painless from Summit for $389 for my burb and had it installed by a shop and there were no complaints.

Did you buy the universal kit? Or vehicle specific? I just checked Summit's website and the prices there are the best I've seen for harnesses so far. I'm leaning towards getting the Painless vehicle specific kit here which is running 455.95 right now. I also found a universal 18 circuit here running for $387.

What kind of shop did you have do the install? I have tossed around whether I want to tackle this project myself, but I wasn't sure what kind of shop did that kind of wiring. A stereo shop or something perhaps?

BB72CHEVKT · 02-11-2013, 03:21 PM

Painless 10206 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/prf-10206, they price matched this site http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/painless-wiring-10206/

Effeckt · 02-11-2013, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB72CHEVKT

Painless 10206 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/prf-10206, they price matched this site http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/painless-wiring-10206/

Thanks for the help! I will contact them and order it today. So was it just a stereo shop that did your wiring then or was it another kind of shop?

BB72CHEVKT · 02-11-2013, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effeckt

Thanks for the help! I will contact them and order it today. So was it just a stereo shop that did your wiring then or was it another kind of shop?

It was a Custom Car and Truck Shop.

Effeckt · 02-11-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB72CHEVKT

It was a Custom Car and Truck Shop.

Gotcha.. well I'm still mulling around with whether I want to tackle it or not but I'll have to dig around and see what's available if I want to farm it out. Thanks for the help and info though. You saved me a few hundred bucks. I really appreciate the help!

BB72CHEVKT · 02-11-2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effeckt

Gotcha.. well I'm still mulling around with whether I want to tackle it or not but I'll have to dig around and see what's available if I want to farm it out. Thanks for the help and info though. You saved me a few hundred bucks. I really appreciate the help!

Your welcome. I paid $900 for installation. So for a total rewire I was just short of $1300.

**Tom Vogel** · 02-11-2013, 05:54 PM

Warning... if you are going to do it yourself, get the American Autowire kit. It has everything. Did I mention everything?
You will be able to do it yourself, and save $1000 or more on installation.
You will Not get that with Painless.

Effeckt · 02-14-2013, 12:37 PM

Well I ended up going with the Painless. I've been looking/asking around about harnesses and really got a mixed bag of responses. A lot of people loved the Painless kit and had no issues with it (installing it on their own or otherwise), but I also had several people to go with AAW kit. The kit came in yesterday and looks to me to be pretty straight forward. Every wire is color coded and labeled with where it goes every foot or so.

I go back and forth all of the time on whether I want to tackle it myself, mostly out of apprehension that I mess something up. I think I will likely give it a shot and if I get stuck, enlist help at that point. I have wiring experience with electrical and telecommunications but not with vehicles.

01-14-2013, 07:34 PM	#1
Effeckt Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 341	Wiring Harness I was talking to my mechanic regarding wiring harnesses and he said that he has always gotten them for about a couple hundred bucks. From what I've seen they always seem to run for a lot more than that, at least for our trucks. I searched Painless' website and saw it up there for $700. Is there something I'm missing or are they just that much money these days? It is definitely on my agenda to address at some point but if there is something I am missing and I can get it for much less, it may get moved up on my list that much further. __________________ My 1972 K5 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399719

01-14-2013, 08:40 PM	#2
CrewCab59 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 1,185	Re: Wiring Harness Yes can buy cheaper kits ( universal ) not direct wiring. That's not always good depending on the installer, will it look factory no. It's not a place to cut corners, cheap is fine but having a fire isn't worth a few bucks. __________________ 1972 Custom Deluxe 20 4x4 burb 1971 GMC SWB CST 4x4 1972 GMC k20 4x4 (X- brush truck ) 1971 Chevy CST Blazer 4x4 1971 Chevy C/10 1970 Cab Chassis C30 157" 1971 Cab Chassis Custom 30 Deluxe 157" 292/4spd ( Napco Replica ) 1988 Chevy V30 4x4 wrecker challenger 4812

01-15-2013, 11:20 AM	#5
72blaz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Trinity, Florida Posts: 104	Re: Wiring Harness I agree with getting the Autowire Kit....it's awesome..Painless was good on my Scout...but knowing now what I do..I would have gone American Autowire on all my vehicles. __________________ 1972 Chevy Blazer Check out my build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=560741

01-15-2013, 11:23 AM	#6
rsavage Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Alden NY Posts: 2,705	Re: Wiring Harness I have bought a couple of harnesses from LMC for my trucks. I don't know who makes them for them but they were excellent. All the terminals, plugs, and ends were on the correct colored wires. Plug and play. I have used M & H harnesses on my GTO and they were also excellent. I would never buy a harness that didn't have the correct factory colored/striped wires, pre-installed plugs and terminals, and factory-type taping. __________________ 1961 C1 Corvette 1959 El Camino 350 TPI, 9" 4 w disc 69 Blazer K5 - sold July '20 2021 Durango RT 5.7

01-15-2013, 11:34 AM	#7
Effeckt Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 341	Re: Wiring Harness Thanks for all of the advice guys. I haven't put in wiring harnesses before and appreciate the direction on which to check out. I will look into them both. __________________ My 1972 K5 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399719

01-15-2013, 06:58 PM	#8
jaros44sr Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,766	Re: Wiring Harness I have used M&H, and cant complain about any of it. Like Savage said, all plug and play with the correct ends and wire color __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim

01-16-2013, 11:17 AM	#9
fun in dirt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,122	Re: Wiring Harness American Autowire is what I like. Put one in a friends '67 Chevelle a few years ago & just bought another one last week for my Blazer. Comes with great instructions & knowledgeable tech support, that actually answers the phone! The vehicle specific kits are more expensive (little over $500), I just got the universal Builder 19 for $356 from Summit for Blazer. It is just as detailed as the specific one was for the Chevelle. __________________ '72 C to K20 "Cannibalizer" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...32#post8653432 '85 K30 "Big Nassy" [B]'85 C10 [B] "Corpse" '01 2500 Suburban ...party wagon & tow truck '06 Silverado SS...DD '06 C1500 WT...DD '07 Classic C1500 WT...DD Built & sold cause can't keep 'em all: '72 Blazer "The Bucket" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=433190 '55 Chevy straight axle gasser https://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173938 '69 Pro Street Chevelle http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332541 '86 M1031 CUCV http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=553619

01-16-2013, 11:18 AM	#10
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Re: Wiring Harness I picked up a painless from Summit for $389 for my burb and had it installed by a shop and there were no complaints. __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

02-11-2013, 03:21 PM	#12
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,950	Re: Wiring Harness Painless 10206 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/prf-10206, they price matched this site http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/painless-wiring-10206/ __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400 Last edited by BB72CHEVKT; 02-11-2013 at 03:23 PM. Reason: add info

02-11-2013, 05:54 PM	#17
Tom Vogel 2WD Jimmy Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Davis County, Utah Posts: 2,565	Re: Wiring Harness Warning... if you are going to do it yourself, get the American Autowire kit. It has everything. Did I mention everything? You will be able to do it yourself, and save $1000 or more on installation. You will Not get that with Painless.

02-14-2013, 12:37 PM	#18
Effeckt Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 341	Re: Wiring Harness Well I ended up going with the Painless. I've been looking/asking around about harnesses and really got a mixed bag of responses. A lot of people loved the Painless kit and had no issues with it (installing it on their own or otherwise), but I also had several people to go with AAW kit. The kit came in yesterday and looks to me to be pretty straight forward. Every wire is color coded and labeled with where it goes every foot or so. I go back and forth all of the time on whether I want to tackle it myself, mostly out of apprehension that I mess something up. I think I will likely give it a shot and if I get stuck, enlist help at that point. I have wiring experience with electrical and telecommunications but not with vehicles. __________________ My 1972 K5 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399719



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