Replacing dash wiring harness

[eric8]

I'm gonna get the American Autowire factory fit dash harness to freshen up my interior wiring. As many of you may know, it is an exact reproduction of the stock harness so it is just a unplug old and plug in the new type affair. I've spent some time looking under that dash and things look tight up there! I was going to just take the dash off to make access easy but then read where the dash is spot welded up by the windshield.

What I'd like to know is, is it practical to replace this harness with the dash in place? Can I get by with pulling the glovebox, ac box, etc. this is a 72 C10 with factory ac.

[9teen69]

Yeh it's tight...is what it is. You'll be fine removing the cluster and glove box. If you have a steering wheel puller it's one less thing to negotiate around...what I do.

If your windshield wiper pump needs rebuilding...now is a good time too.

[boynton]

Yes you may not have to pull the a/c boxes just the hoses, glove box, glovebox door, a/c contoller, ashtray, radio, gauge cluster and I would drop the column...you will spend the majority of you time in that area. Unless their kit has changed it is not plug and play...I did one in my 1970 short step (search 1970 burn victim for pictures of this kit going in). It took me a while, probably 50-60 hours to fit this kit (it was my first time and first major build). I could probably fit it in half the time now but if you move all of tge stuff I mentioned, you can get it to fit nice and tight with no exposed wires. DON'T THROW YOUR OLD HARNESS AWAY!!! This assisted me greatly when wiring everything back in, knowing what connectors went where....good luck!

[eric8]

Thanks guys. Boynton, you most likely had.their classic update series harness. Those are the ones that aren't completely plug and play. I'm getting one of their factory fit series. I ordered the engine bay version of their factory fit harness already and it is a perfect duplicate of the factory harness I pulled out.

[boynton]

Man that's nice. Hope it goes well can't wait to see the progress.

[leftybass209]

It's pretty accessible when you remove the stereo, gauges, and heater controls. I'm going to have the column rebuilt so I have more room, but if you were to pull the steering wheel, or unbolt the column to lower it as needed it's not tight or difficult at all. I agree the heater/AC can stay in place. Best of luck!