1957 3100 - wiring kit recommendations?

[hplacecf]

hi.

ultra 'old truck newbie' here with 'wiring kit' questions.

just got a 1957 3100 project truck in a state of 'it needs work...'.

some of the wiring has been cut and is just hanging loose.
all of the wiring I see is very old and brittle.

I am guessing that one of those total replacement wiring kits is the way to go, but I really don't know.... I never had a truck this old before.

questions:

(1) given the shape of my truck as described above, is a complete wiring replacement kit the way to go? or should I just replace what I need as I go along?

(2) what should I look for in a kit? for example: things to avoid; things that i would want included.

(3) any recommendations (first hand experience, or a friend's) as far as brand, particular kit, or seller, for my truck?

(4) any hints and tips (or any other advice) on how to go about installing such a kit?


thanks in advance

[dwcsr]

Sounds like a replacement is what you need. There are several kits out there, we sell the American Auto wire kit. Depending on what your doing, Restoration or update to newer devices will dictate what you need. American Autowire has a restoration kit that allows you to use an Alternator and HEI but the rest it factory stock for about $250. They also have an Classic update kit that includes a new fuse block, major switches and updated circuits for AC, radio, and other modern circuits and devices for about $550. Both come with several diagrams and instructions.

[fabguy]

here is a link to the one I used on my truck.

http://www.ezwiring.com/index.html


Here is a link to a kit that you can see what it comes with.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/310874220071?lpid=82

[longbike]

I just used the EZ Wiring kit with mine and it fit right in for stock replacement wasn't anything I had to do to modify, they do have a ignition switch update harness for the newer style switches I had to use but it just plugged right in.

I was highly impressed on how it fit right up.

[dubie]

I used a 9+3 circuit wiring harness from Rebel Wire. Great kit and easy to install. I had never wired an entire truck before until this one. Piece of cake!

[DaveCt]

Just ordered a complete harness from Classic, we'll see how it goes.

[55metalmonkey]

I've installed a few different kits (AAW, painless, EZ and Rebel) and would have to agree with dwcsr. It really depends on if you're just looking for a stock replacement or if you are updating and adding things.
To be completely honest Painless and AAW were the easiest ones, well marked and for the most part a complete kit with everything you need short of a good quality set of terminal crimps, the kit I'm using on my 55 even has extra terminal ends included for practicing if you need to and yes in the instructions it states thats what they are for!
The instructions for both are well layed out even showing you where the wires get routed and also left enough circuts for expansion later if you wanted to add things like PW, amps ect. EZ is pretty good as well but a bit more basic.... at least the 1 kit I installed anyway.

[OrrieG]

I used 21 circuit EZ wire. Good fuse panel, marked wires in right gauge, good instructions and I got the owner on the phone when I had questions. Comes with horn reley wired, GM column wired, other are sorted by circuit but not terminated. That worked for me because of my frankentruck I would have had to modify just about every wire anyway. Not counting prep and research it took me about 16 hours to wire my truck and I still have to do the final connection on the head and tail lights. I also had about $200 in looms, additional connectors, relays, additional wiring, shrink wrap, misc switches, trailer wiring, etc. Details are in my build thread.

[DransportGarage]

I have the American Auto Wire (AAW) Highway 22 (22 circuits). It's an excellent kit.