Painless or American Autowire?

[Original Truckdude]

I'm shopping for a wiring harness and trying to decide between the American Autowire or the Painless kits specifically designed for 60-66 Chevy trucks. I'm running a modern Powermaster alternator and starter and stock gauges.

The American Autowire harness looks to be incredibly complete and I can find them online for about $470 to my door. My friends at a nearby high end hot rod shop swear by Painless harnesses as being easy to install and top quality. I'm not sure how complete the harness is for our trucks and I don't want to do a bunch of soldering. I can get a Painless harness for about $420 less a $100 rebate so $320. That is pretty good savings and I probably don't need some of the parts that come in the American Autowire kit.

So I'd love to hear the opinions of people who have installed either one, thanks.

[N2TRUX]

Check with Forum Vendor Capt Kaos on the American Autowire. He might be able to save you some money and offers great customer service.

[Heartbeat66]

I have been buying these guys wiring harnesses and they are exact replicas of the originals. They are high quality and super easy to install. Check them out. http://www.wiringharness.com/

[mbgmike]

check with us

[PGSigns]

I have used Painless for years in racecars but for our truck the American Auto wire is the best harness I have ever used. I had the right crimpers and they are important so rent them or buy then you will need em. Mine is all done and I really like the way it came out and you will not be disappointed.
Jimmy

[Original Truckdude]

Originally Posted by Heartbeat66

I have been buying these guys wiring harnesses and they are exact replicas of the originals. They are high quality and super easy to install. Check them out. http://www.wiringharness.com/

Thanks but their complete harnesses seem to stop at 1959 then you have to order ala cart. Looks like a great company for a stock restoration.

[Original Truckdude]

Originally Posted by mbgmike

check with us

Thanks Mike, nice website. Your American Autowire price is about $50 more than the competitors, Painless price is good but I can't tell what the shipping cost would be until I've paid.

[lakeroadster]

I have used (2) Painless harnesses on other projects. Both were universal kits, both were indeed "painless" as the installation went great and their instructions were very detailed. Everything that was needed was supplied.

Their tech. department is also great. On 1 of the installations I was wiring a '67 Camaro dash in my Model A and needed some help on using the stock 1967 switches. Painless sent me a '67 wiring diagram, modified to fit with their harness.

Great service and customer support.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Original Truckdude

Thanks Mike, nice website. Your American Autowire price is about $50 more than the competitors, Painless price is good but I can't tell what the shipping cost would be until I've paid.

Thanks, then we will have to lower it. The website should give you shipping after you enter the shipping address but before you click to confirm. Then you can back out of it. This confused me to at first. Maybe I need to state this so people know. I will check and make sure it still works. Its the way the company that owns the cart made it. I prefer it to do it sooner but I don't know how to change it where it will. Thanks for the input Pal

[Ratty]

I've used a universal Painless kit on my last rod build , very easy and simple to instal

[chopped65]

ron francis wiring

[Original Truckdude]

Originally Posted by chopped65

ron francis wiring

Ha, the guys at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle said never, ever use Ron Francis.

[1966JSM]

Im almost done with my painless wiring harness in my 66 c10 it wasnt too bad I think I just got overwelmd by it and dont like wiring that much as is.. Theres some soldering to do like the tail lights and one other thing. Ill have pics when I get it all done in my thread.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Original Truckdude

Ha, the guys at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle said never, ever use Ron Francis.

Why is that? Who is Hot Rod Chassis? I have used them a lot.

[lakeroadster]

I was always told Ron Francis was one of, if not, the best on the market. The pretty much are the innovators of the industry and at one time was the only real choice in aftermarket wiring harnesses.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

I was always told Ron Francis was one of, if not, the best on the market. The pretty much are the innovators of the industry and at one time was the only real choice in aftermarket wiring harnesses.

I agree. We are Dealers for them and NEVER had a return or complaint. Their Tech is great. We became dealers because of the faith we have in their products. I will stand behind them all the way. One of the easiest kits to install and if you can't follow the instructions you should not be wiring.

[markeb01]

I installed a Ron Francis harness about 20 years ago and have been extremely satisfied with it. Over the years my truck has seen numerous electrical modifications which are easily handled, since the design allows adding or removing a circuit from the front side of the fuse panel.

[willyp]

i installed the painless harness part # 10112. i thought it came with everything. i had to buy the front park light/turn signal sockets from the local auto parts store for about $6 and the rear brake light/turn signal sockets from classic parts for $10. While i was at it i replaced the plate light for $3. Also it did not come with the harness from the back of the heater switch that goes to the heater resistor. thats the only wiring i had to reuse, it was still in real good shape. glad i waited to throw the old fire hazard harness out.

[Shooters_7]

Did the "painless" harness have the wiring to the rear of the truck and you just had to replace the old tailight buckets or what? I was thinking about getting this one or the American Autowire for the LS conversion I was going to do on my truck. The old harness has been splice into and patched way too many times and needs updating!!!

[willyp]

the painless kit had the wire to the rear of the truck for the tailights and i all ready had the buckets, i just needed this pigtail.

http://www.classicparts.com/1954-66-...ctinfo/55-152/

also the painless kit comes with "growth" wire installed into the harness for electric choke, electric cooling fan, or under bed fuel tank and a couple other things. if i didnt use it i just coiled it up, capped it with heat shrink and zip tied it up under the dash. but its still there just incase.

[lakeroadster]

The universal Painless kit does not have the rear tailight sockets. Since it is "universal" Painless assumes you already have tailights and will splice into them. If yours are junk follow willyp's advice and go down to the local auto parts place and get the $6 replacements. No big deal.