How hard is it to re-wire a whole truck?

[waynaferd]

The reason I ask is my firewall is pretty soft up towards the cowl, and from maybe 4" above the floorboard seam is rotted out.

Also, when I first got the truck and was driving it, there were 2 toggle switches wired up to get marker and stop/turn lights to work, so its a cluster F'd rats nest up underneath the dash.

So, instead of moving wires here and there, and being careful not to melt/burn them while cutting/welding, I just as soon tear it all out and start from scratch when the body work is done.

I know this ain't so bad as a new truck with 16 or so seperate computers and what-not, but I don't believe it to be easy easy, either.

Its hard to say what my wiring skills are ( I can do a stereo and amp pretty well!!), but I figure if you guys can give me a heads up about some things that aren't expected or as easy as it seems, I would appreciate it!!

Also, does painless or anyone make a ready-to-go harness for the bumps?

Thanks!!

[fordman]

i don't think any of the aftermarket companies sell ready to go harnesses. i think you have to reuse your old plugs to put on the wiring they sell you. as far as making your own harness it could be done if you have the tiem to to it.

[garner67]

I don't think it's that difficult, but it will take a lot of time. Well, it took me a lot of time to rewire my Mustang. Having never working on a auto electrical system, I had a lot to learn. However, it's really not complicated. I just had to go slow and pay attention to details. When I rewired my Mustang, I used a Painless harness. Having the color & number coded wires helps keep everything organized. Another option is to look for a donor truck and take the whole harness out of it (or find someone selling an old harness).

good luck.

[waynaferd]

Holy hell 15-20 hours!!

I think running wires for the tails and head lights would probably be easy enough, its just all the other wires that go to the motor and such. I'm gonna go look at the painless wiring kit and decide from there, I suppose.

Thanks everybody!!

[basketcase0302]

http://www.source-products.com/public_h ... inline.htm
http://order.waytekwire.com/products2/M ... ONNECTORS/

Hope the above helps!
I've seen one member here start the complete re-wiring of our trucks, just to abandon it later.

[91Bear]

Holy hell 15-20 hours!!

Is that good or bad?

[fordman]

i spread otu my old 67 harness last night tryign to figure out how the heck the po had it in there and working. and i couldnt remember anything about how what went to what becasue there wasnt a single old ford plug left on that harness at all. how long would it take? 2-3 half days working on it for just the cab wiring probably. that is replacing the plugs onto the new wiring to make the harness.

[fitzwell]

Holy hell 15-20 hours!!

I think running wires for the tails and head lights would probably be easy enough, its just all the other wires that go to the motor and such. I'm gonna go look at the painless wiring kit and decide from there, I suppose.

Thanks everybody!!

15 -20 hours is a decent estimate. The more time you take, both in the layout, and in the install, the better the wiring looks/works.

[fordamericana]

http://www.source-products.com/public_h ... inline.htm
http://order.waytekwire.com/products2/M ... ONNECTORS/

Hope the above helps!
I've seen one member here start the complete re-wiring of our trucks, just to abandon it later.

That is helpful to me! Thanks. Now I don't have to reuse all of the old connectors...