Buy a wiring harness or build?

bobbyknoxville · 10-22-2007, 05:31 AM

Hey guys,
Yes another newbie post.. The wiring on my 74 CJ5 was pretty much done by a first grader. I have looked into a after market wiring harness (for the record, the only electrical thing that works other that the engine is .... nothing! not even a fuse box on the jeep) would I be better off to build it myself with a heavier gauge wire or just buy one and install it? Thanks for you advice!

**Scrambler82** · 10-22-2007, 06:15 AM

IHMO... if you have knowledge of the Jeep's electrical system and how to fuse a circuit then it might be good to do it yourself but if you do not have the experience with automotive electrical then buy a kit and read the directional and do it by the book.

When you first start off, wire the vehicle for the basic Jeep operations, i.e. engine running, lights working.

Then once the vehicle is running OK, look into what you want for extras and wire those yourself, i.e Off-Road Lights, Fog Light, Reverse Lights, Winch, etc.

Again IMHO, working with a known good harness, like Painless, Centech or others, will let you
concentrate on getting it in so it looks good and you will have all of the parts needed to get it in right the first time.

Luck,

hfjeff · 10-22-2007, 06:50 AM

I agree with scrabler82. I used a Painless 10110 preterminated and it went really well. A couple small questions for their tech support, but for the most part I figured it all out. Everything was nice and neat and labeled. It is all in wire looms and the connectors are all on. The only thing I really had to do was run grounds to all the metal as my tub is glass. Good Luck.

algmmech · 10-22-2007, 07:00 AM

I agree with Scrambler82, if you have got wiring knowledge, do it yourself. When I bought my jeep, wires were melted together, wires spliced into other circuits. not one fuse was operational just by-passed. The only thing that worked was one tail lamp. I removed every single wire, seperated all the wires and was able to build my own wiring harness from the old wires. I wired toggle switches to operate relays for lights, fan and wipers. I drew my own wiring schematics as I went. I reused most of the connectors and just installed new terminals into the connectors. In 1974, Jeep only had a few in line fuses that were difficult to find or replace. So I wired a fuse box that was easy to get to.

What I'm getting at, is that it isn't that difficult. If you do it yourself, you will also be able to repair it yourself if anything happens on the trail.

**spk454** · 10-22-2007, 07:02 AM

mine came with a centech already in it, but their tech support has been good as i repair/modify my wiring.

jfwireless · 10-22-2007, 07:57 AM

I just bought a used 1990's Wrangler harness and installed in my 76 cj. That was easier than building one myself.

If you have the knowledge and time do it yourself, otherwise get a kit and play it safe.

Think about how you will change your wiring to support additional fuses and additional accessory support.

Changing out to a later model firewall connector and harness will give you more connections and larger wire sizes between the dash and engine compartment for future work like TBI, additional gauges, fog lights, electric fuel pump, stereo/amp and anything else you might want or need.

Just sit down and think about it for a few minutes. Write down what you want and will need for the next few years and make sure you have the wiring/fusing to support it.

Jim

**5artist5** · 10-22-2007, 08:55 AM

I wired my 72 myself. I may have made it more complicated than it needed to be. But it was fun and I am very happy with it.

**jatepper** · 10-22-2007, 09:03 AM

Buy the kit. Will make you life a lot easier, and it will look cleaner in the jeep too.

bobbyknoxville · 10-22-2007, 10:27 AM

Thanks for the advice!

CJSAMM · 10-22-2007, 11:33 AM

First I am sorry to HIJACK, but I am running into almost the same problem. Where is the best place to buy a new harness for a CJ5 1977 any links ?

**jatepper** · 10-22-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJSAMM

First I am sorry to HIJACK, but I am running into almost the same problem. Where is the best place to buy a new harness for a CJ5 1977 any links ?

A little pricy, but they all are. Here is one from quadratec.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/17016_00.htm

CJ Chet · 10-22-2007, 05:01 PM

Building from scratch you would have to round up all the connectors, a real PITA! I put a Painless pre-terminated harness in mine and it went in real easy. I do have the knowledge and expertise, but I wouldn't build one!
Also check out Ronfrancis.com. You don't hear much about his stuff, but he makes a GREAT harness.

nottooslow · 10-22-2007, 06:31 PM

I am in the process of doing a CJ7 wire for wire and bypassing and removing the EECU. I am also helping with a CJ5 with a harness from Quick Wire or Kwick Wire. Its a universal street rod harness. I'm not impressed with the fuse block that came with the particular harness, but it sure is nice to have a harness. And reusing the old connectors and just putting new guts in them isn't that hard. Just my $0.02.