Wiring - Harness "i'm Going In!"

Have a '69 with Dauntless - Converted to HEI and one wire alternator. Can you order wiring harness with these electrical upgrades already set-up or do I need to order a stock harness from the big players and hack in? - Painless, Walcks, etc


I tried their customer service but they could only order the stock wiring, and really had no idea what I was talking about.

 

Walcks is a custom-made harness specifically for the CJ, so no cutting and splicing. It will be the same as the factory harness, except for any changes you might want. Painless et al supply a "hot rod" harness, which is basically a bunch of wires on a fuse panel and some instructions. All of the routing, cutting to length, and termination is your responsibility. Completely different thing.

 

My advice is to stay away from the painless brand

 

Thank you folks - I'll try Walcks custom harness and let you know how the upgrade is once complete. Any advice on additional wiring items I should request beyond the mods I've already made?

 

Was very "painless" for me.

 

I did the Walcks wiring harness in my 1971 cj5. In addition I added relays for the low and high beam lights. I added fuseable links, diodes. Mad Electric has lots of great ideas to make your electrical system work correctly and safely.

 

agreed. I did it on my 70, but it was 400 dollars, and I didn't use most of the wiring.
keeping that in mind, I bought an "A team performance wire harness" with 12 circuits for my wife's 62 cj for 45 bucks off of ebay a few weeks back, and installed that with zero issues and circuits to spare.

now, I do have a fhead, VS the v6, but can the 45 dollar/12 circuit harness be used in place of the painless brand wire harness, and save the OP 350 buckaroos? well, that's something only the OP can answer. I should have elaborated my point of view earlier I guess. the cost for my jeep harness vs the wife's wiring harness (same motors, lights, etc) makes me sad. I could have gotten a locker or something with the money I recently saved by avoiding the painless brand harness.

 

well, not painless on the wallet for sure.

 

If you go with the Walcks harness, it will have the same inline fuses and use the same wiring diagram as the original Jeep harness. A hot rod harness (whatever the brand and price) will have a fuse panel in a single location. That's important to some owners. With the Walcks harness, you can add an accessory panel for fuses and relays at a later date, should you choose. Up to you.

 

I wonder if there is difference in the quality of the wire itself between Painless and any of the others, that would explain the price difference. I've not used any of them so, I'm curious. Any of them would have been cheaper than what I did back around 1990.

 

There are many companies producing wiring harnesses for our Jeeps, Painless and Walck's are only two. The fastest way to find out what is offered is to contact the maker. Do a word search for "wiring harness". If you don't feel comfortable with their replies, go to another. Asking individuals about their experience is very subjective, you may be talking to an Electrical Engineer (EE) or someone who couldn't replace a light bulb without help. Good luck!

 

I went to put a new harness in my old 80 CJ5 and got one from the dealer. Expensive, way too many wires that weren't needed on my Jeep and ended up just redoing it to what worked on my Jeep. I learned how to make my own wiring harnesses on that one.