1957 chev. replacement wiring harness

[nomad]

Who makes the best, and most accurate, complete replacement wiring harness for a 1957 Chevrolet passenger car?

[chevynut]

American Autowire. If you're looking for an accurate original replacement, they have it. They also offer a "Classic Update" harness that includes modern modifications like an alternator and fuse panel., among other things.

[scorpion1110]

CN is correct if you want a direct fit plug and play.

I installed one in a 48 Chevy PU and I didnt like the quality however. I installed a Painless harness in a 66 Nova and felt the same way. They were OK but not great, and the instructions came in indiviual sheets.

In my Hotrod builds I use Kwik Wire. It just is generally better quality IMO than the Factory Fit (American Autowire) or Painless Harnesses. The fuse block has a stainless cover and an ignition kill switch. The wire lengths are good, the instruction booklet is spiral bound and you get good quality extras. These guys are always at Carlisle and you can see their stuff.

For additional parts also try Ron Francis- good quality. I also believe they have harnesses for Tri-fives.

But again if you want to just plug and play, follow CN's advice.

Scorp

[carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)]

as stated, most will recommend AAW.

[nomad]

Hey thanks , for the important information on the wiring harness. A complete wiring harness is not something that I want to pay my restorer friend to install, only to find out that their was a better quality wire harness available. This is a very high quality restoration that my friend is doing on my 1957 Nomad. He has had at least 6 restorations featured in Hemming classic car magazine, and I am glad to have him to do the restoration. The Nomad was a nice original number's matching car to begin with. I have purchased a nice set of original 57 power- Pac heads, an original 4 barrel air cleaner a correct re-built 4 barrel distributor with the correct advance weights, car was originally a two barrel set up. It's sometimes easy to just make a large order from a major parts supplier , but to have you guys at: Tri-fives help,me and pick and choose who has the best re-pro parts when needed, will make the restoration better. I have already bought NOS Delco fuse box panel, Turn signal switch, Ignition switch, headlight switch, heater blower switch, horn relay, etc... etc.. etc..thanks again for the help! Carl thanks for your service, and every one should try and buy only "America made products" or we will all soon pay the price.

[chevynut]

It's sometimes easy to just make a large order from a major parts supplier

It's possible that your preferred supplier carries the AAW harness. Danchuk does.... https://www.danchuk.com/ItemForm.aspx?Item=414

[Rick_L]

There is a huge difference between AAW and the others mentioned. AAW comes with most wires terminated, and includes several parts that won't be in the others, because they are universal kits, rather than 55-57 specific. The only reason to use a universal kit is if you're moving some of the components or adding things that wouldn't be in a stock or near stock car. With a universal kit, you'll have to terminate virtually every wire.

[chevynut]

Or you could try this....LOL! :p

9625

[scorpion1110]

There is a huge difference between AAW and the others mentioned. AAW comes with most wires terminated, and includes several parts that won't be in the others, because they are universal kits, rather than 55-57 specific. The only reason to use a universal kit is if you're moving some of the components or adding things that wouldn't be in a stock or near stock car. With a universal kit, you'll have to terminate virtually every wire.

Rick your right and I still hated the AAW kit. Maybe because I just want my stuff a certain way- but in comparison, laying them out, the AAW just seemed cheaper.

Different strokes.....

Scorp

[nomad]

Wow that's a lot of wires! I am just looking for the best Quality , closest to OEM original complete wire harness for my 1957 Nomad that money can buy.

[Rick_L]

the AAW just seemed cheaper.

In what way?


I am just looking for the best Quality

What makes a wire harness "quality" for you?


closest to OEM original

AAW is that, there really is no competition.

[scorpion1110]

Rick-

Heres what I observed:

The AAW wire casing wasnt as nice as the Kwik Wire harness. Felt cheaper. First thing I noticed. Had one of each to compare.
The writing on the AAW wiring was not as legible as the Kwik wire printing.
The Kwik wire fuse block has a fitted cover
The Kwik Wire harness has an integrated kill switch
The Kwik Wire harness instruction manual is a spiral bound book, the AAW was a series of random pages.
The ancillary stuff provided with the Kwik Wire harness was comprehensive and thorough. Everything needed +

Rick I sense you have installed the AAW, have you installed the Kwik Wire or the Painless Harness? I have talked to these guys a bunch of times at Carlisle and I like how they do things.

I put the Painless Harness in a 1966 Nova, The AAW in a 48 Chevy Pick-up, a Lectric Limited in a 65 Corvette, a Kwik Wire in a 46 Chevy Coupe, a Kwik wire in a 68 Chevy C10, and the Kwik wire in the 55 Handyman.

Not an expert but have done some wiring. I refuse to restore cars anymore. I went through that with the Corvette; its really not fun for me.

Its ok that you like the AAW stuff. I don't, and won't install one again. Interestingly, my friend with a fried harness in his 55 Chevy Sedan saw the Kwik wire on my work bench and he liked it enough that he plans to use one. So I guess its not always about plug and play and pre-terminated ends.

I kinda feel like its whatever the builder likes. The poster asked and I shared my opinion.

Scorp

[Rick_L]

Actually I haven't used an AAW harness but wouldn't hesitate if the situation was right. My current project is getting a Painless harness for its own reasons.

The marking on the wires doesn't concern me. On a modified car some are repurposed anyway.

Do you know what insulation AAW uses (GXL/TXL/pvc/other)? And what Kwik Wire uses? Is one thicker/thinner/harder/softer? Why do you prefer the one you like?

Did the Kwik Wire have all the connectors for the ignition switch, headlight/taillight harness etc?

[scorpion1110]

Its a good question-

I actually sourced the AAW harness and did the install for a good friend. Its what he wanted. The wiring felt lighter and the casing had a cheap feel. Its hard to explain. I also was having trouble reading the writing on the casing. I will ask the KW guys if I see them at Carlisle. The KW wiring has a really good feel, feels a bit heavier. And they install nice.

But its always a matter of preference. And as you and CN said, it will work well for his resto.

Scorp

[chevynut]

Most good wiring harnesses are made with GXL wire, not a cheap PVC insulated wire. The difference is that GXL insulation is a thermoset, and will not burn. It chars but will not support a flame. PVC will burn. I bought a harness from Hot Rod Wires and they advertised it as GXL.....it wasn't. So I got them to send me all replacement GXL wire, but I ditched the whole mess and started from scratch. Also, I believe most of the circuits would use 18 gauge wires so if one "felt" smaller it could be the insulation thickness or type of insulation. I'd much rather have a thinner GXL wire than a thick PVC-insulated wire of the same gauge. It looks like Kwik Wire uses GXL wire as I'm sure AAW does.

I had looked at Kwik Wire and noticed they only make "generic" harnesses. None of what they offered really met my needs with all my electrical stuff in the center console and lots of extra wires needed for switches, modules, etc. I also noticed they use "stackable" fuse blocks and their largest one is 20 fuses. I used the same fuse blocks and made mine 24 fuses (6 blocks). There's no way any off-the-shelf harness would have worked for my car and wouldn't even make a good starting point. I would have still had to do a lot of expansion and modifications so it made more sense to build my own.

This is what the modular stackable fuse blocks that Kwik Wire uses look like and I used 6 of them.

https://www.delcity.net/images/photos/450px/73895_primary_450px.jpg?v=20180201154303

It's definitely a lot more work (and probably more expensive) starting from scratch, but you get exactly what you want with a custom build. I wouldn't want to try to duplicate an original harness from scratch since there's so many special connectors and sockets to deal with. Also, I HATE pigtails and would rather crimp my own connectors.

[55 Rescue Dog]

I wouldn't care if I had an original harness, but if the OP wanted something truly original I would think it would be possible to find a nice restorable OE harness. I have one still in my 55 that if I wanted to it could be cleaned up and reused, but I won't.

[chevynut]

I wouldn't care if I had an original harness, but if the OP wanted something truly original I would think it would be possible to find a nice restorable OE harness. I have one still in my 55 that if I wanted to it could be cleaned up and reused, but I won't.

Even if I found an NOS one, I wouldn't use it. After 60+ years the crappy OEM plastic insulation is going to be brittle and so would the connectors. If the car was going to sit in a museum for the rest of its life, and the owner wanted every nut, bolt, and screw to be original, it might make sense. The AAW Factory Fit harness is probably the best duplicate of the original harness out there. One thing I've noticed though, is nobody has an OEM-type glove box light switch that looks like the original. I "restored" an original one.

[Rick_L]

Check out this description of different wire insulation thicknesses, with cross-linked polyethylene wire. Also a note about pvc insulation.

https://www.kayjayco.com/catPWireSelect.htm

Using txl insulation, the thinnest, saves OEMs a lot of weight these days because there's so many wires in a vehicle.

[55 Rescue Dog]

Even if I found an NOS one, I wouldn't use it. After 60+ years the crappy OEM plastic insulation is going to be brittle and so would the connectors. If the car was going to sit in a museum for the rest of its life, and the owner wanted every nut, bolt, and screw to be original, it might make sense. The AAW Factory Fit harness is probably the best duplicate of the original harness out there. One thing I've noticed though, is nobody has an OEM-type glove box light switch that looks like the original. I "restored" an original one.
I didn't say I would use a OE harness either, but there are plenty of 100 year old cars that work great with original wiring. Of course you wouldn't want to use broken insulation and corroded connectors, but electricity has no moving parts. I wouldn't attempt to wire up an old car to be like a new one either. They are even worse. A troubleshooting nightmare, and much more complicated than an old car. Simpler the better. The AAW harness is not ORIGINAL.

[Troy]

Check out this description of different wire insulation thicknesses, with cross-linked polyethylene wire. Also a note about pvc insulation.

https://www.kayjayco.com/catPWireSelect.htm

Using txl insulation, the thinnest, saves OEMs a lot of weight these days because there's so many wires in a vehicle.

Thanks for the link Rick_L I've been looking for a good wiring supplier!!

[Rick_L]

Just a note, it's not who I use, it's just a short but fairly complete description of the different common wire insulation. But they may be a great supplier too.

Which brings up a point. Few if any wiring harness manufacturers make their own wire.

[chevynut]

I didn't say I would use a OE harness either, but there are plenty of 100 year old cars that work great with original wiring.

Yeah I'm sure there's thousands of 1919 cars running around with original wiring. :D


I wouldn't attempt to wire up an old car to be like a new one either. They are even worse. A troubleshooting nightmare, and much more complicated than an old car. Simpler the better.

If one doesn't know how to wire up complex systems and troubleshoot them, one shouldn't attempt it. You should only do what you have the skills to do and leave the complicated stuff to those who know what they're doing.


The AAW harness is not ORIGINAL.

I didn't say it was. I said it's the closest reproduction of the original on the market.

[chevynut]

Troy, here's a couple of others to check out....

https://www.wirebarn.com/GXL-Automotive-Wire-by-the-Foot_c_29.html

https://4rcustomswire.com/