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Painless Wiring

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Dondo, Feb 19, 2010.

  1. Feb 19, 2010
    Dondo

    Dondo These are my good pants..

    Hutchinson, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2004
    Messages:
    314
    Anything I need to know? I have a diagram with all the circuits (and potential future circuits). Looks like I can just have one built to order and start wiring.

    I know there is more to it than that however.

    Any suggestions or advice?
     
  2. Feb 19, 2010
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    Not much more than that to it. Just be sure to test fit everything before cutting to length, etc.

    I did the EZ Wire in my orange Jeep, very easy.

    If you need help, holler, I'll be happy to come down on a Saturday or Sunday again and help.
     
  3. Feb 19, 2010
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

    Grand Mesa, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2006
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    1,362
    Hey, yeah, I'll come up and watch!
    Someday, I'll do this same thing, but not until my original wires give trouble.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2010
  4. Feb 19, 2010
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,524
    pretty easy
    as Sparky said, lay it all out carefully
    no cutting till all are routed
    routing and bundling takes the most time
     
  5. Feb 19, 2010
    Don X

    Don X The Prodigal Moderator Staff Member 2023 Sponsor

    San Diego,...
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2007
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    3,383
    When can you be here?
     
  6. Feb 19, 2010
    wlkrpines

    wlkrpines Member

    FERNDALE, MT
    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2008
    Messages:
    61
    If hes going to San Diego....

    Maybe the Sparky tour 2010!
     
  7. Feb 19, 2010
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
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    4,514
    I guess I have never seen the value in those expensive Painless looms. At least up to the FI era, everything is pretty simple and if you have a good diagram, just make your own-way less $ and you will know whats there when your done. Waytec is a good source for Weatherpack/Metripack Delphi/Packard terminals and the Bussmann fuse/relay blocks which I now use in everything I wire. As noted above, just lay everything out before you start and the fewer connectors you can use, the better.
     
  8. Feb 19, 2010
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221
    I see the value in wires labeled every 6" as to what they are. Not to mention I don't have to try to put it together myself.

    At some point DIY isn't worth DIY just for DIY's sake to me. Sure, I could get all the parts and make one myself, but if someone offers one for ~$150 that's worth not having the headache of ordering everything, forgetting something (which will happen) trying to put it all together, forgetting which color wire went where, etc. :beer:
     
  9. Feb 19, 2010
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,524

    when I still had the F4 in my Jeep, I rewired it from scratch.
    Not difficult as you mentioned, and I added a small, Radio Shack fuse block.
    I decided at my very last frame-off 8 years ago, to go the Painless route as the coloring and identification of the wires was something I wanted.
    And I wanted an updated fuse panel.
    It was worth it to me, every penny, even though I did not use all the circuits; they are coiled up and tucked away under the dash.
     
  10. Oct 26, 2010
    Dondo

    Dondo These are my good pants..

    Hutchinson, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2004
    Messages:
    314
    Well, here I am again. After wheeling her a couple of weekends ago (nice seeing you again Dave, and JC is amazing to watch). I decided that this is the winter for a little Jeep maintenance and easy upgrades. I am about to order the painless wiring setup for Jeeps '74 and older. Don't known when I will do it, but after reading the supplied PDF it looks to be something that the ol
    Girl is going to benefit from. Anyone still open to headed to Hutch for a Saturday, drinking my beer and watching me mess up a wiring harness?
    :rofl:
     
  11. Oct 26, 2010
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    5,349
    Before ordering Painless look into the EZ wire. Its almost a 1/3rd the cost and every bit as good, better when the cost savings is thrown in.
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2010
  12. Oct 26, 2010
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    If you do it before I leave I might have time to help.

    I went the EZ Wire route, myself.
     
  13. Oct 26, 2010
    Pilly's Willy

    Pilly's Willy New Member

    Summerville, SC
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    23
    I just finished my EZ wiring kit last week. Super easy and cheaper then a Painless. I got the mini 12 circuit and was $135. Had more wires then I even needed.

    P.S. I used to live in Haven, I have a some buddies in Yoder that would be glad to come help drink beer and talk about jeeps with ya.
     
  14. Oct 26, 2010
    technologyteacher

    technologyteacher Member

    Elkin NC
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2009
    Messages:
    903
    I used the ez wire this summer. Much Cheaper in price. The guy helping me had used both painless and ez wire and said he preferred ez wire over painless. If you look on e bay you can save even more off of ez wire's website.
     
  15. Oct 27, 2010
    theotherjmmy

    theotherjmmy Member

    Austin, Texas
    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
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    156
    Another vote for the EZ. When I rewired mine I used a small 12v battery to check things as I went along. If you put a fuse and a switch between some small alligator clips you can feel comfortable as you go along and solve problems 1 at a time.
     
  16. Oct 27, 2010
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

    Grand Mesa, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2006
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    Alright! I'm still game to come watch (and help). I have a new Northwest Autowire harness for mine (similar to EZ), but haven't installed it yet.
     
  17. Oct 31, 2010
    BrettM0352

    BrettM0352 Member

    Fort Worth, TX
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2010
    Messages:
    448
    The main argument supporters of painless have is that it has pre-terminated wires.

    The harness that Painless sells for pre-74 cj's (P/N 10105) has all open-ended wires. Here's the quote from the product description:

    IMO no point in going Painless for a pre-74. I'm going with EZ on my project.
     
  18. Oct 31, 2010
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    Another vote for EZ-Wire here.
     
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