"Albert" -- 1949 AD, S10 Chassis

[HUSSEY]

I recently placed an order with 4RCustoms. He has an eBay store and a webpage which fills custom wire orders. I put together a list and he priced me out an order of 12 color coded wires. I had a couple circuits I wanted to add to my chassis wiring harness plus I wanted to maintain the correct colors for a few of the wires which stretch from the engine wiring harness to the chassis wiring harness. I’ve gotten a few of these added to my harness and have a couple more to go then I’ll be ready to get the fuse box mounted up and start pulling and terminating wire.

[HUSSEY]

I’ve been knocking out the wiring bit by bit. I spent a couple days organizing the harness, re-routing a couple wires in it and adding a couple circuits. I think I also just spent a couple days staring at it making sure I had all the wires bundled into the groups I wanted, studying where everything would hook up, and planning my wire routing. I’m using a Painless Performance 21 circuit harness, P/N 10101. It was a bit pricy though so far I don’t have any complaints. Here’s a couple random pictures of the progress.

[99 to Life]

oh yah, wiring takes so much longer than people think. Just figuring out the "best" spot for the panel, making a backing panel and getting it mounted takes hours. I always say a decent wire job takes atleast 40hrs. Prolly way more you start adding door poppers and air ride etc.

have you ever used this loom? I really like this stuff, you can get different colors too. They make split and tube. http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-FT-1-2-B...MAAOSwZtJW9Z84

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

have you ever used this loom? I really like this stuff, you can get different colors too. They make split and tube. http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-FT-1-2-B...MAAOSwZtJW9Z84

I have seen that type of loom but not at that good of price. I think it's more attractive than the common plastic loom, I may have to get some a try it for some of my under hood wiring.

[joedoh]

I have dealt with wiring in most of my careers (installer, avionics tech, engineer) nothing makes me less excited than doing wiring, but nothing makes me more excited than seeing wiring done right. you are doing it right!

[HUSSEY]

^^^^^
Thanks, keeping it clean and organized is what helps keep my sanity.

[HUSSEY]

You all might have noticed that the print on the fuse block is upside down. This would be one gripe I have with the wiring harness. Painless routed the wiring out of the bottom and not the top, which makes little sense to me. You really can't simply flip the harness because the wires would be then be in somewhat of a bind, they lay more naturally staying with the way Painless routed them.

[av8tr33337]

Originally Posted by HUSSEY

So that's what those buggers are called, "adel" clamps. I had a hard time finding them at a good price, the hardware store wants $1/piece. I bought 50 in three different sizes from a guy on eBay that sells them in bulk, he called them P-Clamps. A search on eBay for adel clamps turned up 500+ results!

FYI...I've experienced that eBay has been a great source for misc. items like wire loom, electrical crimp terminals, wire, cable, adel clamps. heat shrink, switches etc. Most vendors ship for free, or for a low fee with combined shipping, and get stuff typically gets out within a day.

Hey HUSSEY do you remember what size clamps you ordered???? Not sure whats best for the fuel line. I would also like to get a few for my 3/16? brake lines.

Thanks Bartman

[47 Fasttoys]

40 hours.....hahaha, I ended up with over 200 hours in my wiring. The only advice I can give is run spares as you will be adding things you may not think of later.
Rob

[oldman3]

Very nice job on the wiring...Jim

[HUSSEY]

I'm still working on the wiring. I've got the rear lights working, gauges hooked up, indicator lights, ECM, and I'm currently finishing off the under-hood. Following that it'll be the front lights. It was satisfying last night to put the main fuse in and see the turn signal, parks, brakes, and turn lights and signal indicators all working like they should. I think I'll be right about 99's 40 hr estimate, well maybe closer to 50. Having bought an aftermarket ECU harness for my fuel injection saved quite a bit of time. The wiring itself hasn't been very challenging, what takes most of the time is the physical routing.

[99 to Life]

nice congrats. To me having the wiring hooked up is one of the best feelings, it really gives the vehicle life. Glad to see you aren't doubling that 40hr mark. Which can easily be done. That was just my bare minimum. Indicator lights always add time. I'v learned to make hubs under the dash for grounds and pwr. I always always wire in a kill switch under the seat.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I'v learned to make hubs under the dash for grounds and pwr. I always always wire in a kill switch under the seat.

I did the exact same thing. I bought a four terminal junction block from Fastronix and hooked two and two together with a smashed piece of copper tubing. One of the terminal pairs is for powering the gauges, tach, and indicator lights that are ground switched (check engine and temp warning light). The other terminal pair is for gauge and tack lighting. The ground is simply a bolt and nut onto my brake bracket. Worked pretty well.

[HUSSEY]

I'm waiting in line at the DMV.** I might be taking a test drive soon...even if it's just down the road and back I want to be legit with insurance and tags.

I'm going to run this year of make plate. I hope the counter I get knows what they're* doing...last time I did this it took several people to figure out how to issue year of make plates. EDIT: The gal I had knew what was what, she had me out of there in five minutes.

[iowaboynca]

Good luck.

[99 to Life]

plate looks awesome. getting all the paper and tags is a great feeling. can be a pia sometimes to deal with. other times its cool. I luv when they fan out on the year you tell them. sometimes they ask me if I have any pictures of the trucks etc. last title I did they didn't even charge me the notary fee!!! its exciting getting these on the road for the first time.

[joedoh]

sweet!

the tag office here has a text system so you dont have to wait in line. works great, except when you bought your neighbors car and had a lien release faxed to the tag office, and go three times because they say they havent gotten it, and have it faxed again every time, and you finally realize that they arent bothering to look at the OWNER NAMES on the lien release but intead only look at the LIENHOLDER NAMES, and since GMAC was bought by Ally bank, three times they "didnt have it yet, call and have it faxed again" turned into "oh here it is" with three copies when they finally looked at the owner name. so usually 2.5 hours in line turned into a week total and 2.5 hours driving back and forth.

YOM plates are registered as personal plates, if you are running them try to get BOTH plates because sometimes the one you find has a matching plate someone has already registered. last year I missed a 1949 kansas truck plate on ebay that was printed with the number upside down! man I wanted that one.

[Mbean]

Hussey,

I just want to say what a great build you have put together, and it really has helped me out with my 49 AD build. Congrats and I hope the test ride goes great.

I do need a little advice. I have found 3 Blazers and one Bravada in the local junk yard. The s10 forums are not helping. What rear would you get?

Thanks

[1952ssr]

I took one like you have and mated the old with the new on mine. Just used some 2 part epoxy and worked like a champ.

[DeanTX]

Mbean there are codes to decifer to identify rear ends. Search posts by 99-to-Life I believe he posted them. First priority is getting a 4x4 rear as they are wider. Otherwise pick your ratio and a posi is also nice but not mandatory.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by 84blaze

Can you measure for me how far your running board mounts hang below the frame?

I had forgot about this but captured a pic when I was in the garage last night. Looks like 1-1/4 in.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by av8tr33337

Hey HUSSEY do you remember what size clamps you ordered???? Not sure whats best for the fuel line. I would also like to get a few for my 3/16? brake lines.

Thanks Bartman

Hey Bartman, I ordered an assortment of 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 in. They came marked 10, 12, and 16 mm. which is close. I got them from eBay seller ael-supply:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/ael-supply/m...1&_ipg=&_from=

I found out that I used mostly the 12 mm clamps. I ended up buying more 12's from him. He will also combine shipping.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by Mbean

Hussey,

I just want to say what a great build you have put together, and it really has helped me out with my 49 AD build. Congrats and I hope the test ride goes great.

I do need a little advice. I have found 3 Blazers and one Bravada in the local junk yard. The s10 forums are not helping. What rear would you get?

Thanks

Thanks, I grabbed mine out of a Bravada but I don't think it would make any difference if it came out of a Bravada or Blazer, just check the production codes on the glove box door, as noted by DeanTX above. Here's a good listing of them:

http://www.sierragear.com/gm-rpo-axl...ation-codes-3/

FYI, mine was a GT4, which is a 3.73 gear and G80, which is the limited slip. I think a 3.73 gear is an all around good gear if you are running an overdrive transmission.

[rusty76]

Awesome build. Really great writing and pics. Thanks for taking the time to document all this. Its totally cool.

[HUSSEY]

So its been a while since I've had a change to work on my truck. Last week my wife and I took the kiddos on vacation then as soon as we got home I had to go back to work and my wife which works as a nurse had multiple shifts in a row which puts me on the clock with the kids. I'm at about 90 percent done with my wiring and have been sitting around during lunch daydreaming about what all I want to get done in the next month. So far I have come up with the following list:

1. New Oil Pressure Sender
2. Knock Sensor Wiring, New Route, Fiberglass Loom
3. Rear Wheel Adapters, Install and Torque
4. Motor Mount Bolts and Nuts
5. Misc. Firewall and Floor Hole Plugs
6. Flush Coolant
7. Change Oil
8. Pre Test Drive Inspection, Torque Check
9. Test Drive
10. Calibrate Speedometer
11. Head Light and Fog Light Wiring From Relays
12. Install 2nd Alternator Output Wire
13. Install Front Cowl
14. Shorten Bench Seat Center Support
15. Install Bench Seat
16. Tachometer Wiring
17. Speedometer Lighting Wiring
18. Install Speaker Cover and Glove Box Door
19. Seat Belts
20. Cut Front Coils, Fix S10 Lean
21. Install Fog Lights
22. Replace Water Pump w/ Heater Hose Outlet
23. Rebuild Heater Box
24. Source Heater Box 12v Motor
25. Third Brake Light Flash Module
26. Neutral Safety Switch Wiring
27. Radio and Speaker Wiring
28. Install Coolant Overflow
29. Exhaust, Muffler to Out Back
30. Return Door Panels and Headliner
31. New One Piece Headliner
32. Cigarette Lighter Wiring
33. Paint and Install Door Panels
34. Bed Wood, Rough Saw, P-Treated, Smooth Oak???
35. Bed Wood Sides
36. Windshield Wipers, Vacuum or Electric?
37. Dome Light Wiring
38. Accessory Wiring
39. Determine P-Brake Setup, Purchase, Install

Man...sometimes it seems like it never ends. I like working on my truck but I'm getting really anxious being so close to a "driving state". At least one day this weekend is looking pretty open for garage time so I'm hoping I can reach a point to where I can do a couple of shakedown runs in the next week or two. More pics to come as I finish up the wiring.