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Complete new harness or repair old one?

Mean Green

Mean Green

Basic User
City
edinburg
State
tx
Evening guys,
My first post ever here, so bear with me please. I just bought a 81 scrambler that was supposedly a daily driver. Upon further inspection, the under dash wiring is chronic rats nest and there are numerous wires cut or unhooked in the engine bay. The only functioning thing on the dash is the tach, and I have no right turn signals or reverse lights.i'm just looking for opinions, do I sort though all the mess or replace the whole thing with a painless kit. Has anyone gone with a kit from front to back and had any success with it? I have searched quite a bit and depending on which one, they range from $400 to $900... Any insight would help, thanks in advance
 
I've done two painless kits, a 79 cj7 and just did the 82 cj8. Both use the same kit (tail wiring runs a different root, straight shot out the drivers wheel well, cj7 inside the tub to take up the slack). Only complaint is the cj7 I did years ago, they labeled every wire. The kit for the cj8 I just did they had some of the wires with wire ties and had a label for the whole plug (ex. the ignition switch). If you just plug in you are ok, If you change to a dash ignition switch you don't know which wire is which. Two of the wires are different colors from the original (and the schematic). A call to them and they can email you a schematic. Also this ebay site does a excellent color coded schematic that was very accurate and is also covered in plastic (just wipe the grease off and go). http://www.ebay.com/itm/320481571115?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
 
I'd go with Painless as Jammer1 said. Make it as trouble-free as possible. It will be worth the expense when the original harness goes south in multiple places. That's the advice I received and I followed it and am very pleased to have done so.
 
I did a Painless kit about a year ago. It was my first venture into wiring and with some help from a few members on this forum it was a breeze! I highly recommend the pre-terminated kit. You still have to make some connections but for the most part it was complete!!


 
I did the painless kit too. Well worth the added reliability and confidence that it will be reliable. Go slow and steady, and it isn't to bad.

KK
 
Wow guys thanks for the info, ive obviously come to the right place... I'll order it and I'm sure I'll be back... Thanks again
 
There is another company called Centech. I have never used them but maybe check them out also. Smaller company than Painless
They used to be in a garage at their house across the street fron my buddies house 20 years ago. Company has since moved but still local to me in SE PA.
 
It's been a few years (4 maybe) since I researched Centech and Painless. I ended up going with Centech. Which means they both must be good... because we know Painless is good. ;)
 
I've used one from a place called Ron Francis. Good stuff, well marked.
 
Guys,
I really appreciate the info... I think I'm going with the centech kit, I spoke with them and looked it over and it seems like the way to go.... BUT..... I removed the dash yesterday to get a start on it and found the cowl, cowl supports and side pannels to be rotted much worse than I thought... I'm going to have to address this mess before I even start on the harness....I'm still in tear down mode, but I'm sure I'll have something for the bodywork section later... Thanks again
 
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