best wiring harness for a 65 mustang?

[BoBo]

I've heard many bad things about painless here, but I'm finding it difficult to find a viable 2nd option. AAW from what I seen at their website deals with only GM products. If I go with a painless wiring harness I'm looking into getting a trunk mount 18-circuit universal. I understand that the universal will require more hours to complete, but the freedom of placement and extra ciruits IMO will be worth it. Has anyone out there used either the trunk or under dash universal harness from painless? My next question on that line is, do they supply you with all the connectors you need for thisupgrade, or is there a website out there that sells aftermarket connectors to hook up to my 65 mustang?

[Z06killinSBF]

Painless? I still have my hacked up factory piece.

[zbugger]

I don't think Painless supplies you with any connectors at all. You may want to look at the highway series from AAW. That might work well for you.

[Yelcamino]

When I wired my El Camino, I decided to go with M&H. The main reason was because I didn't want to have a "custom" wire harness with no schematic to follow if something quit working one day. M&H will also do a couple minor modifications if you wish when they build your harnesses. For my car I had them delete the external voltage regulator and wire it for a HEI distributor. Bumper to bumper harnesses cost about $800. I know it sounds pricey but considering how easy it was to install and the fact that everything works great makes it worth every penny.

Before I bought the M&H stuff, I looked into Painless and found out that they don't include any connectors which meant I would have to try to salvage all the connectors from a 34 year old harness. It didn't sound like a good time to me. :banghead:

Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

[kmcanally]

just curious...but why do you want to replace the factory harness? If it is butchered you can buy quality reproduction replacements from one of the many Mustang parts vendors.

[BoBo]

kmcanally... The original harness is still intact but severly corroded, wire itself has lost most conductivity. i've seen direct replacement harnesses but I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a few extra circuits. I'm gonna shave the trunk lock off for sure and I'm up in the air on the door handles

Yelcamino...My buddy went m&h, but he said they didn't have anything for ford. I don't know if they would be able to make a custom harness for a ford or not I'll have to look into their site a little closer.

Thanks you guys

[BoBo]

Zbugger... Thanks for the info on the aaw highway series. I'm goin to look at it right now

[Yelcamino]

What did you come up with BoBo?

Out of curiosity I checked out M&H's applications and they have mostly GM stuff and some for AMC. I never noticed that before! I learn something new every day!

[BoBo]

nothing so far, every site I've been to deals with GM. I just got an email back today from painless. I asked if the could sell me their universal trunk mount harness with the pig tail connectors from their car specific kit. He said that they do not sell the connectors seperate from the car specific harness. <-----I'm not sure but I think they just turned down the oppertunity to make a buck!
I did email aaw about their highway series 3 or 4 days ago about their ability to supply me with the harness for my car, but currently have gotten no reply. Can't remember who I emailed so I'm not trying to slam them or anything. If they didn't have a single ford harness on their site it's a long shot they would decide to start manufacturing on because of one email.
Year one can supply the stock harness for alot more money, but I like the idea of a trunk mounted harness. If I cannot find ALL the connectors I'll have to change my tune I guess!

[zbugger]

Call AAW and ask for Theresa. She posts here too, so you may be able to send her a PM. And yes, the primarily deal with GM stuff. You may have to just make some things work. But talk to Theresa first.

[BlackGMC]

Whats wrong with the painless harness, it looks pretty good to me? Is there something wrong with it?

[BoBo]

The stock replacement harness from painless is just that... stock. It doesn't supply me with the extra circuits I want like their trunk mount harness will. The trunk mount harness has 4 extra circuits!

[BlackGMC]

The stock replacement harness from painless is just that... stock. It doesn't supply me with the extra circuits I want like their trunk mount harness will. The trunk mount harness has 4 extra circuits!

Oh, I thought there was something actually wrong with the harness, but you just need more than it supplies. I gotcha..

[AAW]

Hi.
The Highway kit will work, it'll take a lot of splicing to your factory switches (ex. wiper, ignition, etc) but it will definitely work. Here's the Highway 15 Kit, there's also a Highway 22 if you need addt'l circuits.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Read about Hwy 15 & 22 both here (http://www.americanautowire.com/products/Highway_series.cfm).

We are in the process of developing an add-on kit for the Highway series. It will include a Ford Ignition Switch, Ford Alternator Harness, and a Duraspark Ignition Harness - but that won't be available for 2-3 months.

If you want original wiring for Ford, call Ken @ Alloy Metal. He's in New York and his # is 315-676-2405.

I'm here to help - so PM, Call, Email or just yell really loudly. I'll do what I can.

[Madspeed]

Whats wrong with the painless harness, it looks pretty good to me? Is there something wrong with it?

The issues I personally have run across are as follows.

Ford f250 harness ... all done with Butt connectors...... I reterminated everything and used the factory plug housings

Turn on right turn signal and R R t sig worked and left front was blinking..

Incorrect guage wiring to the heater blower motor

650 bucks aint my idea of a deal for a big a$$ bag of but connectors
Crappy fuse block and poor workmanship

Ls conversion In a jeep.....
Painless does not have actual technicians answering phones on Numerouse calls. only somone that looks at alldata and really knowes not what hes looking at..
Aldata is not 100% accurate so If you dont know what your doing you would not know your chasing your tail......

I can ramble on for days lets just say if a customer brings me another Paininthearsse kit ill make him or her EAT it

What I personally want fron an aftermarkett harness is..
I want it to utalize the factory mounting style and configurations...
Use blade style fuses...
use factory terminals and connector housings..(Not but connectors)
And added circuts and relays for things like electric fuel pumps, fans, radios, power windows and lock options (Incl Trunk)

[BoBo]

Madspeed, I havn't heard of problems to that extent, but their lack of flexability had already sealed the deal. I'll wait till AAW comes out with their ford ignition highway series harness. It -6 f outside I can wait a couple of months! Gotta do the leg work though!