AAW Classic Update or Hwy 22

[Impala67]

I have a 69 camaro and a 56 Chevy that I will be needing harnesses for. What are the pros an cons of both products.

Thanks in advance for your input

[LS1NOVA]

If your using the stock hole in the firewalls Id go with the classic update. If not, the 22. I went with the 22 and it turned out great. I like that its terminated at the fuseblock so while installing you dont have ten feet of wire hanging off it.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Both will handle all your needs. As answered perfecly above, the Classis update is a bolt in for your car, but if you smooth the fues box opening, Hwy 22 it is. We are using a Hwy 22 on Project Unfair for that exact reasone, plus we are remot locating it to a completely different area then the firewall. But iuif fast and suimple is your thing, Classic Update for you.

[brans72]

send me a pic of where your putting the box Frank wanna see your mount etc of it. Brandon

[ProdigyCustoms]

I have lost that picture Brandon but it was behind the kick panel in the cowl and we ditched the E brake and used a hand brake

[carbuff]

Where do people typically mount the Highway 22 kit? Seems I remember that some people were mounting it in the trunk area? I'm contemplating this same decision. Access to the panel is obviously important. I was thinking it could be installed behind the glove box door...

[LS1NOVA]

You can mount it any where you want. I mounted mine where the factory one was to keep the ignition switch wires short. Behind the glove box would be fine just be sure to plan any a/c or heater first.

[wmhjr]

Here is an example of mounting my Highway 15 in my project. I fabricated an aluminum bracket assembly for inside my glove box. MSD 6AL-2 mounted flat (on isolators) on the right, and Highway 15 mounted vertically on the left (there's a vertical aluminum bracket with reinforcements behind it). The Highway 22 is a little larger so you'd have to make some adjustments. This pic is while the wiring was being done. It was cleaned up quite a bit, the grey wire that is coiled up there is insulated and shielded ignition wire that routes through to the distributor now. However, it's also a little busier in there as the Secret Audio SST and the Innovate LM-2 controller are also in there now.

[CreepinDeth]

Where do people typically mount the Highway 22 kit?

I mounted mine in the stock fuse panel location in my 78z.



Mind you I was a complete wiring moron before doing this, and the instructions and schematics are just so damn easy to read, I feel like a pro now. Every circuit crimped, soldered, shrink, it's immaculate, and I'm stoked at the end result for it being my first. This mated to my Speartech LS1 engine harness.

The wires on the left had plenty of room still even after putting the E-brake assembly back in. That's an incomplete photo obviously , but its' all done now. It was something that wasn't long enough, I think that's what it was. So mine is in the factory location with a Delphi 22 port bulkhead NASCAR connector.

IIRC you can't really mount it "Anywhere you want" because of the red, purple and pink 10 or 12 gauge power wires in the 3 prong clip aren't long enough from the trunk.

[wmhjr]

IIRC you can't really mount it "Anywhere you want" because of the red, purple and pink 10 or 12 gauge power wires in the 3 prong clip aren't long enough from the trunk.

It can easily be done. Depending on what you're doing you might have to purchase a little more wire. Remember, the Highway kits are kind of "generic" so you may be expected to need a few things that aren't in the kit for a custom installation.

BTW - "Goo Gone" or similar cleaners will remove the printing on the wires..... It's not an issue or criticism, just a note for people working on these kits. These are great kits. AAW stuff is excellent.

[CreepinDeth]

It can easily be done. Depending on what you're doing you might have to purchase a little more wire.

True, I was commenting from just what comes in the box, don't expect that to reach.

BTW - "Goo Gone" or similar cleaners will remove the printing on the wires.....

Why would you purposely WANT to remove that??
Hell I think that's one of the coolest features. Anywhere down the wire you can see EXACTLY what
circuit that wire belongs to without the guesswork or schematic. That's a HUGE plus for me.

I agree though, AAW blows away their competitors. I'll never use Painless again.
I'm a confirmed lifelong AAW customer now.

[wmhjr]

You might want to remove printing off some wires if you have preprinted wires you're going to use for a different purpose than what is printed on them. In my case, there are wires marked on the Highway 15 kit for things that aren't even in my car (heater fan) and there are missing wires for things that AAW would never conceive of (like my power convertible top setup using 2 double pole double throw relays) But that's not why I mentioned it. Though there were a couple wires I used for different purposes (it's a custom, right?) the real reason I brought it up was in case somebody used anything like Goo-Gone just to get oil, grease, or adhesive off - so that they would not remove the printing by accident.

BTW, regardless of the printing, everyone should VERY CLEARLY AND NEATLY document your electrical system. Do NOT depend on your memory, or on the writing printed on the wire.

[Rhino]

Do NOT depend on your memory, or on the writing printed on the wire.

Spoken like the voice of experience.
I think we've all been there.

[wmhjr]

Yup. I'll give you one better. Here's a bit of advice that goes even a step further. I'm more than a little anal retentive about details and documentation, so you don't need to go quite to the lengths I did, but...

Find somebody who has a decent good fast color scanner that scans directly to PDF. Take all your critical documents, including your wiring diagrams, and scan them all to PDF files. I did that with diagrams, specs, receipts, warranties, etc. Now you have a backup for everything, and if you name everything using some sort of practical naming scheme, you also have a categorized and indexed set of digital documentation. I can't begin to say how much time that has saved me. How many times have you installed some sort of custom gadget with specific torque or lube specs and you can't remember off hand? Part that fails that's under warranty and you need the receipt? 15 seconds. Never look for it again.

If you do it as you go, it takes very very little time to do, and really pays off in the long run.