Packard wiring harness

[Buzzard]

Hi there,
Well I'm going to have to replace the front harness in my '57 Clipper Wagon as the Socal heat dry rotted everything from the firewall forward. You touch a wire, it breaks. The only listing in SI is for a '57 President/Commander Part no# 1542283. Am, I correct in assuming it will take some serious tweaking to get it to fit the dashboard & instruments etc? Would I be better to modify a kit from EasyWire seeing as it doesn't look like there is the correct one available? The EasyWire is half the price, oops here I go being CASO.
Thanks for your expertise.
Bill

[Studebaker1965]

Bill,

It isn't the cheapest route, but Lark Works is awesome! The wiring is exactly like the original and they are great to deal with!

Nate

[Buzzard]

Thanks, Nate,
I did get a quote from them and quite frankly(and yes I am being CASO) $1400 USD converts to over $1800 Canadian and I simply can't justify it. I know the quality of their product is first class but as none of this harness will be viewed (other than in front of the radiator shroud & regulator) by many other than myself, I have to take a different approach.
Bill

[mbstude]

Bill, try Studebakers West in California. They should be able to supply you a correct-fitting harness for less money.

[Buzzard]

Thanks, Matthew, I'll give them a call tomorrow.
Bill

[rockne10]

You can probably get it from YnZ's for under $700.

http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/catalog/classic_wire_harnesses.html

[Buzzard]

The only year missed is mine, 1957.

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

For many years now I have been getting my wiring Harnesses from Studebakers West. I have a price list (January 2012) that shows 1543685 Chassis Wiring Harness for 57L, Y & P Bodies.
The price shown is affordable, but I won’t show it here due to possibility it has changed after six years.

[StudeRich]

Ditto here, James Bell and I were very happy with the Harnesses I got from Studebakers West for the America's Car Museum (LeMay) Museum's 1001 Avanti, Avantis take a Pile of em.

[Silverplate]

You can probably get it from YnZ's for under $700.

http://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com/ca...harnesses.html

I recently completed a harness replacement from YNZ in a 1940 Packard and found it to be pretty good. Wires were numbered and directions for the most part were correct. There was no wiring included for door jamb switches and done lights, trunk light. Several wrong connections on ends but made it all work.

[thunderations]

I'm just wondering how much different the Studebaker harness would be from the Packard? Does the Packard have additional gauges or different style as far as the electrical connections? If it's a spacing problem, it seems that a simple wire addition would fix it. I may be way of course, but knowing Studebaker and the way they tried to use the same item for several applications, I would think the Studebaker harness would work with only minor alterations, if any.

[Buzzard]

Yes Ken, my take as well. The area of concern would definitely be the dash and gauges. When I get the car back home, I'll reevaluate the situation and let you all know what I do as at this point I'm relying on my memory which at my age is not necessarily a good thing.
Bill

[tsenecal]

I am reading this thread with interest, as I will need to find a harness for a 1960 Hawk. The old harness is usable, but fairly stiff and brittle. My original plan was to lay it out on the floor, and start with the proper sizes, and color of primary wire and the correct ends, and build my own. I haven't put together a material list, but the supplies needed, may cost as much as a completed harness, and I would have a bit of time and labor involved. Speedway sells a nice braided sheath to slip the wiring in, but it would not be authentic.

[RadioRoy]

I am reading this thread with interest, as I will need to find a harness for a 1960 Hawk. The old harness is usable, but fairly stiff and brittle. My original plan was to lay it out on the floor, and start with the proper sizes, and color of primary wire and the correct ends, and build my own. I haven't put together a material list, but the supplies needed, may cost as much as a completed harness, and I would have a bit of time and labor involved. Speedway sells a nice braided sheath to slip the wiring in, but it would not be authentic.

A wiring harness from Studebakers West will be a lot less work.

[thunderations]

True, but buying a new Tesla is a lot less work then restoring an old Studebaker too. Sometimes the labor to fix something IS the hobby. Many times I find the challenge to be very rewarding when the job is done. Sometimes I even save a couple bucks for an adult beverage to celebrate.

A wiring harness from Studebakers West will be a lot less work.