Painless Wiring or Year One?

[69chargerboy]

I'm at the point where I am ready to install the Dash harness of the Charger. Do I go with Year Ones Dash harness that costs $574 or Painless Wiring kit for $429. Your opinions???



Painless Wiring:  http://painless.r-catalog.com/pg-lkp/getVQ-new.asp
Summit Racing: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PRF%2D10127&N=700+4294908110+4294908099+4294925082+4294925143+115&autoview=sku
Year One: http://yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?cat=1

[Shakey]

I'm not sure about the others but YO is a replica of the original harness and simply plugs into all the existing connectors.  I just laid the dash harness this week and it took me about an hour to locate all the correct connections using the wiring diagram.  I was surprised at how easy it was.

There are some photos of the YO harness in this link.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28517.0.html#top

I'd buy one again if I had to even if it were $200.00 more than the others.

[TheAutoArchaeologist]

The Painless harness is for the ENTIRE car.  I just redid my entire Challenger with the painless system and so far, for the one mile I've moved it.  No problems.

Ryan

[ronv]

I went with the Year One harness. The guy that installed it for me was real impressed with it.

[Mean 318]

I'm not sure about the others but YO is a replica of the original harness and simply plugs into all the existing connectors.  I just laid the dash harness this week and it took me about an hour to locate all the correct connections using the wiring diagram.  I was surprised at how easy it was.

There are some photos of the YO harness in this link.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28517.0.html#top

I'd buy one again if I had to even if it were $200.00 more than the others.

Do you have a link to their site?

[The70RT]

I'm not sure about the others but YO is a replica of the original harness and simply plugs into all the existing connectors.  I just laid the dash harness this week and it took me about an hour to locate all the correct connections using the wiring diagram.  I was surprised at how easy it was.

There are some photos of the YO harness in this link.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28517.0.html#top

I'd buy one again if I had to even if it were $200.00 more than the others.

If it is that good I will order one.  I need the whole system though. At least like you said it is like the original and it looks like the painless wiring you have to put the terminals on yourself. By the way you car looks like it is coming along nicely. Looks like some meticulous work

[moparguy01]

could always use this. http://www.ezwiring.com/

similar to a painless kit, 1/4 the cost. and it works just fine. 

[71 RT]

I bought YO and was very satisfied. No problems!

[The70RT]

I bought YO and was very satisfied. No problems!

Is it ready to install withiut adding any terminals?

[Rolling_Thunder]

see my post about the YO harnesses...      my dealings were a nightmare...      poor to non-existant customer service...     and what I feel is incomplete harnesses...     I had to rig up some of the wiring myself...     if im paying close to $600 for a dash harness I feel i should get the WHOLE HARNESS.  Oh well....     

[Nacho-RT74]

I bought YO and was very satisfied. No problems!

Is it ready to install withiut adding any terminals?

I think you need to reuse bulkhead and fusebox... thats what I have known

[The70RT]

see my post about the YO harnesses...      my dealings were a nightmare...      poor to non-existant customer service...     and what I feel is incomplete harnesses...     I had to rig up some of the wiring myself...     if im paying close to $600 for a dash harness I feel i should get the WHOLE HARNESS.  Oh well....     

Can you elaborate more on that? I'm getting ready to spring some cash but don't want to get stiffed.

[zerfetzen]

I'm new around here, but bought a handful of the expensive YearOne harnesses when redoing my 73 Cuda a couple years ago, which didn't matter because it got smacked on the highway from behind really hard.  But anyway, I put in the front harness, engine harness, dash harness, and I think another one, but didn't do the rear one.  I couldn't have been more impressed.  Everything matched up, colors, etc., perfectly.

I'm definitely buying YO harnesses for my new charger project.  At least that was my experience.

[mike337]

 :shruggy:I am currently restoring a 69 Charger RT/SE.  Because of the age of the wiring, the modifications of past owners (cut here, splice there), plus some obvious overtemp areas on the wiring, I would like to replace all the wiring on the car.

At first I was definately in favor of going with reproduction harness's that would mimic the original wiring right down to the color of the individual wires.  After much thought, I am leaning away from the repopped wiring harness idea because of the following.

1. I want to install an electronic ignition system. That means that no sooner would I have the new engine wiring harness in place, than I would be cutting into it to modify the wires for electronic ignition.

2. Much has been written on this board & others about the Achilles Heel of the electrical system being the Amp Meter.  With all the money going out for the restoration, it seems foolish not to address this issue by converting over to a Volt Meter.  Another harness mod.

3. The dreaded low idle, light dimming problem associated with older Mopars.  I want the available alternator upgrade that requires heavier gauge wires than stock.

4. Advances in halogen headlight kits also call for more mods to an original harness or upgrading.

5. The original wiring was never meant for the type of high power sound system that I want for this car.

6. A fuel injection system for my big block means a real serious mod to the original wiring, both for the computer, as well as the fuel pump.

7. The car originally came with A/C, PW, Cruise, & Rear Defrost.  More worries about how to power all this stuff, and still not overtask original wiring with the updates I mentioned above.

8. Ever see sequential tail lights, like on a Cougar, or Shelby Mustang?  I'm still contemplating that little mod as well

So an aftermarket wiring kit would seem to be the way to go.

I would love to hear from anyone who has gone down this route already who had to consider the same, if not more upgrades.

If possible, I would like to keep somewhat of a normal looking transition of wiring through the firewall.  Can I drill out the original wiring blocks and use those?

How does wiring from such items like the wiper motor terminate to the new wiring kits if I don't use the original type wiring block?

If I'm ever going to get this car done, it's time for me to get the wiring under control.

Thanx,
Mike

[JimShine]

I bought YO and was very satisfied. No problems!

Is it ready to install withiut adding any terminals?

I think you need to reuse bulkhead and fusebox... thats what I have known

On the 1969 harness, the fusebox, bulkhead connector, and connectors were all included in the Year One harness.

Here is what it did not include: any accessories wiring. AC, map light, ignition light, glove box light, etc, were not included. I can understand why as not all cars come equipped with these options.

The harness is beautiful and ready to drop in. It is taped up exactly like the originals.

The headlight mod does not affect the dash harness. The mods are done in the engine bay.

[mike337]

I bought YO and was very satisfied. No problems!

Is it ready to install withiut adding any terminals?

I think you need to reuse bulkhead and fusebox... thats what I have known

On the 1969 harness, the fusebox, bulkhead connector, and connectors were all included in the Year One harness.

Here is what it did not include: any accessories wiring. AC, map light, ignition light, glove box light, etc, were not included. I can understand why as not all cars come equipped with these options.

The harness is beautiful and ready to drop in. It is taped up exactly like the originals.

The headlight mod does not affect the dash harness. The mods are done in the engine bay.

But you only have the original amount of fuses to use.  I have been modifying these cars since 1980 and do not want to go the route of piggy backed spade connectors off the original type fuse box for all the upgrades.  Electric fuel pump, fuel control, injectors, computer for the injection system, high amp stereo system.  I also have A/C, map lights, ignition light, glove box light, power windows, cruise control, and rear defrost.

Yes the mods for the headlights are in the engine compartment, but those larger wires need to go to the fuse box eventually as well.

Mike

[Dodge Don]

YO harness is very good.

[69chargerboy]

Well, I sucked it up and bought the Dash harness from YO. It looks great! Very pleased..... I hope it installs easy...

[The70RT]

Well, I sucked it up and bought the Dash harness from YO. It looks great! Very pleased..... I hope it installs easy...

What are they going for theses days? Did you get a discount?

[69chargerboy]

Well, I sucked it up and bought the Dash harness from YO. It looks great! Very pleased..... I hope it installs easy...

What are they going for theses days? Did you get a discount?

I actually bought it from Paddock for $579.95. I used the code from the Mopar Nats, that gave me 10% discount and free shipping orders above $200. So I ordered the dash harness, 69 Charger ignition switch and some dash vents..... I saved a few bucks. When the order came, the Dash harness packaging had Year One badging all over it. The packaging said that the harness was made at M&H harness for Year One.

[Rolling_Thunder]

:shruggy:I am currently restoring a 69 Charger RT/SE.  Because of the age of the wiring, the modifications of past owners (cut here, splice there), plus some obvious overtemp areas on the wiring, I would like to replace all the wiring on the car.

At first I was definately in favor of going with reproduction harness's that would mimic the original wiring right down to the color of the individual wires.  After much thought, I am leaning away from the repopped wiring harness idea because of the following.

1. I want to install an electronic ignition system. That means that no sooner would I have the new engine wiring harness in place, than I would be cutting into it to modify the wires for electronic ignition.

2. Much has been written on this board & others about the Achilles Heel of the electrical system being the Amp Meter.  With all the money going out for the restoration, it seems foolish not to address this issue by converting over to a Volt Meter.  Another harness mod.

3. The dreaded low idle, light dimming problem associated with older Mopars.  I want the available alternator upgrade that requires heavier gauge wires than stock.

4. Advances in halogen headlight kits also call for more mods to an original harness or upgrading.

5. The original wiring was never meant for the type of high power sound system that I want for this car.

6. A fuel injection system for my big block means a real serious mod to the original wiring, both for the computer, as well as the fuel pump.

7. The car originally came with A/C, PW, Cruise, & Rear Defrost.  More worries about how to power all this stuff, and still not overtask original wiring with the updates I mentioned above.

8. Ever see sequential tail lights, like on a Cougar, or Shelby Mustang?  I'm still contemplating that little mod as well

So an aftermarket wiring kit would seem to be the way to go.

I would love to hear from anyone who has gone down this route already who had to consider the same, if not more upgrades.

If possible, I would like to keep somewhat of a normal looking transition of wiring through the firewall.  Can I drill out the original wiring blocks and use those?

How does wiring from such items like the wiper motor terminate to the new wiring kits if I don't use the original type wiring block?

If I'm ever going to get this car done, it's time for me to get the wiring under control.

Thanx,
Mike

Mike - Aftermarket is the way to go...    no doubt....      you can in almost every case reuse the old factory connectors - just dont break them when removing the old wiring...       wiper motor is actually somewhat easy - if you're using the factory switch - if an aftermarket switch is used it gets a little more interesting.   PM me if you have any questions