Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I am looking for sources to obtain the wiring that is directly behind the instrument panel. All the insulation has come off of it and it is shorting things out. I have attempted to splice in pieces, but now I'm kind of gun shy to give it another try. Hoping to locate a good used harness.

Any help/ideas appreciated.

Chuck
Arizona

These folksynzyesterdaysparts.com/ make nice original replacement wiring. I used them for overdrive wiring on my car. Couldn't be happier.

Best of luck,
Jim

In addition to 39super8's recommendation there is also Rhode Island Wiringriwire.com/ and Potomac Packards.

I know it's a large outlay but for peace of mind and time & effort spent maybe worth biting the bullet to do it. Seriously doubt you would find a 60 year old used harness that is (or would be) in much better shape than what you have after all the twisting and turning to get an old stiff bundle out of where it is and into the places it has to go.

If you are handy and not trying to be authentic, you could remove your old harness and buy appropriate supplies from one of the companies listed. Each sell proper wire by the foot as well the hard items and terminals. By laying your old one out on a sheet of plywood and securing in the approximate form it needs, it is a fairly simple matter to redo wire by wire. I did this using modern wire for a 53 that was to be a driver only. Downside is you would not be able to have the outer cover braided but would have to use the later harness wrap instead such was done after 55--or buy a modern premade loom covering equivalent such as KevinAZ did on his 55.

Not sure about '52s, but '54s were tape wrapped harnesses.

I think my '51 has a tape wrapped harness as well. My plan was to buy the wire and just patch the ends of the harness since the main part seems OK still. You can patch on the new wire that will be seen and tape wrap the harness to cover it up.

For some reason I thought they were still braided till 55 but will stand corrected. All the more easy to buy the proper color --believe still cloth covered-- wire and make your own--saving a bundle at the expense of a little time in the process.

On the Rhode Island site in the "more about us" section are pictures of the type layout they use. IMHO, pegboard with rounded hooks would be even easier than the plywood/nail method I used--and the pegboard & hooks could be put to good use in the garage afterward.

I have a '51 and a '53 Packard. Some where along the line I acquired a '52 instrument cluster with the entire harness still attached. There is a little tape wrap which is mostly concentrated in the section about 6 to 8 inches from the back of the cluster and extends for........10 to 12 inches to keep the loom bundled together. (going from memory here)...anyway, It is hanging in my shop. If any pictures would help I'll be happy to take and forward some. The observation that trying to find an old replacement loom to exchange with your current wiring is correct....Some of the wires are great, some are bad, but all are very brittle and would be the worse for wear trying to get them in and out. As an aside, I had a complete loom made, from the gas tank to the under dash stopping at the fire wall. It was made by the out fit in Redlands, CA. I found it to be a lot of work.
Some things I just don't want to learn how to do any more. Where's my Scotch and soda????