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

Anybody out there ever made their own harness? There aren't that many wires. The gauge wire necessary made be difficult
to attain, I suppose. Just wondered if anyone had atempted it, and how it turned out...
Thanks, Kelly

I've made a few using modern plastic wire and vinyl tape type harness wrap. That style wouldn't be appropriate for your car but if you are not concerned about authenticity, then easy enough to do. Another option if not worried about authenticity is a universal wiring harness. Several here have gone that route. One place sells a "heavy duty" version they advertise as appropriate for 6 volt cars.

I more or less copied the method shown on one of the harness sites. Instead of pegboard as shown in the "about us" section on the Rhode Island wiring site, I laid out the old harness more or less to the proper configuration on a piece of plywood. Used nails instead of pegs to make a saddle or support at numerous spots as they had done. Removed the old wrap and started replacing wires one at a time. Some of the old connectors can be reused by drilling out the old wire, cleaning connector and soldering in the new. Others will have to be replaced.

In your case, I believe you can buy the proper fabric covered wire from several places & make your harness adding any extra wires you wanted. Some would let you send the completed harness back and they would run it thru the braiding machine for a small fee. Don't know if that is still an option.

Quote:

The modern plastic wire wouldn't look right to a judge, but the 22nd/23rd series did use the 'tape wrap' style harness. I know because I've unwrapped/re-wrapped a lot of it to replace badly frayed, or insulation-less sections of wiring with modern plastic style wire (under the hood) on both my 'tubs.

Good to know. I never paid much attention but thought they had used braided up till 51. If that's the case then just buying the appropriate wires would be the main issue. The rest would be fairly easy.

The reason I bought a repro loom from Rhode Island Wiring is to get the proper colors back. On my 23rd series the age made all the colors fade to black. When I replaced the main harness I carefully disassembled it and removed it in one piece. This helped me a great deal when I installed the new harness.