wiring 41 60 special

[mr41cadillac]

my wiring on 1941 60 special is great but the old insulation which looks like cloth covered is brittle after 72 years. does anyone know the best route to take. I thought I could buy a similar insulated cloth, and trace each wire remove the connectors and remaining cloth and put on a similar cloth over the wire ? im assuming that the original cloth had insulation ? thanks john

[Doug Houston]

You  got good idea!  I've bought a few harnesses from Rhode Island Wiring C. I was more than delighted with them.  Yours will be around 500 bucks, but more than worth it.

[Steve Passmore]

The original cloth was attached using a braiding machine John and its not possible to do this by hand.
The insulation is actually on individual wires. Even though you think the loom is good when you remove the cloth some of the insulation will break up. You either leave well alone or buy a new loom.

[kkarrer]

I ran into the same thing on my 41 when I was doing the frame off on it.  I finally just broke down and got a complete harness from Narhagansett.  Choose your supplier, but replacing the old harness is the only way to go.  You'll run into lots of "crunch" connections under the hood and under the firewall.  The new wiring harness will solve a lot of trouble shooting later, because you'll know it's good and it makes you address every connection as you're installing it.
Ken Karrer
1941 6227D coupe
1955 62 convertible coupe