1953 Instrument panel wiring harness needed

[bullet bob]

Looks like I've got some frail wiring when I removed my dash, so I'm on the hunt for a wiring harness, particularly the harness in/behind the dash. Manly instrument lights, power for the radio & clock.
Check a few places; they wanted north of $1,000. For wiring? I didn't realize the wiring was gold also! Any other ideas for a more reasonable price? Thanks
Bob

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Bob,

It shouldn't be too difficult to replace individual wires once the loom has been opened up.

Obtaining the correct gauge wiring is essential, and this is why I always strip individual wiring looms instead of throwing them out.

I have had to do this, alter wiring, whenever I performed RHD Conversions, and having a good crimper, and the correct terminals where necessary, plus joining pieces and or a soldering iron is essential, plus shrink tape.

When rewrapping a loom, don't use plain old electrical tape, as this makes the loom too stiff.  Use proper loom tape.   This stuff isn't sticky, and allows the loom to be manipulated.

Bruce.

[G Pennington]

1953 was the last year Cadillac used cotton-insulated wiring.  It costs more reproduce the harness in the correct style since cotton insulated wiring isn't readily available anymore.  Plus some of the connectors, terminals, etc. have to be specially sourced.  If you're not concerned with originally, take Bruce's advice and repair what you have with modern plastic insulated wire and a soldering iron.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

Yeah, but one of our zealous judges might peek up under the dash with a flashlight and see "non-original" wires...

(Yes, Sheldon, this IS sarcasm!) Do it the way as suggested and spend the $ on something else. Good luck.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

In 2002 at the CLC Cadillac Centenary GN in Dearborn, I observed an owner preparing his lovely vehicle for judging, and I never thought that judges would stoop so low as to check that far, but this fella was prepared.

And he had a side-kick to either pass additional supplies, or to assist in extraction if he got stuck.

Bruce.

[bullet bob]

Thanks guys. This is just a nice take-it-to-the-local-car-shows kinda car. I'm sure it'll run just fine with up-dated wiring that's not era-correct. Figure if I can hide an electronic fuel pump, I can hide some wiring! Again, thanks.
Bob