MTFCA Forum

What does everyone use to re-wire their car, or at least replace what areas need help? Original wire is cloth? Looks like the ends are simply crimped on or where they soldered? I assume closed ring ends opposed to forks?

Robert, most of us buy the reproduction wire harnesses from the usual vendors. Langs Old Car Parts, Snyders Antique Auto, etc. The repo harnesses are well made, cloth covered wire with the proper connectors. When it comes to 100 year old wiring, it is best not to patch it but replace it.

I use forks and if they are not soldered, I solder them.

You ca replace all the wiring in a Model T with quality replacement looms from the usual suppliers. This is not terribly expensive and should be good for the next lifetime of your car. For any add ons there is bulk cloth covered wire available from the same sources.

Andy

It depends how pure you wish to be. I sent some original looms to a well known harness maker, because I wanted my looms exactly as original. The guy even wove in the Ford tags. The cost for this was double the show quality looms available, but it was worth it to me.

When I got new wiring harnesses for my 21 Touring restoration all the wiring harnesses worked OK. As it turned out the eyes on the ignition switch harness that goes on the back of the switch were a little too big but they did work. The screw heads were large enough to hold the wires on. Maybe they are using the smaller correct eyes by now. Good luck with yours.

If all of your electrical is standard, the looms are great. However, if you have any additions and you are handy with wiring, soldering, etc, you can make up your own. I found a source in Houston, TON'S Performance. I am not affiliated with this supplier, but I found that they offer very nice cloth braided wire in lots of color and tracer combinations and about any wire guage you want. Bonus is that they sell it by the foot, so you can save some money vs having to order full rolls of wire in different colors. They also offer great oldstyle looms in different sizes. You can make up very authentic harnesses while keeping color schemes correct. Oddly enough, they specialize in antique motorcycle restoration supplies, but the look is the same as these old cars we are tinkering with. I am very satisfied with what I ordered from them.

I used a repro harness from Snyders when I rewired the car. However, for the added wiring such as brake light, indicators, etc. I simply used plastic wiring threaded through black shoe lace, and bound at the ends with black cotton.