73 C10 daily driver project from the mountians of northern Ca..

[R8rPhan]

Just bought a 73 C10 long bed (327ci), and it has some issues...

Need to make into reliable transpo ASAP, and then will continue fixing it up from there...

When I bought it, it had no lights.. one turn indicator was working intermittently, now not at all..

Thing runs and rolls great though.. Aftermarket stereo works, but nothing else.. no dash lights, no cab light, no heater fan, nada...

My plan was to just get the lights working, and then go from there on everything else.. Driver side door needs adjusting, probably need to replace window regulators and all weatherstripping..

But as I started digging into everything, I found that the fuse box connector (on the firewall in the engine compartment) is fried.. Lots of black wires where they connect, some melted plastic... It's toast..

I was able to take it off and separate it into three separate harnesses.. Virtually every wire on all three harnesses are affected.. Fuse Box side itself doesn't appear too bad...

I was already suspecting the truck might need a rewire, but now my hand appears to be forced... Fortunately, I got the truck at a great price, so even after a rewire, I'll still be ahead..

I'm just glad to be working on something that is pre smog.. Thoroughly sick of the ridiculously over the top hassle of CA smog laws...

AND SO IT BEGINS..

 

[1973c10]

Welcome aboard

 

[74 Shortbed]

Welcome to the site, good luck with the project..

 

[Mr Clean]

Welcome to the site. I would just buy a wiring harness. We have a member here that builds them, and his price is not out of sight. I would also put power breaks on it. That would be the top stuff I would do to make a good daily driver.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[R8rPhan]

Welcome to the site. I would just buy a wiring harness. We have a member here that builds them, and his price is not out of sight. I would also put power breaks on it. That would be the top stuff I would do to make a good daily driver.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

yeah, I am leaning towards a complete rewire.. get it over and done with...

Brake upgrades are definitely on the list, especially since i drive mountain roads every day... Want to increase the size of the brakes on the front and convert to a power brake system...

Also want to put an electronic ignition and upgraded headlights and LED lighting (might have to build those myself after looking at the prices of plug and play versions), and eventually fuel injection.. Possibly a tranny swap for an overdrive version sometime down the road...

As far as making it pretty, I plan to start with the interior (new weatherstripping and rebuilding the doors first) and work outwards... Probably just sand the surface rust off of the exposed metal areas and spray can primer them for now...

But first, the rewire, lighting, and ignition system upgrades.. also a new windshield, and aligning the driver side door (and trying to fix the windows so they roll up and down halfway correctly)

 

[1973c10]

But first, the rewire, lighting, and ignition system upgrades.. also a new windshield, and aligning the driver side door (and trying to fix the windows so they roll up and down halfway correctly)

When I rewired my 73 C10
I used a EZ Wiring Harness 21 circuit
it works awesome and was a snap to install
it comes with just about everything you need
and they are not that much $$ on eBay

 

[R8rPhan]

When I rewired my 73 C10
I used a EZ Wiring Harness 21 circuit
it works awesome and was a snap to install
it comes with just about everything you need
and they are not that much $$ on eBay

Wow! Very interested in this....


Those are a lot cheaper.. They are universal fit type, right? I don't see any way to choose a make/model/year when purchasing..

Did you have any issue with the fact that it was a universal kit?

How close to OEM was the fuse panel/harness connectors?

Do you have a build thread or something detailing your rewire with this kit?

Anyone else have experience using these kits?

 

[74propu]

I put a ez harness in my74 it was very easy wires are marked every 5 in or so . I put it in the truck in about 5 hr and have not had a problem with it in 2 years.

 

[1973c10]

Wow! Very interested in this....


Those are a lot cheaper.. They are universal fit type, right? I don't see any way to choose a make/model/year when purchasing..

Did you have any issue with the fact that it was a universal kit?

How close to OEM was the fuse panel/harness connectors?

Do you have a build thread or something detailing your rewire with this kit?

Anyone else have experience using these kits?

It comes with all the connectors to plug in to you steering column
dimmer switch and I believe the headlight switch
and the harness is gm color coded and
all the wires are marked on what they are for
I just removed my OEM fuse panel/harness mounted
the new fuse block to the fire wall and started running wires
to where they go .
One thing I did ( which is in the book that comes in the kit )
I laid Wiring Harness out on the floor and mocked it up
to how it go's in the truck and zip tied it together
so when I put it in the truck I had the wires that go to the back all
all in one bundle and the ones running to the front in another bundle
and so on .
I do have build thread in the Under Construction thread
it's down towards the bottom of the forum

 

[CRM]

With that grill it looks more like a 77 than a 73. Welcome aboard.

 

[R8rPhan]

It comes with all the connectors to plug in to you steering column
dimmer switch and I believe the headlight switch
and the harness is gm color coded and
all the wires are marked on what they are for
I just removed my OEM fuse panel/harness mounted
the new fuse block to the fire wall and started running wires
to where they go .
One thing I did ( which is in the book that comes in the kit )
I laid Wiring Harness out on the floor and mocked it up
to how it go's in the truck and zip tied it together
so when I put it in the truck I had the wires that go to the back all
all in one bundle and the ones running to the front in another bundle
and so on .
I do have build thread in the Under Construction thread
it's down towards the bottom of the forum

The thing that is most confusing is that it says it is for multiple makes

"21 Circuit EZ Wiring Harness Chevy Ford Mopar Hotrods"

Did all makes back then use the same style fuse block and connectors, even at the steering column? Or is this just a GM oriented universal that can be used on fords and mopars too?

Is this the exact same kit you bought?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[1973c10]

The thing that is most confusing is that it says it is for multiple makes

"21 Circuit EZ Wiring Harness Chevy Ford Mopar Hotrods"

Did all makes back then use the same style fuse block and connectors, even at the steering column? Or is this just a GM oriented universal that can be used on fords and mopars too?

Is this the exact same kit you bought?

Thanks,
Mark

Yes it's exact same kit I bought for my truck
and I got one for my buddy's truck as well
I don't know why it says for multiple makes
but it dose come other plugs you can put on
and I am guessing they are for fords and mopars
but I do know it plugged in to my steering column
dimmer switch and I believe the headlight switch
and is gm color coded.
No not all makes back then use the same style fuse block
but it dose not matter because you not using
the old fuse block you are instilling new one
it was easy to install

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[Rusty Nail]

That's a cool lookin truck.