Complete rewire 1946 Commodore 8 CC

Jim Kilday
Jim Kilday Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I am going to have my 46 Commodore Coupe 8 completely rewired using the YandZ harness. I know Bill ALbright will use nothing else and his judgement and amount of scar tissue is good enough for me.



I'm not smart enough to do it myself so must hire it done.



What is a ballpark estimate for the amount of time it should take to install all the new wiring AND how much should I expect to pay. I have quite a decent mechanic locally who charges $40/hour and is a very fast learner.



I just need some raw estimate of time so I don't get completely hammered.



Thank you for your input and thanks for all the other times I didn't thank you. This BBS is proceless when you need help and know next to nothing about the subject.



And, I must say this is a more cooperative and helpful group than I have experienced on other sites on other subjects. These Hudson guys and gals are Boss!



Jim Kilday

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    If I have the wire, connectors, etc, I can wire one of my old cars, from scratch, one wire at a time, in 8 hours or less. I even use a three way toggle switch for blinkers, if I dont have a turn signal unit. I cant tell or explain how to wire anything, but with my test light, and some time to myself, I can be in my own little world. Also it is faster for me from scracth, then trying to repair one. Hope this helps you.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Jim, There is another source for wiring thats a bit less expensive than Y n Z . Consider using Rhode Island Wiring for your harness. Y nZ is fine but this at least gives you a comparison. I've used several RIW harnesses and all worked well.
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    Expect to pay a lot of money for the wiring harness !
  • Clutchguy
    Clutchguy Senior Contributor
    Nevada Hudson wrote:
    Expect to pay a lot of money for the wiring harness !



    Nevada Hudson,what would be considered "a Lot" ??



    Car burning to the ground because of bad wiring:eek: * vs.* cost of new wiring harness;)
  • Walt-LA
    Walt-LA Senior Contributor
    Just bought an engine-dash harness for my '51 from Rhode Island Wiring. $ 362 and freight. Gave me a credit for wiring diagram I purchased in 05, so reduced the price somewhat.



    Rewired lights and rewired ignition, horns, etc. under the hood when I bought the car, but sure will feel better with new dash wiring in place, not to mention use of Hudson colors (mine now vintage John Deere).



    Have been carrying a fire extinguisher on the pass side floor for going on four years now, but will probably continue to do so, as is a good indicator of lateral G's.



    Anyone know where a medium sized CO2 extinguisher can be had now? Seem to be all powder in this area...



    Walt-LA
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Jim Kilday wrote:
    I am going to have my 46 Commodore Coupe 8 completely rewired using the YandZ harness. I know Bill ALbright will use nothing else and his judgement and amount of scar tissue is good enough for me.

    I'm not smart enough to do it myself so must hire it done.

    What is a ballpark estimate for the amount of time it should take to install all the new wiring AND how much should I expect to pay. I have quite a decent mechanic locally who charges $40/hour and is a very fast learner.

    I just need some raw estimate of time so I don't get completely hammered.



    Thank you for your input and thanks for all the other times I didn't thank you. This BBS is proceless when you need help and know next to nothing about the subject.

    And, I must say this is a more cooperative and helpful group than I have experienced on other sites on other subjects. These Hudson guys and gals are Boss!

    Jim Kilday

    Jim:

    According to the Rhode Island Web site the cost of a complete harness including overdrive for a 1946 Commodore 8 series 54 is just under $700.00. Y and Z is probably just a little more. However I think your main questions was the approximate cost of labor to have it installed. I would guesstimate from the wiring I have done that your mechanic should be able to do the complete harness from headlights to tail lights in about 2 days (16 hours). If you are only having the engine compartment done probably 4 to 5 hours.

    A lot of this depends on the condition of light sockets and pig tails. So total cost would be in the neighbor hood of 1400.00 to 1600.00. Which is not terrible since a new Step Down Harness from Y and Z is now about $1200.00 for a compete harness.
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    Clutch guy wrote:
    Nevada Hudson,what would be considered "a Lot" ??



    Car burning to the ground because of bad wiring:eek: * vs.* cost of new wiring harness;)



    They want $800 to $1,000 for my car. I consider that a lot of money! To some its not. We rewired my '50 Commodore for less than $200. I never told anyone not to rewire their car! Will rewire my Jet myself with my own wire. There comes a point of how much money you want to sink into your car.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    I rewired a r.h.d. Jet some years ago, and forgot the simple fact that the wiring harness is for a l.h.d. This one I got from Egge, who obviously bought it in from someone else, and put their mark-up on it. I had to cut into the harness and extend the wiring out to reach the r.h.d. light switch, ignition switch, indicators, warning lights, etc. etc. Plus all the terminal ends were too small for the screws to go through, and I had to drill them out Simple you might say, but in fact they just small enough for the drill bit to grab, and distort the terminal, and tear things around! So do check that the kit you get is going to do the job, and that everything is guaranteed to fit. In my case it was my own stupidity for not thinking of the r.h.d. conversion, and it would have been quicker and cheaper for me to make up my own loom and bind it with good quality heat and oil-resistant tape. I think that if you are going to do it yourself, you need to plan on three full days at least, as you are inevitably going to find other things that you want to do at the same time. In my case, the owner wanted the park lamps to come on with the ignition switch. Simple - just run a wire from the igniton to the park lamp terminal on the switch. Wrong, you get a back circuit to the ignition if you turn the lights on! so had to fit a relay, and then discovered that with the ignition switch off, then internal terminals are bridged, and if you apply voltage to the park lamp terminal, the low beams also come on, had to overcome that with diodes. Remember one of the main principles of Murphy's Law - "Nothing is ever as simple as it seems". Good luck,

    Geoff.
  • Jim Kilday
    Jim Kilday Expert Adviser
    There is another vendor whose principals are related to Rhode Island--Narragannsett Wiring. I have spoken with them and they are qite cordial and helpful.



    I have settled on using YandZ and am now debating whether or not to try it myself.



    Any comments or experiences with Narragannsett?



    http://www.narragansettreproductions.com/index.html



    Thanks for very helpful comments.



    Jim Kilday
  • PAULARGETYPE
    PAULARGETYPE Senior Contributor
    HERE MY 2 CENTS ON THE WIRING HARNESS I HAVE USED Y&Z 1 TIME AND Rhode Island A FEW TIMES I WILL NEVER USE Y AND Z EVER AGAIN THEY BUILD A NICE HARNESS BUT IT'S NOT THE ORIGNAL COLOR OF THE WIRES YOU SAY THATS NIT PICKING! I DON'T THINK SO YOU SEE THE WIRING DIRGRAM IN YOUR OWNERS MANUAL HAS WIRE COLOR IN IT WITH Y&Z YOU NEED THERE WIRING DIGRAM ALL THE TIME IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO GO GIT THE DIGRAM OUT THEY SENT WITH THE HARNESS NOT THE ONE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT'S A PAIN WITH Rhode Island IT JUST LIKE HUDSON MADE IT AS FOR THE PRICE I DON'T TINK ANY OF THE MAKERS ARE CHEAP SO WHY NOT GET WHATS CORRECT GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WIRING PROJECT

    HUDSONLY

    PAULARGETYPE
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    To rewire the compleat car it will take 8 to 12 hours. YnZs harness are easy to install everything is marked and the wires run long so you can trim them as needed. The give you a bag with all terminals fuse holders etc that are needed. Make sure you crimp AND solder them on and save yourself lots of grief later.
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