Project Reclaim from Mustangs Plus and The Restomod Shop is a '65 Mustang fastback that was hauled out of a salvage yard after wasting away for 20 years. It was an accident-damaged six-cylinder parts car that had been picked clean by enthusiasts and tin termites. Now we're on the home stretch of this revival project and are in the process of assembly.
When Mustangs were rolling off Ford assembly lines nearly a half-century ago, automobiles weren't loaded with accessories with big electrical demands like today's extensive entertainment systems. Instead, they had AM radios or AM/8-Track tape units with a pair of stereo speakers. Climate control was a simple heater core with a fan instead of year-round air conditioning compressor use and today's constant temperature systems.
The Painless Performance 14-Circuit...
The Painless Performance 14-Circuit Mustang Chassis Harness for Project Reclaim, which includes three main sections, is color-coded and labeled for easy circuit identification. We're talking high temperature TXL polyethylene insulated wire that will stand up to a lot of punishment and last a long time. The #20120 harness for '65-'66 Mustangs is wired specifically for heater fan motor, wipers, ignition, headlight switch, voltage regulator, turn signals, flashers, parking lamps, lighter, brake light and dimmer switches, brake warning light, headlights, and more. Three sections include main, forward, and engine.
Mustangs Plus has complete reproduction electrical systems and components for classic Mustangs that perform quite well. Although these systems and components work well for concours and occasional driver restorations, they don't offer enough power options for modern conveniences in a classic Mustang. This leaves the restorer with two basic choices. If you want a stock electrical system but want to add accessories, you can install an aftermarket electrical system add-on such as CirKit Boss from Painless Performance with its own circuit protection with a master feed right off the battery/solenoid for full time power or the ignition for switched power. If you want convenience, you can do like The Restomod Shop and go with a complete Painless Performance 14-circuit wiring system designed specifically for classic Mustangs.
Painless Performance has spent a tremendous amount of time developing its 14-circuit wiring harness for '65-'70 Mustangs. Call it street rod technology that has been custom tailored for classic Mustangs because it interfaces with a Mustang's electrical system components. We installed this system in Project Reclaim because it needs an electrical system that can do a whole lot more than Ford's original wiring harness because we've added Sure Fit climate control from Classic Auto Air, Flex-A-Lite electric fan, a window-rattling sound system, Tri-Bar Halogen headlamps, Electric Life power windows, Scott Drake sequential taillights, and AutoMeter instrumentation.
This is the 70-amp main fuse-circuit...
This is the 70-amp main fuse-circuit protection for the 14-circuit harness. Power begins here from the battery side of the starter solenoid.
Richard Bramlett of The Restomod Shop dissected our Painless Performance system and figured out how much of it we will use and how much can be either removed or stowed away for safe keeping in case we want to add something else later.
Painless Performance enables...
Painless Performance enables you to custom tailor your Mustang's electrical system with a variety of terminal blocks, fuse blocks, and something very effective called CirKit Boss for owners who want to add independent circuits for more accessories.
Richard Bramlett sorts out...
Richard Bramlett sorts out the 14-circuit Painless Performance wiring system for classic Mustangs, determining which circuits we're going to use and eliminating those we will not use. His plan is to locate the main fuse block in the original factory fuse box position and branch out from there.
Once the fuse block is positioned,...
Once the fuse block is positioned, the main wiring harness is distributed. Richard has chosen to keep wiring exposed for easy access. We suggest wrapping the harness with Power Braid once all accessories, switches, and the like are connected to protect the wiring. The Restomod Shop is installing a keyless start system in place of the ignition switch.
Wiring is routed in such a...
Wiring is routed in such a way that it doesn't chafe and follows structural members for a clean installation. What you don't want is a mess. Once all connections are established, wrap the harness with electrical tape or Power Braid conduit.
You can install the fuse box...
You can install the fuse box anywhere. However, we suggest positioning it in the same location as the factory fuse box.....
.....The fuse box bracket...
.....The fuse box bracket is installed first, then the fuse box and main wiring harness.
There are two basic options...
There are two basic options for firewall penetration. First, utilize factory pass-through locations. There are two with '65-'66 Mustangs. At mid-firewall, there's the engine gauge/heater fan feed harness, which is being modified here for the Painless harness.....
.....We're using The Hoffman...
.....We're using The Hoffman Group's Keep It Clean billet firewall port covers, which are available from Mustangs Plus. Installation involves using a template and drilling 3/16-inch mounting screw holes.
Billet firewall port covers...
Billet firewall port covers mount like this. A rubber grommet is positioned at six o'clock for wire passage.
The main wiring loom is pulled...
The main wiring loom is pulled through, yielding all leads pertaining to engine compartment, lights, and engine. Main power from the battery also begins here. Don't forget to install the rubber ante-chafe grommet. Painless Performance also provides firewall transition plates if Keep It Clean doesn't work for you. And if the Painless transitions don't appeal, opt for rubber grommets.
Be neat and clean in your...
Be neat and clean in your wiring efforts. Looms/bundles should be as small as possible, with splices staggered to keep the loom tight. Once all splices are accounted for, they must be properly crimped and heat-shrink wrapped before the outer wrap goes on.
The Keep It Clean firewall...
The Keep It Clean firewall port cover is a nice transition from inside to outside. Richard has wrapped the wiring with protective Power Braid from Painless.