Looking to rewire my truck

[521_jp_lu]

I'm looking to rewire my truck I been looking online, and there's alot of Universal kits I was wondering if y'all have any tips or experience rewiring the truck

[DanielC]

I know a little about 521 wiring.  How much are you looking at rewiring?  To the best of my knowledge, no universal kit will have the right connectors to match anything on a Datsun.  If you were rewiring a Chevy, there are several universal kits that would have the correct connectors, and would plug in.

 

A Datsun 521 has three main wiring harnesses.  An engine room harness, a cab harness, and a body, or bed (rear) harness.  A lot of wiring problems with 521 trucks, and any pickup for that matter is you also have four main parts of the truck,  The engine, the frame, the cab, and the bed.  All four of these parts need to have a good ground to each other.  The battery grounds to the engine. 

 

Most of the time, a complete rewiring is not needed.  What is wrong with your truck.  What specifically need attention?

[521_jp_lu]

Its a big problems with the lights and it seems like someone tried working on it and did a horrible job looks like spaghetti I'm thinking of rewiring everything and useing the OEM connectors and soldering them

[banzai510(hainz)]

521s its mostlry a corrossion issue it it worked before clean connonctions, fuse box and replace with NEW fuses

[521_jp_lu]

https://www.flickr.com/gp/135086877@N03/z14sg4

 

This is what it currently looks like

[DanielC]

Where are you going to get the OEM connectors?

 

Again, specifically, what is wrong?  Headlights? Tail lights? Turn signals, Brake lights, Reverse lights, Dash lights? 

Does your 521 have side marker lights? 

 

There were two different fuse boxes used on 521 trucks in the USA.  Some had three always hot fuses, others had four always hot fuses.

Here is a lights only wiring diagram for one version of the 521 truck.

 

Here is a full wiring diagram for the 521 truck.

 

This is a picture of a marine fuse box I used to replace the stock 521 fuse box.

[DanielC]

The picture helps a lot.

Carefully remove everything that is not stock.  If you have any questions on what is stock, ask.

 

If you want to test some electrical stuff, without the engine in the truck, you will have to make a ground connection, because the engine is the normal ground for the battery.  The negative battery cable attached to a bolt close to the fuel pump, on the cylinder head.  There is a pigtail on the engine side of the negative battery cable that goes down to the alternator frame, and is connected there.  On the alternator, there is a second black wire that goes to a voltage regulator bolt, on the inner fender.  I would temporarily connect the negative battery cable there, to test electrical without the engine in place.

 

The fuse box connections on the engine side are like this.  The ignition switch (key) is not fused.   There is a wire from battery positive that goes to the fuse box, on the engine side.  This wire supplies power to the three, or four always hot fuses.  On the same (engine) side of the fuse box, there is a thick white wire, that wire goes to the ignition switch.  Also, on the engine side of the fuse box, are two black wires, with a white strip.  One comes from the ignition switch, and the other goes to ballast resistor, for the ignition coil.  The two black wires, with a white stripe go to the switched fuses, closest to the fender.

[datzenmike]

Find another harness.

[banzai510(hainz)]

I would find out what works and what dont.

note where these extra added wires go to which fuse and you can figure out what was bypassed. Most of the wireing is there, One can fix it.

[521_jp_lu]

Definitely can be fixed, might wait till I get the engine in,also there another truck at the yard might take all the electronic things off of it

[521_jp_lu]

https://www.flickr.com/gp/135086877@N03/4zG10e

 

Here is a picture of my truck what do y'all think?

[Charlie69]

I purchase my electrical items from Vintage connections Good people to deal with.  Mom and pop shop.

 

http://vintageconnections.com/

 

Hear is a better choice than electrical tape from vintage connections.

 

Here is my last order from Vintage Connections.

 

 

[DanielC]

"Where are you going to get the OEM connectors?"

 

Thanks charlie69 for answering that question!

[521_jp_lu]

I'm not going buy them I'm going reuse the old ones

[HOGIE]

I know a little about 521 wiring.

So modest

[Charlie69]

I suppose you are going to splice the wires to the plugs.  You will end up with problems if you half ass it.  Remember you are working with 40 year old wiring and connectors.

[521_jp_lu]

You're right i best not do that

[fritzdixxon]

With some patience and a dental pick you can separate the female connectors from the factory plugs, pictures are helpful so you can put the new wires in the right spots.

 

Shrink tube is amazing especially the double wall stuff, it usually only comes in thicker gauge but the finished product is weather proof.

[Elkie]

Vintage connections is awesome completely remade my cb550 harness with their connectors.

[Charlie69]

The red tool with the things sticking out is a tool for removing several different type connectors from the plastic housings.

[521_jp_lu]

Thanks guys for the info I'm going buy a kit from vintage connections I'll try to update the progress,

[71Hustler]

I purchase my electrical items from Vintage connections Good people to deal with.  Mom and pop shop.

 

http://vintageconnections.com/

 

Hear is a better choice than electrical tape from vintage connections.

 

Here is my last order from Vintage Connections.

 

 

I was looking at the Vintage Connections website this morning and wondering what all I should order. This is super helpful!

[Elkie]

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/main.htmlis also a good resource, as they offer the ability to get specific connectors, rather than a preassembled kit.

[Charlie69]

Everything Vintage Connections has is available individually.  The only thing with vintage connections is the only take PayPal for payment.  Like I said small mom & pop company.

 

I would not order anything until you know what you need.  Myself I do a lot of wiring so it is cheaper for me to buy the kits.