Complete Wiring for '51 Mercury

WABOOM

WABOOM

Senior Member
I'm gonna be rewiring my Mercury in the fall. Could you give me suggestions on who to buy from?
Under the hood I'd like to use a factory reproduction for looks, but under the dash it can be regular wires. I've search to in haven't been able to find more than 2 suppliers.
Thank you
 
WABOOM said:
I'm gonna be rewiring my Mercury in the fall. Could you give me suggestions on who to buy from?
Under the hood I'd like to use a factory reproduction for looks, but under the dash it can be regular wires. I've search to in haven't been able to find more than 2 suppliers.
Thank you
Click to expand...

Why do you want to mix and match the wiring? If you are still 6 volt then buy the factory style harness. If you are 12 volt then use a panel and harness from American Auto Wire, Kwik Wire, etc. Either type of harness will come with instructions. You can do what you want, but mixing types of wiring never looks right and you better make a diagram after you are done so you can trace wires if there is a problem. You should also be fusing the critical circuits,
 
I haven't found any vendor that offers plastic coated wiring in correct colors for the mid century Mercury cars. Rhode Island Wire coats their fabric outer insulation cover so it will last longer than the OEM did but they aren't cheap. The others, like what Mac's sells, are less expensive but they don't coat the fabric insulator cover for each wire. They will likely last as long as the OEM which was around 20 years or so if not well kept. The wiring is a little bit larger in diameter than original and may have fit issues in tight places.

I have to warn folks that the harnesses sold for these cars are not always sold as a set. You have to buy the individual circuit harnesses and there are quite a few individual harnesses. You have to know he wiring pretty well before you order. I always suggest purchase of one of the large laminated circuit diagrams from flea-pay if they are still available. The new stuff comes with a diagram supplied for each harness they sell but only for that individual harness. Some cars have power accessories and some don't so this is why they sell the separate harnesses. Some folks only want to by one to repair the circuit that is problematic and not the whole car.
 
Often replacement harnesses contain several branches that may not be needed. This is to reduce the number of harnesses in the inventory. The best advice is to tag and identify each wire as it is disconnected. It is also helpful to take some photos of places with lots of connections, such as the dashboard and firewall, and make notes as you go. If the loom is not supplied with a wiring diagram, obtain one before you start. Otherwise, it is like taking a trip in a foreign country without a road map!
 
This is what I installed from Rhode Island wire works.
Most of the visible wire was replaced with the kit.
Any thing not visible was replaced with non covered wire.
400675
 

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Check out YnZ wiring in Redlands, CA High quality original looms that can be modified to your specifics if needed. Not cheap but quality costs money.
https://www.ynzyesterdaysparts.com
 
Can anyone recommend a 6 volt kit replacement wiring kit that is good quality? not the expensive fabric wire reproduction?
 
Don't know that it matters in your decision, but the cloth cover wires are modern wiring (similar to any wiring kit) with the cloth covering woven over them. Any other kit is most likely going to be the universal type and the color coding is not going to match (I believe most use the Chevy color coding). They will also most likely be built around a modern fuse panel. Nothing wrong with any of this, just something to be aware of.
 
WABOOM said:
Can anyone recommend a 6 volt kit replacement wiring kit that is good quality? not the expensive fabric wire reproduction?
Click to expand...
Did see one that someone bought years ago from J C Whitney to fit a '50 Mercury that was plastic coated wire with no cloth cover.
Don't know if they still sell them.
Other than that, start collecting components to make your own.
 
I've used the Sacramento Vintage Ford harnesses and they work well. They are less expensive than others. I have no idea if they make them for the later Mercs.
 
Is Narragansette Reproductions still in business after Ed Pease passed away? Rhode Island Wire Works I have been told is better even though it's owned by Ed Pease's brother but Narragansette Reproductions makes wiring harnesses for my 56 Continental Mark II.
And yes I also have a 1950 Mercury Sport Sedan that will eventually get a wiring harness replacement perhaps from Rhode Island.
 
at those prices i would make my own remove your harness & copy them. you can buy the proper gauge wire at most parts stores . buy the correct termals on the inter net get a roll of thin soder & a sodering gun.take your time you can do it today with phone camars take pictures for routing .
 
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