American Autowire Install tips/questions

[ShiftedGarage]

Long time lurker first time poster. Just finished a complete rewire on my 74 cuda with the american autowire harness. I recorded it all and posted a video so hopefully that helps some people out or gives them the confidence to do this project yourself. Heres a link to it
Key things to know if you are going to do this yourself, if anyone else has any tips feel free to chime in.
- 1 wire alternator is what this kit uses
- Crimpers that american autowire sells are worth every penny for the project
- Ammeter delete. Kit does not use a ammeter at all so a voltmeter conversion is required if you want something in your dash if you are using factory style guages. There are 2 models that are known to work/fit in the cluster Bosch FST7985 or SunPro 7985. Both these styles have the needle base at the top of the guage which is needed to fit in cluster. Gauge will need to be fully removed from the pod it comes in and just the actual gauge itself will be used. I didnt have to modify the gauge cluster at all just some tweaks to the new voltmeter for proper fitment.
- Nows the time to do the clock - quartz conversion while you have the whole dash out of the car there are several write ups on this already so i wont beat a dead horse
- Dont throw out your old harness, some connectors need to be re-used (turn signal, ignition, side marker turn signal, and possibly wiper switch) save it until you are complete with the install.
- Pay alot of attention to the directions, seems like an obvious statement but when matching old harness to new harness parts really pay attention to color and connector positioning (re-pinning a mistake sucks) they lay out old harness color to new harness colors for continuity.
** IF you happen to have PN#3488773 (2-speed wiper switch) that only has 5 prongs on it while every other switch out there and the instructions only have pictures for the ones that have 6.. I’ve done the homework for you. Keep old harness connection as the supplied one wont fit, these are the connections
A - Brown
B - Pink on original harness (Ignition On Power)
F2 Green
H - Red
P - Blue

With the new harness the pink becomes white and everything else remains the same. The brown with white is for power wiper washer fluid. I de-pinned my old connector, cut the connectors off the new harness and pinned the new wires into the old connector. My old connector still had the brown with white provision and wire so feel free to pin it just so there isnt any loose wire. With this fully tested and everything works as advertised.
- Having the service manuals handy is a nice help to have and to double check yourself on somethings like adding in the side marker turn signals.
- If using aftermarked ignition (I used MSD 6AL with a magnetic pickup) they have instructions for certain types but they describe also what wires can be used as a power source for your ignition. Once identified use the instructions for your ignition system to finish that install.

Hope this helps some of ya’ll again video helps cover how everything went/ installs but this is a good synopsis.

Overall not a bad install, have patience it takes time and planning on how you want to run, crimp, mount stuff. This was my first time doing any major wiring took me about a 6-7 days to do being very tedious and double checking instructions, forums, and manuals

 

[SRKlegin]

I was entertaining just a simple engine bay kit, using the existing fuse box for now. Is this do-able?

 

[booyaballer]

Long time lurker first time poster. Just finished a complete rewire on my 74 cuda with the american autowire harness. I recorded it all and posted a video so hopefully that helps some people out or gives them the confidence to do this project yourself. Heres a link to it
Key things to know if you are going to do this yourself, if anyone else has any tips feel free to chime in.
- 1 wire alternator is what this kit uses
- Crimpers that american autowire sells are worth every penny for the project
- Ammeter delete. Kit does not use a ammeter at all so a voltmeter conversion is required if you want something in your dash if you are using factory style guages. There are 2 models that are known to work/fit in the cluster Bosch FST7985 or SunPro 7985. Both these styles have the needle base at the top of the guage which is needed to fit in cluster. Gauge will need to be fully removed from the pod it comes in and just the actual gauge itself will be used. I didnt have to modify the gauge cluster at all just some tweaks to the new voltmeter for proper fitment.
- Nows the time to do the clock - quartz conversion while you have the whole dash out of the car there are several write ups on this already so i wont beat a dead horse
- Dont throw out your old harness, some connectors need to be re-used (turn signal, ignition, side marker turn signal, and possibly wiper switch) save it until you are complete with the install.
- Pay alot of attention to the directions, seems like an obvious statement but when matching old harness to new harness parts really pay attention to color and connector positioning (re-pinning a mistake sucks) they lay out old harness color to new harness colors for continuity.
** IF you happen to have PN#3488773 (2-speed wiper switch) that only has 5 prongs on it while every other switch out there and the instructions only have pictures for the ones that have 6.. I’ve done the homework for you. Keep old harness connection as the supplied one wont fit, these are the connections
A - Brown
B - Pink on original harness (Ignition On Power)
F2 Green
H - Red
P - Blue

With the new harness the pink becomes white and everything else remains the same. The brown with white is for power wiper washer fluid. I de-pinned my old connector, cut the connectors off the new harness and pinned the new wires into the old connector. My old connector still had the brown with white provision and wire so feel free to pin it just so there isnt any loose wire. With this fully tested and everything works as advertised.
- Having the service manuals handy is a nice help to have and to double check yourself on somethings like adding in the side marker turn signals.
- If using aftermarked ignition (I used MSD 6AL with a magnetic pickup) they have instructions for certain types but they describe also what wires can be used as a power source for your ignition. Once identified use the instructions for your ignition system to finish that install.

Hope this helps some of ya’ll again video helps cover how everything went/ installs but this is a good synopsis.

Overall not a bad install, have patience it takes time and planning on how you want to run, crimp, mount stuff. This was my first time doing any major wiring took me about a 6-7 days to do being very tedious and double checking instructions, forums, and manuals

Thanks for the post i bet it will help a ton when i do the same on my 70 challenger. I have the same wiring kit. I checked and found the sunpro gauge on Amazon.

where did you find the quartz clock and do you have the model number? is it R-3035?

also, beside the crimpers you suggest, any other tools you recommend? a test light or power circuit probe?

thanks!!

 

[Ricks72Chlgr440]

Thanks for the post i bet it will help a ton when i do the same on my 70 challenger. I have the same wiring kit. I checked and found the sunpro gauge on Amazon.

where did you find the quartz clock and do you have the model number? is it R-3035?

also, beside the crimpers you suggest, any other tools you recommend? a test light or power circuit probe?

thanks!!

I installed the aaw kit into my 70 duster. At first it was absolutely overwhelming. Million miles of wire and connectors was staring me in the face. I only used a volt/ohm meter. In a couple of cases I had to use butt slices but had those on hand. I also bought several rolls of wire wrap to make the wires tidy. Ran into a few issues but worked through them. Take your time and it will work well.

 

[Challenger RTA]

This thread has a good heading to direct other in the right direction. I'll post a number of quotes that relate to it.

Looking for some wiring help. Trying to wire into my American Autowire connector. The AA diagram looks like it has the old colors for a stock turnkey switch. Aftermarket Turnsignal has the following colors on the connector:
WHITE (At the pointed End)
GREEN
MUSTARD/Blk Stripe
RED
BLUE
Lt Green
Yellow
Green/White Stripe

I cannot find a pin out anywhere for these colors....anyone got one?

View attachment 135187

View attachment 135188

I'm not familiar with that wiring package. As far as a pin out there is none. I made one for the turn signal switch. It looks like what you showed. Is there a makeup plug or adaptor they sent you? If there keyed(made the same) the same it more than likely it should work. Anyhow maybe this will help.View attachment 135218

So you needed to cut the plug from the switch? This is what it should be on the new turn signal switch to the AAW wiring colors. That your showing me. A better picture of figure E would help.

MOPAR turn signal Switch colors---------- After market Switch colors-------------AAW wire colors


Stop lamps-------------White -----------------White------------------------------------White


L F turn signal --------LT Green--------------GREEN ----------------------------------Light blue


R F turn signal -------Tan---------------------Yellow/ Blk Stripe ------------------Dark Blue


Emg Flasher ----------Pink-------------------RED --------------------------------------Brown


Turn signal Flasher--Red---------------------BLUE ------------------------------------Purple


L R turn signal-------Dark Green----------- Lt Green --------------------------------Yellow


R R turn signal-------Brown-----------------Yellow -----------------------------------Dark Green


Horn relay------------Black-------------------Grn/w-----------------------------------Black



AAW wiring. So you needed to cut the plug from the switch? This is what the colors would be on a new turn signal switch. The AAW wiring colors. Figure E. The Mopar wiring colors. My opinion: If you have the the car side of the turn signal sw plug. I would cut it with enough wire to remove the insulation. Then soldier the AAW wires to the plug wires and have shrink tube on before soldiering. Or get one. That way you retain ease of replacement and or trouble shooting. They are low current.

MOPAR turn signal Switch colors---------- After market Switch colors-------------AAW wire colors


Stop lamps-------------White -----------------White------------------------------------White


L F turn signal --------LT Green--------------GREEN ----------------------------------Light blue


R F turn signal -------Tan---------------------Orange/Blk Stripe ------------------Dark Blue


Emg Flasher ----------Pink-------------------RED --------------------------------------Brown


Turn signal Flasher--Red---------------------BLUE ------------------------------------Purple


L R turn signal-------Dark Green----------- Lt Blue--------------------------------Yellow


R R turn signal-------Brown-----------------Yellow -----------------------------------Dark Green


Horn relay------------Black-------------------Grn-w-----------------------------------Black



AAW wiring. So you needed to cut the plug from the switch? This is what the colors would be on a new turn signal switch. The AAW wiring colors. Figure F. The Mopar wiring colors. My opinion: If you have the the car side of the turn signal sw plug. I would cut it with enough wire to remove the insulation. Then soldier the AAW wires to the plug wires and have shrink tube on before soldiering. Or get one. That way you retain ease of replacement and or trouble shooting. They are low current.

BEAWARE After market switch colors may vary. Pay no attention to the color chart in the picture. I have no idea what it is referring to.

View attachment 135257

Ok so I wired it like above and my right and lefts were crossed up. Flashers were fine. So here is the final arrangement which I will share with AAW peeps as they did get back to me:

	Aftermarket Switch Pigtail	AAW Colors
Stop Lamps	White	White
LF Turn Signal	Green	Dark Blue
RF Turnsignal	Yellow/Blk Stripe	Light Blue
Emg Flasher	Red	Brown
Turn Signal Flasher	Blue	Purple
LR Turn Signal	Lt Green	Dark Green
RR Turn Signal	Yellow	Yellow

I will solder everything this weekend, heat shrink it, and move on to ignition wiring!