Hot Rod Wiring: A Detailed How-To Guide - Paperback

by Dennis Overholser (Author)

The ultimate garage manual that takes the mystery out of hot rod electrical systems and custom wiring harnesses.

The one job that even the most knowledgeable DIY mechanics farm out is the wiring. No more. Today you can confidently select the best modern components, pick the appropriate harness kit, and install everything yourself with the expert guidance found in Hot Rod Wiring.

Whether you are building an old-school '32 Ford with a flathead for power, or a modern kustom ride loaded with a fuel-injected V8 and full air ride suspension, this book provides the practical, hands-on knowledge you need. Electrical demands have shifted drastically over the years-modern stereo systems draw serious power, accessories are multiplying, and alternator output is easily triple what it used to be. This updated shop manual reflects those high-performance changes, helping you design a safe and efficient electrical system from the ground up.

Inside This Complete Technical Shop Manual:

• DC Electricity 101: Master the absolute fundamentals of direct current theory.
• Component Selection: How to pick the best batteries, starters, and high-output alternators.
• Harness Kits Explained: Demystifying aftermarket wiring kits and custom harness installations.
• Step-by-Step Projects: Three start-to-finish wiring installations, including a 1939 Ford and a 1972 Chevy truck.
• Specialized Electrical Additions: Wiring for Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) systems and handling a 6-volt to 12-volt conversion.

Written by Dennis Overholser, a hot rodder and legend in the industry who spent over 20 years designing wiring kits and leading technical installation seminars for Painless Performance Products. Dennis brings his decades of professional shop floor experience directly to your garage bench.

Spanning 144 pages packed with clear specifications, troubleshooting tips, and comprehensive schematics for typical starting, lighting, and charging circuits, this is the definitive blueprint required to safely wire your hot rod.

Author Biography

Dennis Overholser purchased his first hot rod during high school, a 1933 Ford three-window coupe with no engine or transmission. After high school Dennis attended Nashville Auto Diesel College, and it wasn't long before he was in school again, this time for electronics, paid for by the U.S. Air Force. In 1970 Dennis started as a mechanic at the Clemons Tractor Company. Twenty years later he left the Clemons Tractor Company to work for Painless Wiring, engineering wiring systems for the street rod market. In addition to his work designing street rod components and building hot rods for his friends and himself, Dennis is active in a variety of hot rod and street rod organizations, including NSRA, KKOA, and SEMA. Between designing and building, Dennis holds seminars on automotive electrical systems for customers and organizations across the country, at events like the Street Rod Nationals and The Rod & Custom Americruise.