American Autowire vs. Painless Performance.
- Buddy Faulk
- May 17
- 4 min read
Which Wiring Harness Kit Delivers the Best Value?
After installing wiring harnesses for the last 10 years, I’ve had experience with both American Autowire and Painless Performance. Both companies build quality products, and both are far better than trying to reuse 50-year-old brittle factory wiring. But after years of installation, custom routing, troubleshooting, and seeing how these systems perform long-term, there are some real differences between the two.
This is not a “good vs. bad” comparison. Both kits work. Both companies have strong reputations. This is more about installer experience, long-term value, and what I’ve found works best in real-world classic car restorations.
One of the biggest technical differences between the two kits is the wire itself. American Autowire Classic Update kits use GXL wire throughout the harness. Painless Performance harnesses use TXL wire.
Both are high-quality cross-linked automotive wire designed for modern under-hood temperatures and durability. Neither one is a cheap “parts store” primary wire. The difference is mainly in insulation thickness. GXL wire has slightly thicker insulation. TXL wire has thinner insulation and creates a smaller harness bundle.
In my experience, the thicker GXL insulation used by AAW gives the harness a little more durability and protection when routing through older sheet metal, tight dash structures, firewall openings, and sharp factory edges. It also gives the harness more of a heavy-duty OE feel.
TXL wire does have advantages. It is lighter, easier to package into tight bundles, and works very well in modern applications. Painless also states that their TXL wire offers superior abrasion resistance and easy routing.
From an installer standpoint, though, I personally prefer the feel and routing characteristics of the GXL wire in the AAW kits.
AAW Classic Update kits are designed more like a restoration-oriented system. The kits typically include:
Switches
Bulb sockets
Alternator wiring
Longer wire lengths
Accessory power provisions
Practice terminals
Larger-format instructions
AAW also includes a very useful 6-way accessory power plug that makes adding aftermarket accessories much cleaner. One thing I especially like is the extra wire length in the engine and rear body sections. AAW intentionally leaves longer leads for custom routing and modern drivetrain combinations. That may not matter to a basic installer, but for higher-end restorations, it makes a difference. It allows cleaner routing, hidden wiring options, and better overall harness layout. The practice terminals are another small detail that shows the kits were designed with installers in mind. If someone is new to terminal crimping, having extra terminals to practice with can save frustration and mistakes. The larger paper instructions are also easier to work with on a bench compared to smaller folded manuals.
Painless kits are usually very detailed in their instructions. In some areas, I think their documentation explains the process better and includes more wire gauge information, which I do appreciate. Their manuals are very step-by-step oriented, and for first-time installers, that can be helpful. Painless also labels their wires every 12 inches and uses quality TXL wire throughout the system. The kits are generally compact and organized well. Where I think Painless falls slightly behind is in included components and overall installation flexibility. In many cases, AAW simply gives you more complete hardware, better accessory provisions, and more routing flexibility right out of the box.
If I had to summarize the overall enthusiast satisfaction level from what’s publicly available:
American Autowire appears to have slightly higher long-term installer satisfaction overall.
Painless likely has broader DIY popularity because of its instructions and availability.
Both companies are considered far above generic universal harness brands.
From a professional restoration standpoint, AAW seems to have developed a particularly strong reputation among experienced installers who prioritize:
cleaner routing,
A higher-end presentation,
accessory integration,
and long-term serviceability.
General Reputation Overview
Category | American Autowire | Painless Performance |
Overall installer reputation | Extremely high | Very good |
DIY friendliness | Good | Very good |
Restoration-oriented installs | Excellent | Good |
Universal/custom builds | Very good | Excellent |
Included components | Often praised | More mixed |
Instructions | Good and large-format | Often considered more detailed |
Tech support reputation | Strong | Strong |
Price satisfaction | Mixed due to the higher price | Better upfront value |
Long-term enthusiast satisfaction | Very high | Good to very good |
Pricing vs. Value
There’s no question that American Autowire kits are usually more expensive than comparable Painless Kits. At first glance, some customers immediately focus on the price difference. But wiring harnesses are one area where looking only at the initial cost can be misleading. The real question is: What saves time, creates fewer problems, and delivers a cleaner finished product?
That is value. If a kit includes:
better routing flexibility,
more included components,
cleaner accessory integration,
better charging provisions,
and reduces installation headaches,
Then the higher upfront cost may actually save money in labor and future repairs.
In professional restoration work, labor time matters far more than the difference of a few hundred dollars in harness cost. A cleaner install also improves:
reliability,
serviceability,
appearance,
and long-term owner satisfaction.
Which Do I Prefer?
After 10 years of installing wiring harnesses, I personally prefer American Autowire Classic Update kits. That does not mean Painless is a bad product. It is not. Painless makes a quality harness with detailed instructions and modern TXL wire. For many applications, it works very well. But from my experience as an installer, American Autowire offers better overall value for the type of work I do.
For high-end classic car wiring, custom routing, and restoration-quality installs, I believe the AAW Classic Update kits give me a cleaner and more professional final product.
At the end of the day, the wiring system is the nervous system of the vehicle. Saving a little money upfront does not mean much if the finished installation is harder to service, harder to route cleanly, or more limited for future upgrades.
When I wire a classic car, I want it done once, done cleanly, and built to last. I love to hear you thoughts, leave a comment. Thanks for reading.
Faulk's Classic Car Repair
478-278-4270
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