Hi All! after doing a 'search' for a thread on the ISIS wiring system all I got back were a few comments for use in the GTM, s if I missed any comments or info for using the ISIS on our 33 Hot Rods I apologize right up front! I saw a number of magazine ads for that ISIS system (hope I am spelling that right?) with both the 2 and 3 node setups some time ago and have not seen any lately so maybe this means the product is no longer available or just not very popular?!
I am trying to get whatever info (and comments) I can as to the good/bad/ugly sides of using the ISIS in our '33 HR's. Last I read the system cost about $1000 so it's not something I can just jump into. I would love any comments from HR builders who have either started to install this wiring system or have already put it into their vehicles and have been using it for a bit. Was it worth the cost? Would you do it again? Yes/No and 'why'. Did using this system really help the overall quality of the build? did it make adding any options (radio/Pushbutton Start/power antenna/etc.) easier or more difficult.
...I'd really appreciate any comments that can be passed along to me either here on the Forum or feel free to email me directly at "dansgarage@roadrunner.com" and thanks so much for any and all help!!! This Forum is a GREAT source of info for someone like myself who is still considered 'dangerous' with tools!! (smile)
Dan Melnik
Beaumont, CA
Location: Somewhere between Arkansas and Colorado....
Posts: 1,992
It is a really cool system, but the "form factor" is pretty large. I was one of the first to get the system and eventually abandoned it because there was just no real good place to mount it (IMO), but this was in a roadster.
The technology is awesome, and they keep updating with improvements and additional features. It just takes up a lot of room and I didn't want to sacrifice accessibility for service for the cool factor on the roadster. I'm resto-moding a 65 mustang and I'll think about it for that, but then again there is much more real estate to mount it in that car.
I considered using it but was afraid if the company ever went away I'd be hosed. Painless Wiring and others have been around a long time and it makes me feel more comfortable. Not to mention to cost. I was also concerned some other electrical "event" could cause harm to the system.
I'm still building my 33, but I do have the ISIS system for it. I haven't wired it in yet, but the programming and flexibility options made me choose it. If you're looking to do a pretty stock build, I would suggest you stick with the regular harness. If you're adding a lot of amenities, it is really easy to do. I bought it to make it easy to add door and trunk poppers, power suicide door pins, stereo, LED lighting, cruise control, and seat heaters. In addition, you can get it with programmable remotes and it also provides security for the vehicle.
I have the original ISIS system in my 65 Roadster. No problems in 4 years. I have installed the present system in my 33 Hotrod. Finding places for the boxes is challenging. When you think you have it solved and then install the body everything can change. It's a great system.
Thanks a bunch for those comments regarding the ISIS system, guys! As of right now I am thinking that 'eventually' I would like to have all those 'goodies' that were mentioned by member 1FASTSEDAN, and possibly more! who knows what technology may offer in the next few years, right? That being said I'd appreciate a really, direct, blunt comment about how difficult this system is to initially install in our HR's. My background is mostly in older cars (I have two 1966 Imperials I restore and keep driving) and while I may be OK with troubleshooting an old style electrical system, the ISIS has me sort of, shall we say, "Intimidated'??
The photo's on the Forum look really great...and everything fits in neatly though the under-the-dash parts may make it a problem with the AC unit, no??? or is that the AC unit you have already installed (in the photo) and just added the ISIS parts on to it?
...I also think the cost of the ISIS is definitely something to make me go with the harness and wires that came with the kit but, I REALLY would like to add a bunch of those power 'goodies' to the vehicle before I am all done. (decisions, decisions!)
...Has anyone who decided to use the kit's wiring harness REGRETTED not going with the ISIS after wards?
Thanks to all who have chimed in here....still not sure of which direction to go in as both staying with the kit-harness and having the ISIS add-on options both seem like they have definite plus' and minus'!!!
(guess I'm just looking for some input that will sway me to the ISIS and justify the cost!
(smile)
Thanks so much guys!!! I really appreeciate (and need!) all your help and comments!
Dan Melnik
Beaumont, CA
I went with harness that came with kit. that said I have power windows, door poppers... so I added an auxilary Fuse panel that I placed in the console I built. I wanted to be able to access fuses and power leads needed to be fed to doors from waterfall area. You can use existing keyed ignition source to have heavy relay to power it. Or you can wire direct from battery. I have a mix since I needed power for door poppers without key on. I went this way due to cost. You can find aux panels in many sizes depending on how many circuits you need. I installed master battery cutoff but have a small resetable breaker across it to maintain radio memory... But if someone tried to hot wire or start engine it trips breaker.
If you have this file (http://www.isispower.com/filebase/sr...ides/FFR33.pdf) its not hard to wire up at all. Its a little more work since you'll have to extend some of their supplied wiring and you'll have to build your own harness, but that's one of the things I liked about it.
I understand that you run a Dakota Digital dash board, hwo does that mates with the ISIS system, as I beleive that comes with its own box (another thing to hide!!)
I understand that you run a Dakota Digital dash board, hwo does that mates with the ISIS system, as I beleive that comes with its own box (another thing to hide!!)
Thnx
Robert
Your guess is as good as mine. The Dakota parts should be here next week. Wiring everything up is looking like an April project. From what I can tell, the only thing the Dakota stuff needs from the ISIS set-up is a switched power source.
Last edited by 1fastsedan; 03-09-2012 at 02:58 PM..
Your guess is as good as mine. The Dakota parts should be here next week. Wiring everything up is looking like an April project. From what I can tell, the only thing the Dakota stuff needs from the ISIS set-up is a switched power source.
Universal speedometer signal interface - (Universal Speedometer Signal Interface) converts VSS signal from a sine wave to square wave and make sit adjustable
SEN-4165 - (Speedometer 8K Pulse Generator) - this is going to replace the factory transmission VSS sender that hit the driver's seat
If you want the PRNDL to work, you'll need a gear sender too, my set-up uses a signal from the shifter.
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The Dakota parts should be here next week. Wiring everything up is looking like an April project. From what I can tell, the only thing the Dakota stuff needs from the ISIS set-up is a switched power source.
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