Calling For Wiring Experts

Just got Willie pulled back up to the mountains and for some reason the tail and brake lights are not working. No telling when they stopped working. Could have been months ago, no idea. I only have a test light here at the cabin, no multimeter. So I started checking at the rear then the terminal block on the fender. I finally found 2 different wire had come out of their connectors at different places. This is still the original ‘58 harness and connectors. So how is the best way to make sure these wires don’t come out again, other than wrapping with electrical tape?

 

A little squeeze with a pair of pliers sometimes can tighten up the receiving end.

 

Snip off the lug, strip to fresh copper, crimp on a new lug, and if you want to get fancy, sleeve with heat shrink. Re-terminate.

 

I think a little squeeze would shatter those plastic connectors, especially 63 years old.

 

Oh... or did you mean the wires actually came loose out of their bullets/lugs?

I hate crimps, I always solder, and add heat shrink if possible

 

I have taken a pocket screwdriver and used it to bend the female side of the connectors inward inside the plastic to make a tighter fit on the male side.

Modern bullet connectors will fit in the old connectors. If the wire pulled out of the connector, I would use some crimp connectors for now then fix later when you get back to civilization.

 

The plug came out of the round connector.
https://walcks4wd.com/connector-wire-1-into-1-with-fittings-p-789.html

 

Then maybe simple - to get new connector barrels would solve it, if distorting the old one fails. Although I'd suspect the originals are better quality.

 

My (possibly excessive) method - strip back, new connector, crimp, liquid flux (MG Chemicals brand), solder, cover with adhesive heat shrink. Be sure to put the heat shrink on before you crimp.

 

If these are the connectors you have, I'd use something else. I'd choose Weather Pack, but even the Packard 56 would be better.

https://www.delcity.net/store/Packard-56-Series-Electrical-Connectors/p_9108
https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Pin-Weather-Pack-Connector/dp/B0051P9L04 (I think these are copies of real Weatherpacks).

 

Well if you want to go all the way, for the same money the ultimate connection is the "Douglas" type used on military jeeps. Bombproof.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154002721757?hash=item23db470bdd:g:iLsAAOSwmFFgIbB4

 

I have those on my Dodge M37. Yes bomb proof, but expensive and a PIA to install with the Douglas crimper that you will need.

 

Trying to stay original.