Question about aftermarket wiring harness connections?

I am thinking it would be money well spent to re-wire my '74 CJ5 with a new aftermarket harness. The original is all cut up and although the Jeep runs, not everything electrical is working. I also want to put in new guages and auxiliary lights, so I figure an actual fuse block might be nice. My question is, with aftermarket harnesses, how do you actually connect them to things like the headlights and switches where the original had plastic connectors? Are people just crimping and soldering on their own spade connectors to go in their place or do some kits come with connectors and pins? I have been looking at the EZ-wire 21 circuit kit if that helps.

Thanks,
Scott

 

Yes people just crimping and soldering and heat tubing on their own spade connectors to go in their place I used a painless worked very well I was very pleased once I got it all layed out and everything worked the first time. It was a little hard at first just one wire at a time before long it was done.

 

I've been doing a little research into this since I've also got a CJ5 in bad need of some re-wiring. So far all I've found out is that the original pigtails don't exist ANYWHERE! That's obviously a little bit of an exaggeration but really not that much of one. I don't have any of the original pigtails under the dash because someone before me decided to rewire the Jeep with what they had sitting around the garage. I'm getting rid of the original dash cluster anyway so all those pigtails aren't needed. The only one that I was really wanting was for the in-dash ignition switch. Couldn't find it anywhere so I'm going to go with a universal ignition from Jegs that will also mount in the dash. The universal one uses 4 ring terminals instead of 10+ spade terminals of the OEM.
My advice is to either save and butt connect all your original pigtails onto the new harness or go a different route than individual spades. The individual spades get confusing to work on later and they never seem to stay tight together; they always work loose and fall off after time.

 

It is amazing how many of the stock connectors are actually available through Napa, Del City, and Centech, but you may never find them by application. You may find some of the pigtails only by comparing what you have to pictures on these sites. Think 60's and early 70's Ford and GM restoration parts and you may have some luck.

My '75 was completely hacked when I bought it. I managed to scrounge up a rusted out hulk that had some useable wiring connectors, changed a couple switches with similar parts from other makes, and used top quality spades and forks for the rest. The quality of your crimp connectors makes a huge difference in how long your repairs last. The crap at Autozone won't cut it.

 

I have had a hard time finding some connectors such as the conectors on the backup light switch but was able to make something functional. Many pigtails are almost universal and commonally available at retail sites such as Pep Boys or Checker, The pigtail for a dual element taillight or single ekement are redally available as are the plugins for the Headlights.
Many of the underdash connectors are common connectors available just about anywhere.

 

I used the EZWIRE 12 to rewire my jeep. The kit comes with the headlight pigtails and everything else is available at FLAPS (at least for a '70). Its a very simple kit, easily accomplished over a weekend. One suggestion on terminal connectors, get ones with sealer and shrink tubing. Having it on the connector cuts your work in half and with the sealer you're worry free.:v6:

 

Huh. I didn't realize you could get butt connectors with the adhesive shrink tubing. In the past I've used either plain metal butt connectors (Keystone) or pulled the plastic off of the more common butt connectors, and covered either with heat shrink. This is a good reason to have one of the $10 heat guns from harbor Freight - although I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-H0801...ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1230748586&sr=8-2 - good for thawing frozen pipes, bending plastic, lots of uses.

The adhesive shrink tubing is the ticket for these connections. Strong and waterproof.

 

Sure can. You can get any connector type w/ it. The packaging is gone (I transfer them to an assortment tray when I buy them) but I think they were Centech.:v6:

 

One thing to note about the connectors with adhesive, they're incredibly expensive compared to plain (non-jacketed) connectors and weatherproof heatshrink. Just a money saving observation.

 

I'd like to have some connecters for say a two wire connecter, a three wire connecter, 4 wire connecter, and so on up to a bunch if wires. Maybe as many as 10 pairs? Anywhere online you guys can recommend fo this?

I have one of the ez-wire kits but I want to put in some additional quick disconnects and a couple addtional circuits.

 

I'm confused, so please pardon my ignorance. I always thought that one of the selling points to the aftermarket harnesses like those from Painless were that they were already pre-crimped, labeled, etc. Their adds make it sound like all you have to do is route them and plug 'em in.

I know less than nothing about wiring, but I also plan to re-wire my rig. I guess I better start learning.....

 

Depending on year I believe that is true about Painless, but it is for '75 and newer Jeeps. For us with older Jeeps, you have to provide your own ends to the harness. At least that is what I have gathered and thus the reason for my post.

Scott

 

For the universal kits (EZWIRE 12 or 21 etc) they are setup for all sizes of vehicles from rods to full size cars and trucks. They have a long wire set that you shorten and add the terminal connector for your application. In the case of a jeep you end up w/ a lot of leftover wire. They do provide some terminals but they are basic and won't do for all connections. Plan on buying your own terminals. As said, the terminals w/ sealer and shrink tube are more expensive, but the expense is small because the amount is not that large. They are well worth the extra expense.:v6:

 

I used the EZ2Wire 14 standard set. It had headlight and front marker / turnsingal terminals, firewall plug, Chevy style turn signal connection, ignition switch and reverse light switch terminals.
I found a site for Dorman's but lost the link. It had just about every thing electrical you could think of for automotive.

 

This Dorman?
https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-...-id=TEMP4247911hwrap1&vtime=63426&vtime=63426