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I agree. In any wire to wire connection, solder and shrink wrap. Crimp connectors and crimp type taps should only be considered temporary and used sparingly. For a removable connection I like Weatherpak types.
If splicing wires, I only use solder/shrink tubing. If connecting anything remotely factory, I only use factory-style connectors (Packard 56 series for most Oldsmobiles through the mid-80s). If adding circuits, I'll use Packard 56 or Weatherpak connectors. The latter are far better due to the rubber seals that protect the terminals. You must use the correct crimping tool on these factory-style terminals for a quality connection.
Get yourself a ratcheting style crimper. They work great!
As the others have said though, you can't beat splicing and soldering the wire together. Just make sure you wash your hands when you're done. Even lead free solder is nasty stuff.
If splicing wires, I only use solder/shrink tubing. If connecting anything remotely factory, I only use factory-style connectors (Packard 56 series for most Oldsmobiles through the mid-80s). If adding circuits, I'll use Packard 56 or Weatherpak connectors. The latter are far better due to the rubber seals that protect the terminals. You must use the correct crimping tool on these factory-style terminals for a quality connection.
"Where does he GET all those wonderful TOYS?"
Now that I have been reminded of "Weatherpak" (this was in the Car Craft article that I recall, now I will look again) as well as "Packard 56" I will certainly Google for a supplier.
Where do YOU buy YOUR non-insulated wire and terminal crimps/heat shrink/"weatherpak & Packard 56"/automotive-grade wire from? "Radio Shack" or "O'reilly" are not the answers I'm searching for - I've been to those places.
I want to get geared up for some general projects - I did that test stand wiring for example with all plastic insulated pieces because that's all I had on-hand (itself a function of "what's available locally"). I could have used better color-coded and guage-specific wire too but didn't.
The build of the actual metal crimp inside of the blue insulated pieces also varies...I'd like to buy quality connectors to have/use as needed.
NAPA sells both Weatherpak and Packard 56 terminals and connector bodies, however most of the counter personnel in the stores don't know this. You need to force them to look in the paper catalog.
I get my terminals and connectors from American Auto Wire at the Carlisle swap meet. They have by far the best terminals. The ones they sell are the same as factory (others I've bought have been too thin to crimp properly or are misshapen and don't fit in the connector bodies). Any of the wiring specialty houses sells them, as do vendors like Del City and Terminal Supply. Note that while most connectors in this vintage GM car are Packard 56, the headlight connectors are the larger Packard 59 series. American Auto Wire sells the correct terminals for these.
I agree with Joe, I work part-time at a NAPA store and we have that stuff, just go to the older looking counterman, they should be able to help you out. Almost all that type of good stuff is behind the counter and not on most spin racks out front for the regular consumers.
Modern stuff (weatherpack, metripack, etc) can be acquired from electronics suppliers like DigiKey at much better prices. At least as components. If you want pre-crimped pigtails then it gets unreasonably expensive.
Assortment connector kits are widely available, and many include crimpers. I like the kit from the DIY Autotune group, but there are similar kits broadly available, even on Amazon.
Like Joe said, finding good Packard connectors is a bit more challenging. Still need the correct crimper for those to work well.
MSD sells the correct crimper jaws that crimp both the wire and the insulation in one pass. The MSD cripmer is spendy, however. There are many versions of the ratcheting crimper frames that accept the same jaws, however. I picked up a frame at Carlisle for about $15 then ordered the MSD jaws from Summit.
Here are the MSD jaws (dies). Note that the lower part has the double curve for the open end of the terminal. Also note that the upper part is stepped for simultaneous insulated and uninsulated crimping.
Here's a shot of the two crimps (though in this case the insulated crimp isn't that great... ).
I found a ratcheting crimper with multiple jaws on eBay for $40used. THe Packard 56 are difficult to find, but NAPA has been good in the past. I get some of my stuff from Waytek wiring.
Last edited by csouth; January 31st, 2017 at 12:10 PM.
By the way, be wary of the cheap brass terminals. The are thinner than OEM and often don't fit the connector bodies correctly. They are also significantly less expensive, which should be a tip-off.
The factory style terminals are thicker and tinned.
By the way, be wary of the cheap brass terminals. The are thinner than OEM and often don't fit the connector bodies correctly. They are also significantly less expensive, which should be a tip-off.
The factory style terminals are thicker and tinned.
I should have said locally. I'm very aware they can be ordered from electrical supply. I have been in a situation once or twice when I needed a connector and could not find one locally. If you notice, I listed Waytek in my reply...
Last edited by csouth; January 31st, 2017 at 12:11 PM.
I should have said locally. I'm very aware they can be ordered from electrical supply. I have been in a situation once or twice when I needed a connector and could not find one locally. If you notice, I listed Waytek in my reply...
Understand. I try to keep a stock on hand for exactly that reason. Frankly, local stores stock relatively few parts for my cars anymore anyway, so I rarely by locally. I can't see making two trips to the store (one to order and one a day or so later to pick up) when I can have parts dropped on my doorstep.
I never really need more than a few until I have a bad crimp. I hate paying more for shipping than the items themselves. The only place I've found them walk in has been NAPA and that's because the warehouse is the location that is by my house.
Thanks to everyone. Now I have something to go on.
I found these links below - they're not 100% what I remember reading in Car Craft (and it wasn't that long ago either) BUT this same-brand HRN content is almost the same:
I found this kit with 5 different jaw sets. Seems to be a decent deal for 35.99
Wow, that's a smoking deal. The A03BC jaws are the ones for the Packard 56 terminals. I paid more than the price of this whole kit just for the jaws from MSD!
I bought the kit in the link but it didn't include the strippers as shown. Turns out the seller is PRODUCT SULTAN and they rip off the pictures from IWISS and sell the same product but don't include the strippers! I am returning the kit and ordering from IWISS themselves:
January 30th, 2017, 09:22 AM
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