Chasis Harness

[FAKKY]

Have an EZ harness Im going to be starting on here next week or two.

Few questions

1) What do most guys use for connecitn wires. eg Say you want a quick disconnect

Basic Spade/Butt Connectors
Deutch style connectors ? Delphi ?
Others ? Like ...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A6LTK44?psc=1

2) Would you generally use a conector or just solder and shrink wrap if not needing to service/access.


Any good links on how to wire from scratch - mainly with regard when to run grounds. Example - take the wire for 3rd brake light to rear - connect - but ground where ? Or common ground across all rear brake lights.


Probbaly going to have a bunch pof questions when I get to putting in the radiator fans and such ....... but that will be a while.

Get basic wiring of dash cluster and turn signals and brakes and rear lights.
Do Fans and fromt lights clisgter to reassembly time next year.

[Dave0]

Im going to use GM weatherpack connectors on just about everything I can...

You will have to buy a couple pairs of special crimpers to go that route...

[mongocanfly]

those connectiors in your link look nice...I don't see a problem with them....and I'm a huge promoter of solder and heat shrink....

[FAKKY]

Thx.

How about wiring approach.

Like a good example is rear lights...... Do they all get an individual ground ...or all piggyback off a single ground.

Stuff like that.

[mongocanfly]

just to help reduce a lot of extra wiring I would terminate the grounds close to where the light is..rather than running wires to a common spot..

[FAKKY]

Any other stuff like that.

Looks like for most components just run power wire to accessory and ground.

Anything hi draw through relay.

Think I'm going with Dakota kit for gauge which has an inbuilt harness so just run accessories direct to each port on accessory box.

Other than that .......just battery ground and disconnect and the fan setup

[jweb]

Here's a good article about wiring
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/09/...htmare-part-1/

When I did my LS swap I tried using the wire connectors & crimpers instead of soldering.
I will never solder again, it worked great and so much easier if you're working under the dash.

[FAKKY]

Originally Posted by jweb

Here's a good article about wiring
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/09/...htmare-part-1/

When I did my LS swap I tried using the wire connectors & crimpers instead of soldering.
I will never solder again, it worked great and so much easier if you're working under the dash.

Thanks.

The problem I usually face is more detailed problems ....... like;

What size ground wire to use.
Do you daisy chain the power (example rear lights) or use seperate individual power wires
Circuit protection - doing it the right way
Tapping into circuits - best/right way .... eg key on
Accessories - eg does FAN go into engine wiring harness, chassis wiring harness or a 3rd harness
Reading wiring schematics

stuff like that

[jweb]

Originally Posted by FAKKY

Thanks.

The problem I usually face is more detailed problems ....... like;

What size ground wire to use.
Do you daisy chain the power (example rear lights) or use seperate individual power wires
Circuit protection - doing it the right way
Tapping into circuits - best/right way .... eg key on
Accessories - eg does FAN go into engine wiring harness, chassis wiring harness or a 3rd harness
Reading wiring schematics

stuff like that

I haven't done a lot of wiring but I did use an EZ harness when I did my truck. I remember several of the wires split into 2 part way through the harness ( headlights, taillights). Like Mongo said above keep the grounds short and close to the light. You will have less wiring and it will likely be easier to find a problem. As far as ground wire size, I have always gone with the rule the ground should be the same size as the power wire and no smaller.

[_Ogre]

not a fan of the prewired connectors you linked to cuz they add 4 connections to the circuit
google gm weatherpack and buy the components to make the plugs
jegs has a kit but i bought all my parts on ebay for less and you get what you need
you need the correct crimpers amazon has the best price

if you want to reuse stock connectors you'll need packard 56 terminals
packard 56 is what gm used in headlight harness wiring and pretty much everything else
they use the same weatherpack crimp tool

i have insulated spade terminals for a quick disconnect on my cluster
maybe orrieg will post a pic of the plug he used, much better than my idea

[FAKKY]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

not a fan of the prewired connectors you linked to cuz they add 4 connections to the circuit
google gm weatherpack and buy the components to make the plugs
jegs has a kit but i bought all my parts on ebay for less and you get what you need
you need the correct crimpers amazon has the best price

if you want to reuse stock connectors you'll need packard 56 terminals
packard 56 is what gm used in headlight harness wiring and pretty much everything else
they use the same weatherpack crimp tool

i have insulated spade terminals for a quick disconnect on my cluster
maybe orrieg will post a pic of the plug he used, much better than my idea

Cluster should be ok as *think* im going with the dakota digital.
They come with a accessory distribution/control box

http://www.dakotadigital.com/pdf/VHX_manual_main.pdf

thanks for link. Only problem with those kits is a number of the pices are like for 6-8 wires ....... no idea what I would use that on .......

[FAKKY]

thanks guys

[HUSSEY]

I bought a GM style weather pak kit off eBay for a good price. It came with an assortment of connectors, pins, and seals.

But, I didn't end up using many of them. For lights and such I wired them directly into the pigtail of the socket. Many other components have a connector associated with it like the fuel pump, headlight switch, dimmer switch, third brake light, etc.

I know some folks like to solder and heat shrink but I think solder is overkill, plus time consuming, and in some difficult to access areas a PITA.

I used uninstalled seamless crimp terminals then covered them with heat shrinks...ones like these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150-Uninsula...item2ed4715639

I found eBay to be good source for electrical consumables. I bought all my terminal, heat shrink, plastic wire loom, adel clamps, and additional color coded wire from various eBay sellers.

I will admit that the wiring seemed daunting at first. I think the best suggestion is to print out the instructions and read them. Get to understand the circuits. Lay out your harness and re-organize it as needed and add in additional circuits as needed. Add some loops of electrical tape to keep the sections organized and don't tape the whole thing up. Then install it section by section taking your time to double check and recheck.

I also think power terminal blocks can be usefull. I have a small one under the dash for the gauges and the indicator lights. I have another one under the truck for the main power feeds with power cable running from the battery mounted under the bed to it. FYI, welding cable from eBay makes for inexpensive power feed and starter power cabling.