Tips on dash wiring for easy removal?

[richtersand]

Hi all, I am planning to drive in gel coat for a few hundred miles at least and part of the plan is to hold off covering the dash until just before paint. As a result, I am going to need to easily connect/disconnect the dash electrical. Any suggestions on making this happen? I am thinking spade connectors instead of permanently crimped butt connectors, but open to suggestions.

Also, for headlights/taillights, I am assuming weatherpack connectors are the way to go. I am doing the Breeze LED conversion kit. But let me know if you have other ideas here as well!

Can you share links to the connectors you really like? Thanks!!

[richtersand]

I may have answered my own question on an old post about connectors. Looks like these might fit the bill:

So I would wire everything through this instead of a bunch of individual spade connectors. Am I on the right track?

Molex 12 pin dash connectors
http://replicaparts.com/misc%20tools%20page.htm

[narly1]

Check out Digi-Key for electronic connectors. From personal experience they're hobbyist friendly.

[Joecobr]

My dash is completely removable and I just used the weather pak connectors. Just a very small number required. Simple and easy.

[AC Bill]

I don't know how often, or ever, that you will need to pull your dash, but multi-pin connectors would certainly make the job far easier.
I hinged my dash at the lower center, so it will swing down and out, and just added some extra length to the wires to be able to do so. I figured this would allow me to lay it horizontally, and access whatever I may have to. 10+ years, and I've had no need to drop it.

I recommend pre-wiring it for any accessories you may add in the future, before final dash installation. I planned on adding driving lights at a future date, so installed a switch, and relay, and needed wiring ahead of time. When I found the lights I wanted, it was a simple matter to hook them up.

[richtersand]

Thanks everyone!

[CDXXVII]

Here is mine. The connectors are Deutsch connectors with machined pins. Really good high quality connectors at a reasonable price. Only down side is that the proper machined pin crimping tool is pretty expensive.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=145179&d=1616798374

[Rdone585]

If you go with this approach, which I do recommend, I suggest you leave a few extra pin locations for those switches you may add later. Over many years I've added a couple of extra ones that challenged the connector strategy. The added ones were for cool suit, low pressure cutoff override, and inertia switch override.

[johnnybgoode]

The Molex connectors work great. Had the whole dash in and out several times to rebuild. No issues. Scott

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[Otee453]

I also used Molex 12 pin connectors and a couple weatherpack connectors.
If you go with a Weatherpack connector, on anything, avoid the cheap knockoff connectors. Only go with actual Delphi Weatherpack. The quality difference is night and day. The non Delphi connectors can sometimes be so bad that they are nearly unusable. Unfortunately, Delphi only sells the connectors in large lot quantities, so when buying true Delphi parts, you have to find someone who repackages them in smaller quantities. Avoid Amazon for them. They always say “Delphi”, but rarely are. I can tell the crap China ones as soon as I touch them and I’ve been burned a few times on Amazon. Funny thing is that the Delphi Weatherpack are probably also made in China.

I buy mine from a guy on eBay who sells “kits”, both standard kits and custom kits of various variety. His prices are as good as the junk on Amazon and they are the real deal.

[richtersand]

I also used Molex 12 pin connectors and a couple weatherpack connectors.
If you go with a Weatherpack connector, on anything, avoid the cheap knockoff connectors. Only go with actual Delphi Weatherpack. The quality difference is night and day. The non Delphi connectors can sometimes be so bad that they are nearly unusable. Unfortunately, Delphi only sells the connectors in large lot quantities, so when buying true Delphi parts, you have to find someone who repackages them in smaller quantities. Avoid Amazon for them. They always say “Delphi”, but rarely are. I can tell the crap China ones as soon as I touch them and I’ve been burned a few times on Amazon. Funny thing is that the Delphi Weatherpack are probably also made in China.

I buy mine from a guy on eBay who sells “kits”, both standard kits and custom kits of various variety. His prices are as good as the junk on Amazon and they are the real deal.

Great feedback, thanks. Can you link to your real deal eBay contact? Thanks again!

[magicmarto]

Take your time and label all wires and leads. then organize the wires neatly. I installed the modular dash so i can access all wiring from the front. Brown County Customs in Green Bay WI makes this dash. Martin

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