View Full Version : WooHoo Dash wiring finally finished
PaulW
01-07-2012, 08:37 PM
I wanted the wiring neat and at first I had run all the loom wires individually to their respective instruments. When I decided to switch from a set of cheap gauges I had acquired and go with the Autometers I wanted to make it easier to connect and disconnect things. I don't like the bulk of the blue splice connectors but they make things easy and the multiple pin connectors should make connections a whole lot easier.
Gale K
01-07-2012, 10:29 PM
Very tidy! Looks great.
Very nice looking as far as looking tidy. Just a word of warning though. Those blue splice connectors are a problem waiting to happen and should be thrown in the trash! It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when will they fail is the question. I highly recommend solder and shrink wrap.
http://www.mmxpress.com/technical/connections.htm
riptide motorsport
01-07-2012, 11:52 PM
Yes congratulations , wiring is one of the difficult tasks to
Master!!
frankeeski
01-08-2012, 01:02 AM
Very nice looking as far as looking tidy. Just a word of warning though. Those blue splice connectors are a problem waiting to happen and should be thrown in the trash! It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when will they fail is the question. I highly recommend solder and shrink wrap.
While I would agree that soldering by someone that is good at soldering is better but to quote you
"Those blue splice connectors are a problem waiting to happen and should be thrown in the trash! It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when will they fail is the question."
It's not usually the tool, it's the operator. I have been using the Scotchlock connectors for 30 years and installed thousands of them. I have never had one fail. Say what you will but I used them on all of my dash light wiring and have complete confidence that I will never have to replace one. I know many have your same opinion of them and I'm not trying to single you out. I am just defending my experience with them.
Sorry for the Hi-Jack Paul. The dash looks great, keep up the great work.
3kcarbon
01-08-2012, 07:50 AM
Very nice looking as far as looking tidy. Just a word of warning though. Those blue splice connectors are a problem waiting to happen and should be thrown in the trash! It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when will they fail is the question. I highly recommend solder and shrink wrap.
http://www.mmxpress.com/technical/connections.htm
While not wanting to dash you glow from the completed task I must add my lack of trust in the blue splice connectors. I know some think crimped connectors are better than a solder joint I don't see it long term. It probably won't be a problem for a long time but one day it may cause a intermitant issue that may be a problem to find. Even a plug in can be removed and cleaned little blue splice guys not so much.
AC Bill
01-08-2012, 10:18 AM
I never liked wiring all that much. I have to say doing the dash wasn't as bad as I originally thought, and was glad to get it done and over with.
Are you sure you aren't missing anything? I seem to have a few more wires on mine..:p
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/12GAGuy/IMG_2957.jpg
AC Bill
01-08-2012, 10:33 AM
OK, so now you've all had a laugh..:eek:
My birds nest was tidied up before I attached the dash. That picture was previous to bundling the wires togeather..
I have several extra circuits on my car, such as driving lights, foot box cooling fan, under dash lights, power outlet, rad cooling fan over-ride switch, heater, wipers, as well as additional indicator lights, thus the added wires..
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/12GAGuy/IMG_2961.jpg
I might suggest that you make sure that you have enough length on all your wires to be able to attach everything up with the dash hanging down, (such as in my picture). It beats trying to reach up under the dash to attach things, and allows you to drop the dash down again, if access is ever needed in the future. I used a piano hinge on the lower dash support panel, so I could simply undo the upper dash screws and swing it down to work on.
3kcarbon
01-08-2012, 10:52 AM
Now that you have that done go ahead and order a blank dash so you can move it all over to the Comp layout. I drove mine in gelcoat for 300 miles and soon saw the wisdom of the Comp dash. You can fix the wiring then... Ask me how I know... Been there dumb that..
I guess to each his own Frankeeski.. I had a bad experience years ago when I used them on some boat wiring. Some of them got brittle and became unlatched and then began failing to keep constant connection. After finding more than one failing, I them pulled them all off and soldered everything. I didn't have anymore problems after that. Maybe they were an el-cheapo China version, I don't know..
Jeff Kleiner
01-08-2012, 03:37 PM
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WttNxCnmL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Yeah baby! I LOVE those little buggers 'cause I've made thousands $$$ rewiring trailers and tow vehicle trailer harnesses with proper weathertight connections when those Scotchloks fail. :)
On a more positive note, the dash looks good Paul!
Jeff
3kcarbon
01-08-2012, 04:38 PM
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WttNxCnmL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Yeah baby! I LOVE those little buggers 'cause I've made thousands $$$ rewiring trailers and tow vehicle trailer harnesses with proper weathertight connections when those Scotchloks fail. :)
On a more positive note, the dash looks good Paul!
Jeff
Kleiner is the Grand Poobah his advice is the path of wisdom..... all hail the Grand Poobah!
PaulW
01-08-2012, 08:06 PM
Thanks for all of the feedback. The dash will be sitting in the basement for another couple of months so I have some time to ponder it all. I surely agree that in an exposed to weather position they would not be ideal which is why all of my exterior lights are wired with weather tite connectors. Since the car is going to be driven in gel-coat for awhile I wanted as much flexibility for changes as I couls have.
All said it's not like I have a short list of things to do especially with a goal to have it registered and on the road in time to attend the June open house at FFR
AZPete
01-08-2012, 09:52 PM
Paul, you have probably planned on it, but leave enough length on the dash wires to remove the dash and set it on the tranny tunnel without disconnecting anything. There will be upgrades if not repairs. I'm glad someone here told me to make my dash easily removable.
Pete
And put a drop of Loctite on each of those studs the aluminum nuts screw on to, to hold the instruments on the dash. I had three different nuts back their way off and fall onto the floor of the footboxes during the first 20,000 miles. It's a real pain if you have an under dash panel and they start falling off. Ask me how I know..