Weatherpak Connectors for Headlights/Taillights

[gbranham]

I bought a bunch of weatherpak connectors for my lighting and am at the point where I want to install them. I don't have the body on the car to measure wire length, although I suppose I could drop it on, but in lieu of doing that, I'm curious if folks shorten the RF wiring for the lights, or if the harness is generally the right length at each corner.

Thanks,

Greg

[Avalanche325]

I built mine quite a while ago. But my headlight wires were on the short side. So much depends on how you run the harness.

[AC Bill]

I dropped the body on temporarily to get the wiring for all the lights figured out It's not hard, and doesn't take long, taking the body on or off. I just needed a couple friends to help out.

[edwardb]

Highly recommend don't try to add your connectors until the body is on and you can get the proper lengths for all. As already stated, depends on how the wires are routed. Plus I wouldn't put any stock in the lengths the RF harness provides. Some will be short, some too long.

[rich grsc]

If they are too long, you can zip tie them in a loop, if too short, you got problems.

[gbranham]

If they are too long, you can zip tie them in a loop, if too short, you got problems.

That's kind of what I was thinking.

[gbranham]

Highly recommend don't try to add your connectors until the body is on and you can get the proper lengths for all. As already stated, depends on how the wires are routed. Plus I wouldn't put any stock in the lengths the RF harness provides. Some will be short, some too long.

Good advise, Paul. Thanks. Maybe I'll drop the body on temporarily to get it right. It's a quick task.

Greg

[gbranham]

I dropped the body on temporarily to get the wiring for all the lights figured out It's not hard, and doesn't take long, taking the body on or off. I just needed a couple friends to help out.

Thanks, Bill. That's what I'll do.

Greg

[Bob Cowan]

Connectors of any type add failure points, weight, bulk, and cost. The odd of you needing to remove them are pretty small. Especially the headlights, as they already have a connector.

IMO, it's better to solder, seal, and shrink wrap all the connections. Leave and extra loop in there, just in case. If you need to remove everything (like, a repaint), you can just cut the wires apart.

But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. ;)

[rich grsc]

Bob, one of the few times I disagree with you. I've had my body off & on a few times, and the weatherpak's are a piece of cake. They seal great and with care come part easily. All factor cars have disconnects

[gbranham]

Bob, one of the few times I disagree with you. I've had my body off & on a few times, and the weatherpak's are a piece of cake. They seal great and with care come part easily. All factor cars have disconnects

But Rich...they add weight. They're easily an eighth of an ounce. And I'll use 4.

Just ribbin' ya, Bob.

[Nigel Allen]

bob, one of the few times i disagree with you. I've had my body off & on a few times, and the weatherpak's are a piece of cake. They seal great and with care come part easily. All factor cars have disconnects

x 2

[JohnK]

Connectors of any type add failure points, weight, bulk, and cost. The odd of you needing to remove them are pretty small. Especially the headlights, as they already have a connector.

IMO, it's better to solder, seal, and shrink wrap all the connections. Leave and extra loop in there, just in case. If you need to remove everything (like, a repaint), you can just cut the wires apart.

But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. ;)

I will also disagree with this, but for a different reason. It's my personal opinion that solder joints are more of a potential failure point than a properly assembled connector. There's a reason why there are no solder joints in commercial automotive harnesses. Properly crimping and assembling a reliable connector takes relatively little skill compared to properly soldering a joint together.

[F500guy]

I just measured the body when it was in storage from a key point, then added the appropriate length. The headlights wire comes out the top of the bucket, so account for that, add extra. I measured from the front outrigger, added the distance of the rods, then measured where I wanted the wires to go from there. If you use the driving light support, it is a great starting point.

[phileas_fogg]

Do you have the round tail lights (two sets - one brake & one turn signal), or the rectangular tail lights (with the trailer adapter)? If the round, make one set male at the light end and one set female. That makes it easy-peasy to make sure brake lights are on top (or bottom if that's your preference) rather than have a top brake light on one side and a bottom brake light on the other.


John

[Mike.Bray]

Add me to the list voting against soldering and pro-weatherpak connectors. My headlights, taillights, dash, turn signal, and everything on my engine are with weatherpaks. When I pulled my engine a couple of months ago disconnecting the electrical and EFI took about 5 minutes. Same for reconnecting everything and it fired right up.

[TrackDay17]

Good advise, Paul. Thanks. Maybe I'll drop the body on temporarily to get it right. It's a quick task.

Greg


If you need a hand with the body I'll be back in town on the 27th so I'd be available after that to give a hand.
I've got to start the search for a new car for the wife when I get back too, not looking forward to that task.

[gbranham]

If you need a hand with the body I'll be back in town on the 27th so I'd be available after that to give a hand.
I've got to start the search for a new car for the wife when I get back too, not looking forward to that task.

Thanks, Greg! I'll be in touch. Merry Christmas!

[Bob Cowan]

In all the years I owned and raced my FFR, I never once took the body off. Didn't see reason to.

Soldering is like welding. It's a skill you have to practice. Done properly, a soldered splice will outlast the car.

Hay an 8th once hear, and an 8th ounce there.... pretty soon you're talking about a couple of pounds. :)

[ggunter]

Weather paks are exceptional connectors as long as you don't exceed 20 amps.

[Kbl7td]

Step up to Deutsch if you want next level.

[BrewCityCobra]

I built mine quite a while ago. But my headlight wires were on the short side. So much depends on how you run the harness.

I had the same problem. For how ridiculously long many of the wires are in the kit, I was actually nervous the headlight wires wouldn't be long enough. The only spot in the build where I had that issue.