Making Wiring

How many of you guys make your own electrical hookup wiring? (I'm almost at the rewiring stage with my 51 restoration so I'm real interested now . . .) I know I could splurge for a premade wire package, but I'd rather learn to make my own. Plus my 51 was previously converted to 12 volts so I might need custom wires anyway.

My first question is this: I've seen pictures on this site of Cubs with rubber sleeved terminals that are a lot slicker (and would stay drier) than anything I could do with regular crimp terminals. Are there heat shrink insulator kits or automotive crimp terminals or something like that?

My second question is regarding the battery cable: I read previous posts suggesting 1/0 welding cable (84 inches long I recall) . My NAPA dealer says I should solder the cable to terminals with rosin core solder rather than crimping them. Anyone done that? I also recall a photo of rubber sleeved battery cable terminals someone posted several months back. How were they done?

Any help and tips would, as always, be really appreciated.

Paul, Making your own wiring harness is no big deal. Get good quality crimp terminals and a good crimper. Heat shrink tubing is available in many sizes and really helps seal out dirt and the weather. As far as the battery cables go, I would recommend crimping them for a good mechanical connection and then solder it for good electrical connection. It's overkill, but to solder them only without crimping will not make a good mechanical connection. There is a link on Rudi's site to the battery cables that Bill Poor and I designed, built and installed on my tractor.

Thanks Bigdog!