Making Wiring

[Paul_NJ]

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.

[Bigdog]

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.

[Paul_NJ]

Thanks Bigdog!