rear wiring and signals

[Young Ed]

Finally getting around to finishing my rewiring project. Tonight I pulled the entire rear wiring harness out of the coupe. Ideas on how to wire in the signals? Hardwire, individual connectors or ? It seems unlikely I'd need to pull the switch anytime soon but might be wise to make it easy to do.

[Greenbomb]

Hmmm....If my wiring had been that good I woulda left it alone and used it! I've been doing mine one wire at a time. But, I'm not doing a restoration, so it's pretty much make it work and still try to make it look OK. YMMV.

[55 Fargo]

Hi Ed, I used terminal connectors for my wires at switch, maybe 8 inches of wire from the steering column.

Its this what you mean? Or waht are you asking exactly?..........

[Young Ed]

There were a couple bare spots but overall it was actually pretty good. However adding signals means I needed a couple new wires so I'm redoing the whole works. I already did all the behind the dash and engine wiring. After this all thats left is the headlight and parking light pigtails.

[Young Ed]

Ya Fred wondering how others have connected the signal switch to the rest of the car wiring. On my pickup I used a trailer wiring connector.

[BeBop138]

Ed, I went a little overboard when I did mine---I took all the original connectors and heated them and got all the old wires out. I carefully took some of the connectors and opened them up with small screwdrivers---I used all the old stuff and resodered and used shrink tube. Then again in other areas I had to use all new wiring---some areas I just spliced into old wiring where there was still some good wire left. It`s all good now and that is the main thing.......Lee

[55 Fargo]

Ya Fred wondering how others have connected the signal switch to the rest of the car wiring. On my pickup I used a trailer wiring connector.

That is a good idea.........

[Captain Neon]

Since we are talking turn signals, I wish to recommend O'Reilly's BWD 6 volt flasher. It's got the NASCAR seal of approval so it must be good stuff.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/BOR0/FC535.oap?year=1946&make=Dodge&model=Deluxe&vi=1331918&keyword=flasher&pt=01546&ppt=C0010

I had a Wagner that I bought from NAPA 7 years ago that I simply thought was just all the better it got. Signals were dim and never illuminated the indicator. I augmented my signals with hand signals for years.

I gave my system a 12v boost last spring so that I could pass Missouri's vehicle inspection. This spring when I started her up I had no turn signals. After checking every fuse and all four bulbs, I replaced the flasher. What a difference! Ed, I think you could see my signals from your house now. LOL

Not only are my signals all bright, the indicator on my switch also lights up.

[Young Ed]

Fred the trailer wiring thing has worked out quite well on the pickup. Its kinda bulky and ugly looking though. On the truck I've also made my entire harness from nothing as I went along so I just do as I wish. On the car I've been remaking it as it was only with modern plastic wiring.

[hkestes41]

I work for a Japanese connector manufacturer and I would highly recommend one of our catalog distributors Mouser Electronics for connectors and associated products. Here is a link to the interconnect portion of their website http://www.mouser.com/Interconnects/_/N-5g3y/

They sell just about any style connector you could want and stock the majority of what they sell in a 432,00 sq ft facility. Shipments of in stock product are made the same day if you place your order by 8pm CST, and they will sell onezy-twozy quantities.

OK, sorry for the commercial.

[Young Ed]

Ok got a recommendation for which one of the 422 automotive connectors the site lists

[Plymouthy Adams]

and nothing on TV worth watching..

[hkestes41]

Ok got a recommendation for which one of the 422 automotive connectors the site lists

You can narrow it down to a managable size by using the filters to search for what you need. For instance if you need an 8 pin connector use that filter and it immediately cuts that 4,822 down to 74.

You could also look at connectors other than the automotive connectors.

[Young Ed]

Too late I went back to my 4plug trailer wiring like I did in my pickup. I'll have that for the 4 actual lights a socket for the flasher and then the signal from the brake light will plug into a Y for bullet connectors.

[BobT-47P15]

Ed, I can't recall - are you using an original optional turn signal unit, or

an aftermarket item? Is yours 7 wires or less?

And, yes, there does seem to be a difference in the actual flasher

items.......I bought two different brands from a fellow, both n o s.

One works better and stronger than the other.

(Don't believe either was NASCAR approved, however.)

Edited May 2, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[Young Ed]

Bob I have a couple original 3wire deals. No high beam/turn arrow indicator though. Gave up on them and went with another signal stat 900.

[Plymouthy Adams]

ask Mike W. how his three wire turns signal are hooked up..

[BeBop138]

Ed, I can't recall - are you using an original optional turn signal unit, or

an aftermarket item? Is yours 7 wires or less?

And, yes, there does seem to be a difference in the actual flasher

items.......I bought two different brands from a fellow, both n o s.

One works better and stronger than the other.

(Don't believe either was NASCAR approved, however.)

Bob, NASCAR only requires the left signal to work:rolleyes:

[james curl]

Bob, NASCAR only requires the left signal to work:rolleyes:

Except for Watkins Glen and Somona.

Edited May 2, 2010 by james curl
correct quote

[BobT-47P15]

Bob, NASCAR only requires the left signal to work

Hmmmm....guess that would be corrrect.

I made a pair of red jewel type lights mounted below the dash on the

left of the steering wheel to remind about the blinker being on. Just

wired them into things at or near the flasher. However, I still sometimes

do like grandpa (probably becuz I am one) and drive on down the road

with a light blinking.

[Niel Hoback]

If'n yer gonna do the grampa thing leavin' the turn signal on, you gotta be wearing an old hat too.

[Plymouthy Adams]

suspenders, pace maker, hearing aide and false teeth....if any hair left on your head it should be white..not gray...underwear is optional..depend..well it depends..

[Young Ed]

Hey I'm young and I've done the turn signal thing in my truck too. And now I'll be able to do it in the car too. I was tempted to get the electronic self canceling version from www.turnswitch.com but decided not to afford it. After a major messup with my interior light I've gotten most of the wiring set. Gotta finish taping the harness in the headliner and then put all the ends on in the trunk and under the hood. Looking at the wiring diagram showed a seperate 2 terminal block for the turn signals. I rooted around in my truck stuff and found one. Apparently because the trucks have parking lights on the cowl they only needed 2 out front. Then I went to install it thinking I'd have to drill holes and I noticed 1 extra terminal strip mounting hole. The two post one shares the bottom mount for the existing one and then uses that other hole. Fits like mopar intended. Always nice to add stuff without drilling holes. Now my two questions.

For the parking lights it looks like it will be a tight fit but I can split the grommet that holds the wire in the housing and slip two wires through. Will smushing them in there hurt anything?

Second anyone ever put a two terminal bulb in their center brake light? I would splice the wires together to make both elements be a brake light. I'm thinking it will make it brighter.

[Plymouthy Adams]

for the third eye as both elements for single brake for extra brite..just pop in a double element phenolic assembly..solder across the two and install the bulb..single wire..both elements burn..

[Young Ed]

Solder across the bulb? Interesting. My other thought. Anyone else notice the brake like bulb holder is longer then the tail lights? I'm thinking while I rewire I will swap for a tail light one to get that brake light bulb up into the lense area a little more.