Automotive Electrical Connector Tool Recommendations?

[tlmartin84]

Up until this point, I have always used soldered **** connections with heat shrink tubing. It is a solid connection but probably still not considered professional.

I am venturing into wiring by 56 F100 and have some broken connectors and want to replace them and just clean the harness up.

What tools do you guys use to removed pins, crimp terminals, etc.?

Do different brands require different tools?

Is there a good kit to buy?

 

[joe_padavano]

I'm not sure what you need for your Ford. My cars are all Packard 56 and Weatherpack connectors, and those terminals need the correct crimping tool to do a sanitary job. I've found that the MSD ratcheting crimp tool with the replaceable jaws works very well. It's not cheap, but their Packard 56 jaws crimp both the conductor and the insulator tabs in one operation. The result looks just like the factory crimps and fits the connector bodies perfectly. The quality of the finished product and the time savings more than offset the price of that tool.

 

[oldwino]

Astro Pnumatics also has a crimp set that works well. don't have the model number in front of me but they can be found on Amazon. Reasonable price and does a nice crimp. You can also get other dies for different connectors.

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Greetings!
By the sound of it your looking at moving away from the 56 ford type of wiring and into the newer style. I have been using the weatherpack style connectors.
Start with a quality crimper here is the one I have but I didn't purchase it from Napa.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SER18850
Make sure it has the capability to crimp the size wire your using.
Then you want to build up your terminal and seal inventory so you can work without having to stop and go find a terminal. Again make sure you have the right ones for the size wire.
Next is the connectors, I bought one of these when I fist started.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-900404/overview/

After running out and trying to find more in my area I purchased these on e-bay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/685-pcs-DE...=item2f2b3b5d6a:g:4BMAAOSwJGlbSYIe:rk:26:pf:0

I would also recommend looking at late GM cars in the wrecking yard to build up your collection. That is the cheapest way and it teaches you how to dis-assemble connectors.
Hope this helps.

 

[Ohmthis]

^^^This is great advice. I’d first decide what type of connectors you want to use. There are many types of water tight and non water tight. Check out Molex, deutsch, weatherpack, and several others. They use the same type (male/female barrel type) of terminals. Once you decide which you want to use get a kit for the type you want. There are many places to get a kit or each individual piece. Follow the advice and get pins and seals in bulk, you’ll be happy you did when you are knee deep into a project only to run out. Lastly find a crimp tool that works with your terminals. There are budget crimpers that do a good job, but you will have to crimp the wire and then crimp the insulation in two steps where some nicer more expensive ones will do it in one step. My most important piece of advice is to watch a couple of videos on making up a connector and practice. Make sure you can make good reliable crimps before jumping into the job. It’s not hard and you will be knocking them out in two or three crimps! Make a thread on this project, I’d love to follow along.

 

[joe_padavano]

Start with a quality crimper here is the one I have but I didn't purchase it from Napa.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SER18850

That is exactly the same as the MSD crimper I suggested. In fact, there are dozens of identical ratchet style crimpers. I actually bought the frame for $15 at a swap meet and got the Packard 56 jaws from MSD. All of the various brands take the same jaws.

Here's the same frame for $14. Jaws are not included.

https://www.parts-express.com/ratcheting-crimp-frame-handle--360-680

 

[toplessHO]

That is exactly the same as the MSD crimper I suggested. In fact, there are dozens of identical ratchet style crimpers. I actually bought the frame for $15 at a swap meet and got the Packard 56 jaws from MSD. All of the various brands take the same jaws.

Here's the same frame for $14. Jaws are not included.

https://www.parts-express.com/ratcheting-crimp-frame-handle--360-680

not all the crimpers use the same dies
I have 3 ratcheting crimpers and dies dont interchange between them.
I remember one being an Ideal,but dont remember the other 2.

 

[Hagatronics]

Having just built first harness I've become a fan of Deutsch connectors with closed barrell pins. They are idiot-proof. Crimps perfectly every time. Any open barrell terminal you can end up getting a pretty good hit rate with the right tools with some practice, but the closed barrell are 100% first time every time.

 

[Dave's 67]

I purchased this kit from American Autowire to install the harness I purchased for my 55 Belair. They worked great.
https://www.americanautowire.com/shop/american-autowire/tools/crimper-splice-clip-6746

They have several options available.
https://www.americanautowire.com/shop/american-autowire/tools

 

[fiftyv8]

Astro Pneumatics also has a crimp set that works well. don't have the model number in front of me but they can be found on Amazon. Reasonable price and does a nice crimp. You can also get other dies for different connectors.

I'll 2nd that recommendation.
They come with multiple jaw selection as jaws are interchangeable to suit the connector you are using and the handles are the ratchet type which are really nice to use.

It is the first step in owning tools like the pro's use...:thumbup:

 

[bigguns69]

Deutsch and Weatherpak connectors are the best. Most high end construction and Ag equipment use them and some of the main connectors in cars as well. Waytek is a great source including the tools. The tools can be connector specific.

In my opinion having built prototype wireharness's for 20 years, Deutsch are the best connectors, easy to take apart and add to, plus power washer rated. Weatherpak, metripak connectors will be more common if you are integrating into a current automotive harness.

https://www.waytekwire.com/products/1441/Tools/

 

[tlmartin84]

How do you know which die, or style of crimper to use on which terminal?

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Bigguns69 pasted a great web site for you. you can go here and see the different types of connectors https://www.waytekwire.com/products/1598/Connectors/
Then click on the type your interested in, I used weather pack in my earlier post so I will use that as an example. go to this page https://www.waytekwire.com/products/20/Weather-Pack-Connectors/
once you decide the type of connection you require, let's say a two wire connection, with 14 gauge wire. You will need a male and female connector https://www.waytekwire.com/item/38043/Delphi-12015792-Female-2-Contact-Tower-Half-Body/
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/38042/Delphi-12010973-Male-2-Contact-Shroud-Half/
You will also need a male and female terminals and seals,
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/31035/Delphi-12124580-Weather-Pack-Loose-Female-Terminal/
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/31034/Delphi-12124582-Weather-Pack-Loose-Male-Terminal-/
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/39001/Delphi-15324980-Metri-Pack-280/

This sounds much worse than it, but the seals and terminals are cheap and the connectors can be cheap as well ifou have to shop around "on line" my local cos are about 3-5 times more expensive.
I started using them because my Holley and Painless harness used them. I have to re-pin a fuel injection harness on my truck. My first step is to understand what type of connector I have and teach myself how to remove "without damage" the terminals.
Hope this helps

 

[rlitman]

Up until this point, I have always used soldered **** connections with heat shrink tubing. It is a solid connection but probably still not considered professional...

For a splice in the middle of a wire, I see nothing wrong with this approach. Crimping is only important at terminals, where soldering can cause problems.

How do you know which die, or style of crimper to use on which terminal?

Unfortunately, it's not always obvious, but it is oh so important to know.