Splicing wiring questions?
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Splicing wiring questions?
How are you all splicing your wiring. I have some oem style conectors to replace in my engine compartment. . I hate plastic crimp conectors. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Corvette Mike
Thanks,
Corvette Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 785
Likes: 3
From: Richmond Virginia
If you can get the connectors you need from a salvage and/or scrap harness with some of the wires intact...I like solder and heat shrink tubing myself, much better/permanent repair...I'm not much on butt/crimp style connectors either 
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
It is easy. Before soldering the wires together, cut a piece of shink tube 2x the size of your splice and slide it on the wire (before twisting them together). After soldering and allowing it to cool somewhat, slide it over the joint, and warm it with a heat gun or torch. It will shrink tight to the connector and make a watertight seal.
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Pete
It is easy. Before soldering the wires together, cut a piece of shink tube 2x the size of your splice and slide it on the wire (before twisting them together). After soldering and allowing it to cool somewhat, slide it over the joint, and warm it with a heat gun or torch. It will shrink tight to the connector and make a watertight seal.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 579
Likes: 2
From: High Bridge New Jersey
I have no problem
with crimped connectors, if they are done securely, then I use heat shrink over the connector. Works great.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
If you have access to a boat supply place, in the boating world there is a slightly better item available.
It is a combination 'butt' connector and shrink tube with glue inside too. It is first squeezed to assure good metal contact, then heat is applied and it both shrinks and softens the glue, assuring a good watertight seal.
The subtle advantage is no solder, which if it contains 'flux', is an acid which can cause corrosion over time -- and it further prevents a 'stiff' portion of wire, which can prevent the flex needed and promote breakage and is why cars use 'stranded' wire instead of 'solid' (like in a home).
It is a combination 'butt' connector and shrink tube with glue inside too. It is first squeezed to assure good metal contact, then heat is applied and it both shrinks and softens the glue, assuring a good watertight seal.
The subtle advantage is no solder, which if it contains 'flux', is an acid which can cause corrosion over time -- and it further prevents a 'stiff' portion of wire, which can prevent the flex needed and promote breakage and is why cars use 'stranded' wire instead of 'solid' (like in a home).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
This is the only way to go...unless you crimp on a non insulated connector and then solder it to the wire also.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
Likes: 250
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I put a couple of raps of electrical tape over the solder joint, then slip the heat shrink over top. I don't feel 100% comfortable with just shrink tubing. I find a a tad thin and some solder joints may have a pointy spot. 
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thank you all for your help.
Thanks all. This is the first splicing I will be doing on my vette. I have had it since new. I couldnt bring myself to putting those plastic connectors on my vette.
Corvette Mike
Corvette Mike
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Acid core solder is used for joining, usually sheet metal together, like body work. Rosin core solder is used for joining electrical wires together. Acid conducts electricity, rosin does not. You do not want acid conducting electricity to other circuits or to ground.
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
solder
Thank you.
Whats the flux stuff for that I have been using all these years? Cleaning agent or something?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
You can buy paste flux for soldering. These fluxes can be used for metal work or electrical work. Metal working fluxes require more chemical activity because steel is not easy to solder to like copper is. Be sure to read the directions on the can of flux. If the flux is acidic, there will be a warning on the can to not use it for electrical work. Copper is easy to solder to and solder with a rosin core is all that should be necessary for soldering. Normally paste fluxes are not required for electrical work. If copper wire is black and badly oxidized, don't rely on the flux to take this oxide off. Use sandpaper on the copper until you see bright copper.
Last edited by jfb; Apr 12, 2009 at 12:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
Likes: 2,721
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
vette
You can buy paste flux for soldering. These fluxes can be used for metal work or electrical work. Metal working fluxes require more chemical activity because steel is not easy to solder to like copper is. Be sure to read the directions on the can of flux. If the flux is acidic, there will be a warning on the can to not use it for electrical work. Copper is easy to solder to and solder with a rosin core is all that should be necessary for soldering. Normally paste fluxes are not required for electrical work. If copper wire is black and badly oxidized, don't rely on the flux to take this oxide off. Use sandpaper on the copper until you see bright copper.
Thank you again. Now I can bring myself to do my splicing. This forum is awesome because of guys like you, Agent 86, Pete K and Rodj willing to share your knowlage with us all.
Corvette Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
Depending on what the connectors are for I am in the wiring biz for race cars and probably have the proper connector in stock so just change the connector for a new one and no splice. I have a 91 L98 and if they are found on that I will check to see if i have any. Another solution is to buy the pin release tool for the connector and get the pigtail kit you were going to splice in and change the housings. I am assuming the the connector housing is damaged.. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help out. I am not in the biz per se of selling connectors so not really a vendor either.. I don't want to violate the vendor rules here but help someone from hacking up something that can be left stock..
Dave
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Yes you can buy the Weatherpak tools to make replacing connectors a bit easier, but if the connector is allready damaged, you can finish the job by crushing or breaking the rest of it with a set of pliers. Then reform the locking tangs (if need be) and push the wires into a new Weatherpak and pull back until the wire is seated. No soldering required, but for high draw circuits (fans, blower motor), it doesn't hurt to solder the connector to the wire. That will ward off any voltage drop, though you'll need to go easy on the solder as it still has to fit into the connector. For sensor circuits (regardless of what you do), you might also check resistance between the connector and ECM. Any resistance will skew the input, so further repairs will be necessary if you find any.