Harness plugs, where to buy new replacement connectors?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Harness plugs, where to buy new replacement connectors?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

cdnpont wrote:

Anyone know where I can buy the Packard type 56/59 connectors used in most 60/70's GM wiring harness plugs?

Again... I'm probably dreaming here, but preferably local. Not USA.

In rebuilding my harness, I'd like to use new ones rather than try to re-use the originals.

Will napa or a GM dealer have them by chance?

Thanks, Mark.

Mark

You are talking about the plastic part of the connector, not the terminals for the wires?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Carl,
The removeable metal male and female connectors inside the plug.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I posted this in the other string that has the harness photo's:
NAPA part #'s for the terminals are:
784490 GM 56 Series Male Terminal 18-14 Ga, 5 pieces.
784491 GM 56 Series Female Terminal 18-14 Ga, 5 pieces.

The last time I checked at my local NAPA, I couldn't find the pins. I got more at my local AC Delco dealer, but they were grey colored not brass. Color really doesn't matter as they're buried within the plastic cover.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

And also still available through GM dealers as well.

I keep a stash of them at all times. Very, very handy when working on harnesses.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

56 series:

2965142 female 14-16 gauge

2971962 male 14-16 gauge

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks Guys, I'll check out the local GM dealer and NAPA.

19Pontiac65 · Veteran Member

check out, AmericanAutoWire.Com, I know its American....but

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks for the link Bill,
They look to have a very nice online catalogue.

2drpost · Uber Guru

mark,
found a couple more GM spade terminal numbers...
2965429 male end ( style used in the bulkhead connector)
2977615 female end (.31" wide, .83" total length)
6294068 female end (.38" wide, .90" total length)
these are from an '82 GM standard parts catalog, don't know if they're still available though... confuse

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Here are the 3 standard ones used on all GM cars of the 50s and 60s.
The 2 brass ones are the male and female connectors. They are availabel from just about any aftermarket resto catalogs. The best price is .25 cents each from "classic parts of america." They work great.

I build all my own harnesses and these are for sure the way to go!

The other one in the photo is the "GM twin-loc." It was used on all bulkhead(fuse panel) connections on any 58-67 GM, chevelle, beaumont, etc.
It is WAY harder to find. GM part number is 2973915.
I have only found them from GM and the price is a huge 2.50 per connector and you have to buy 25 at a time.

Has anyone found a source for these twin-locks?

-- Edited by beaumontguru at 21:35, 2009-02-10

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks for the part numbers guys.
I learn somthing worth saving just about every day here!

A quick question to our CP "Harness builders"...

Can you solder splice Fusible links into a harness, or do you need to use a crimping connector? Like the factory would have done in 69'.

Cheers, Mark.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

cdnpont wrote:

Thanks for the part numbers guys.
I learn somthing worth saving just about every day here!

A quick question to our CP "Harness builders"...

Can you solder splice Fusible links into a harness, or do you need to use a crimping connector? Like the factory would have done in 69'.

Cheers, Mark.

Good question, ive never owned a car new enough to have "fuseable links."

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

When were Fusible links introduced?

The reason I asked about soldering the links, is logic tells me that any heat into them would just weaken them somewhat. Maybe not?

19Pontiac65 · Veteran Member

fuseable links are a pain in the arse. yes they will pop when heated, thats the premice behind them,when they get overloaded, they heat, then pop. AND THEY STILL LOOK GOOD!The link can be by-passed with a short piece of wire, but soldering them, solder a distance away from the link,8-10 inches min. then rewrap the join at the solder to cover the connection

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

beaumontguru wrote:

cdnpont wrote:

Thanks for the part numbers guys.
I learn somthing worth saving just about every day here!

A quick question to our CP "Harness builders"...

Can you solder splice Fusible links into a harness, or do you need to use a crimping connector? Like the factory would have done in 69'.

Cheers, Mark.

Good question, ive never owned a car new enough to have "fuseable links."

Are you sure Dave? My Acadian has a fusible link and I was sure it was factory installed by the look of it. It's right at the postive cable where the red wire comes off and runs across to the horn relay.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Really? Ive never seen them on pre 69ish cars and trucks.
Ive had lots of originals, but allways a direct red wire from battery accross to the horn relay.

I will admit my 71 truck does have one. It is about a 12" square w/ a small hole in the center, then protected by a black plastic cover.

67s have a junction block. kind of a black plastic block with a screw terminal on it, located on the core support just aft the battery.
Maybe that is what you are thinking of???

Got any pics?

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

OK, so now you got me curious, so ive beeen digging through my service manuals for the last 20 mins.

1964 No fuseable links at all.

1965 No fuseable links at all

1966 (dont have a 66 manual)

1967 Used a fusable link from battery to junction block. Was not a conventional "fusable link", but rather a 14 guage brown wire style fusable link.

1968 and up. ??????????? anyone got manuals?

So i take that back, i guess my 67 beaumonts are suppose to have them, but they have all been replaced with regular wires over the years.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

beaumontguru wrote:

Really? Ive never seen them on pre 69ish cars and trucks.
Ive had lots of originals, but allways a direct red wire from battery accross to the horn relay.

I will admit my 71 truck does have one. It is about a 12" square w/ a small hole in the center, then protected by a black plastic cover.

67s have a junction block. kind of a black plastic block with a screw terminal on it, located on the core support just aft the battery.
Maybe that is what you are thinking of???

Got any pics?

I can check my photobucket. I can't lift the hood on my car right now for a pic because it's got no hinges on it and as you saw, it's right under the mezzanine in the shed. I hope to move it over to the garage this weekend so maybe then.

The only reason I remember it's there is I had to chance the end where it connects to the positive battery end and I did it long ago. Guess what I used? One of those nice big yellow butt connectors........

That will be changed now when I am detailing underhood!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Dave

I just missed it in this pic.

Look to the extreme right side. See the yellow connector? If you look up from it a little way, you see what looks like a piece of rubber hose on that wire before it goes through the cradle grommet? Between that beautiful yellow connector I installed and that hose-type piece is fusible link. The hose type connector is where it changes back into regular wire.

By any chance would it be because the car has a factory ammeter and they apparently could be a fire hazard?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

beaumontguru wrote:

OK, so now you got me curious, so ive beeen digging through my service manuals for the last 20 mins.

1964 No fuseable links at all.

1965 No fuseable links at all

1966 (dont have a 66 manual)

1967 Used a fusable link from battery to junction block. Was not a conventional "fusable link", but rather a 14 guage brown wire style fusable link.

1968 and up. ??????????? anyone got manuals?

So i take that back, i guess my 67 beaumonts are suppose to have them, but they have all been replaced with regular wires over the years.

Well, maybe mine has been added but that piece of hose looking stuff there looks very much factory installed.

We better be careful here. This could turn into an ugly argument biggrin

and you know what happens then........

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Here's an answer re soldering to the fusible links. On my 70 2+2, there is one right at the battery, and I think another over by the voltage regulator. The positive battery cable that I bought had a short pigtail, and it needed to connect to the fusible link that goes to a small plastic junction block behind the battery. I was able to salvage a fusible link from another car, then soldered it to the pigtail on the battery cable. If I recall, it was quite tough to solder though. Once finished, I covered the solder with heat shrink tubing.

Instead of soldering, you can use the inside part of a butt connector, just cut the plastic jacket off. Crimp the connector, and cover it with heat shrink tubing (remember to put the heat shrink on the wire first, slide it in to place after crimping, then heat it to shrink it). The pigtial is black, the fusible link is brown, and use black heat shrink tubing. On my car the line kind of hides behind the battery, and to date no one has pointed it out.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I think you might be correct on the 'Ammeter" part. I know on my trucks they use a tiny 4 amp glass in-line fuse on both sides of the ammeter. Only on Ammeter equipped trucks.

Now that i see your pic, i recognise that black rubber cylinder. I just cant remember what otehr 60's cars ive seen them on.

So are you saying that if you cut that black rubber apart, there is a fuseable link metal inside?

Check the back pages of your green 65 beaumont service manual, you will see what i mean, no mention of fusable links til 66 or 67.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I checked my manual and of course you are correct. Nothing showing.

No, the fuse link starts at the rubber connector and goes from it to where you see that beautiful yellow butt connector. It's basically absent in the picture.

And to add to this, somewhere I have seen the formula for what length and size of fusible link to run for whatever the application is.

beaumontguru · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I wonder how many restored cars actually have the "brown #14 gauge wire" in place.
I bet it is not many.

Of course, now i have to install it on my 67's, just to be correct.