Bulkhead connectors: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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July 16, 2011 12:01 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

You know... the things you use to connect a wiring harness at the firewall, which makes pulling motors really easy.

Have any of you had any hands on experience with these? I'm thinking about adding one to the Escort build to make working on it easier in the future. (Bay will be really cramped, and fishing out wiring harness before pulling a motor is not my idea of fun"

I've read all kinds of stories online that say "It's really hard to do!!!!!" but all i can think is "how hard can it be if i just cut and pin one wire at a time?" I shouldn't even need a schematic for that...

Of course... "how hard can it be" are famous last words for a reason.

Thoughts? Insight? Ideas where to get them for cheap?
July 16, 2011 12:10 p.m. Hocrest HalfDork

I've never used them, but; http://order.waytekwire.com/category2/M50/320/Terminals%20And%20Connectors/

I think I bookmarked them years ago from another thread on this board??

Or go to the junk yard with a set of dikes and spend the time to pull and uncrimp every pin.
July 16, 2011 12:12 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Hocrest wrote:

I've never used them, but; http://order.waytekwire.com/category2/M50/320/Terminals%20And%20Connectors/

I think I bookmarked them years ago from another thread on this board??

Or go to the junk yard with a set of dikes and spend the time to pull and uncrimp every pin.

Wait... what am i going to the junkyard for?

[edit]

Nevermind, i get it. You're saying go to the junkyard and get another set of ecu/harness connectors and re-pin them. Not a bad idea!
July 16, 2011 12:21 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Alright, soo.....

This: http://order.waytekwire.com/productdetail2/M50/38488/CIRCULAR%20RECEPTACLE%20CONNE...

Plus this: http://order.waytekwire.com/productdetail2/M50/38478/Circular%20Plug%20Connector/

Plus some molex pins and a few hours of work = Bulkhead connector for under $50?
July 16, 2011 2:18 p.m. turboswede SuperDork

Uh, why pull the harness from the firewall? I usually just drop it off the connectors on the motor or the sub harnesses (top of motor, front of motor, starter, etc) disconnect from the main harness and the motor drops out.
July 16, 2011 3:49 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

turboswede wrote:

Uh, why pull the harness from the firewall? I usually just drop it off the connectors on the motor or the sub harnesses (top of motor, front of motor, starter, etc) disconnect from the main harness and the motor drops out.

Because i'm talking about a KLZE in an Escort. It took me HOURS to pull the harness off the motor in the MX3 because this harness is a beast, and the motor is tightly packed in the MX3.

It'll be even tighter in the Escort.

It damn near took me longer to pull the harness off the MX3 motor before i dropped it than it did to drop the motor itself. (not counting hours spent fighting rust.)

This would save me a good 2 hours if i ever have to pull the motor again out of the Escort. (I will. At least a few times. )
July 16, 2011 7:00 p.m. mtownneon New Reader

Do it. It's not that it's hard,just time consuming and tedious. I used to do it on my stock cars for the exact same reason you want to do it.
July 16, 2011 9:03 p.m. peter Reader

My WRX engine harness seems to be mostly confined to two electrical connectors between the engine and the chassis. Not sure if other Subarus are this way, but maybe worth a look at the JY.
July 17, 2011 12:29 a.m. donalson SuperDork

volvo also has 2 plugs one on each side of the engine bay... makes pulling the engine with the harness still mounted.
July 18, 2011 2:13 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

Plus some molex pins and a few hours of work = Bulkhead connector for under $50?

If this is the Deutsch pin style I'm thinking of, they require a very specialized crimper that goes for ~$200. Hope you know where to borrow some...great connector, expensive assembly.

Bryce
July 18, 2011 2:59 p.m. bravenrace SuperDork

I use them all the time, and can even sell you them if you want. Deutsch is by far the best and easiest to work with, but yes, they need a special crimper, although I don't think I paid anything close to $200 for ours.
July 18, 2011 3:28 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

Ben, quit ordering crap and finish the car!

Sorry, had to. I like the idea of a firewall harness, honestly.
July 18, 2011 9:52 p.m. AquaHusky Reader

Personally, I would run the wires from the firewall to, say, a strut tower, and wire the connector(s) there, so you don't have to reach behind anything. I believe Ford does that now. Like I heard something about it being under the battery tray in a Focus.