TheSamba.com :: View topic - Source for factory grade electrical connectors?

Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:19 pm

All I have here are the aluminum one's that you squish to hold them to the wire. you know the type, blue, yellow, red, in different sizes and connections.
I really don't are much for them but haven't ever seen really good ones like the original one's on the van for sale anywhere.

Anyone know a place to purchase these?

Thank you,

David

Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:05 am

I got some at the pick n pull from 80s-90s VWs. (Jetta, Vanagon, GTI, Scirocco, etc.) Clip off enough wire to re solder them later and use shrink wrap. Works great, you can get 1,2,3,4,5 wire connectors and looks stock.

Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:41 am

Yup, VW/Audi cars are a great place to grab electrical connectors. I gut the connector bodies and reuse them with new spade connectors http://www.vintageconnections.com/
I love robbing the clip on molex relay connectors on the top of the fuse blocks found on jettas/golfs and repurposing them. I have built my own headlight relays this way along with other projects. They clip on, look stock and keep everything up and out of the way.

Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:15 am

The factory style double crimp connectors are what is known as "open barrel terminals". They require a special crimping tool http://tinyurl.com/4kbcuey to be installed correctly, but they are definitely much better than the standard crimp connectors like you are referring to.

I have the factory style male and female 1/4" connectors and the corresponding nylon insulator sleeves and can supply you with small quantities.

Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:39 am

Where possible I double the wire back on itself before using a standard crimp connector. This makes it very unlikely that the wire will ever pull out of the connector. I also use a Klein #1001 to make the crimp, use the sharp pointed crimp in the picture not the flat ones. It will puncture the insulation on insulated connectors, but that doesn't seem to hurt much.

http://www.amazon.com/Klein-1001-Multi-Purpose-Electricians-Inches/dp/B000EVLUR2

OEM style open barrel connectors do work well, but having the right crimper is important.

Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:52 am

Like pretty much anything else, Online. Check out this web page

http://www.rowand.net/shop/tech/automotiveelectricalconnectors.htm

At the bottom of the page it has a bunch of links to suppliers, a good starting point. You can also get the pins and such to rebuild more modern plugs should you need to do so for a conversion or something. I ordered some large H4 size open barrel spade connectors from one of these places (forget which) when did my headlight project. You can also get very expensive small packages of these at many FLAPS but they are like almost a buck a piece, that makes me mad. :x

Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:23 am

.......camerahunter, what is that thing you (if that is you) are holding in your picture? giant camera?

Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:41 pm

Waytek Inc.