Karl Nielsen
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    • "Hornet 450" Frame Design
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Active Projects
    • '64 Dart Restoration >
      • '64 Dodge Dart
      • History
      • Slant-6 Revival
      • Fuel Delivery >
        • Intake Manifold
        • Carburetor
        • Electric Fuel Pump
      • Alternator Upgrade >
        • Project Overview
        • Bracket Design
        • Bracket Prototype
        • Belt Tensioner
        • Paint & Install
      • IGNITION - GM HEI >
        • 'Hide-a-HEI' Concept
        • MOPAR Ignition Box Modification
        • HEI Module Plate
        • Assembly and Wiring
      • Ford 8.8 Swap >
        • Background
        • Finding a Donor Car
      • Engine Bay Re-Wiring >
        • New Wiring Diagram
        • Power Distribution Module >
          • PDM Part 1 - Headlights
          • PDM Part 2 - Engine Control
          • PDM Part 3 - Horns & Starter
          • PDM Part 4 - Overall Layout
      • Cluster Harness
      • Body & Chassis >
        • Black Engine Bay
        • Sound Deadening
        • Carpet
        • Heater Box Rebuild
      • Parts Donor Vehicles
    • Relay Tester
  • Other Pages
    • Junkyard Toolkit
  • Archived Projects
    • "Hornet 450" Frame Design
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YOUR CART

Cluster Harness Connector

If you have ever had to pull an instrument cluster from one of these 60's MOPAR's that has a circular "pin & socket" connector, you know how frustrating it can be to reconnect it later. I finally got so tired of fighting with mine that I decided to do something about it.

I decided what I wanted to do was to solder new wires directly to the pins on the PCB that is the backing to my instrument cluster. Because there are nine pins, I needed nine different wire colors of stranded wire (for flexibility) and they needed to be about 16 gauge. So I found an old, discarded power supply in the e-waste bin at my work and cut the wire loom off it. This was perfect as the 24-pin main motherboard power connector had exactly 9 different colors of 16 gauge wire. Time to heat up the soldering iron and get to work!
I got pretty lucky in that the 9 colors of wire from the power supply closely matched the 9 colors of stock wiring harness wire with only 2 colors being different. The 9-pin 3x3 connector I picked up at a local RadioShack. Diligent use of heat-shrink and expanding wire wrap and it looks darned professional (in my opinion anyway).

Now to address the wire in the dash. I took my soldering iron out to the garage and setup right inside my car, without carpet or seat upholstery to ruin I didn't have to worry about burning anything. I took my time and double-checked my wire color guide often to make sure I didn't make a mistake. Again, I think it looks very professional, and because all the wiring is hidden behind the dash and instrument cluster, no one will ever know that I made this little modification. Except your readers of course.
Picture

2018 Update

It has been a few years since I did my original cluster harness connector mod and career experience has taught about Deutsch brand connectors. Deutsch connectors are a superior connector style and more appropriately suited to automotive applications. Using a product selector at the Ladd Inc. website, I found a round 9-position Deutsch connector that is perfect for this application.

I acquired a mating connector set as well as the appropriate crimp contacts and swapped out the Molex connector for the Deutsch connector set.