240Z Wiring - What Components Would You Use?

Paul_S

Club Member
I've been looking at the wiring on my 240Z and there are a few areas that I think will need some attention. For example, some tired-looking blade connectors (not sleeved / insulated ones) open to the elements, the occasional suspiciously brittle-looking wires, etc.

I'm not going to go overboard but I do want to fix a few things up and I'd like some advice. What connectors and loom tape was originally used when the cars were made?

I want to repair the wiring 'sympathetically' to the age of the car so I'm not going to use the latest waterproof connectors but I want something that will be effective and reasonably period.

Would something like these bullet connectors be out of place, for example?

103-111-1.jpg


When it comes to taping the loom back up, would a fabric loom tape like this something like the original?

Wiring-Loom-Harness-Adhesive-Cloth-Fabric-tape-19mm-25m-Classic-Car-Motorcycle.jpg_640x640.jpg

I thank you :)
 

johnymd

Club Member
Those connectors look interesting. What type of crimp tool would you use for them? The best types of connectors are the type that fold over to grip the wire as opposed to the red/blue/yellow insulated type that just crush the wire and can come loose, although I have used them. Be carful when soldering connections as the wire can break at the edge of the solder if not fully supported. Zed looms are all pretty old now so its difficult to know what to do with them if you wish to retain the original look. For my 280z I going replaced the entire loom with an EZ wiring harness. Being generic it does need altering to suit each car plus you need to try and get it working with the zed controls. I'll probably use this again on the next few zeds, which will be standard, and take the time to make an actual plug and plug loom.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Forgot to add. The tape used on zeds is nothing like the cloth one and more like normal shiny insulation tape.
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Those connectors are the 'bullet' type that were common-place on 60s car. You don't crimp them but solder them. The end has a hole and I poke the wire through and I 'fan' it out before soldering so that the wire has some mechanical strength because to disconnect them you have to pull on the wire. I don't think you should use those.

I've used the crimp type that John mentions for 'spade' connections on relays etc but I crimp twice and check that the wire is gripped securely for a good connection. For in-line connectors that may need to be pulled apart to remove lights etc I've used new 'multi-plug' connectors where the spade terminal inside needs soldering to the wire.

For example: https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/695/category/7

Tape - you can get wiring loom tape that isn't adhesive.

Before you start I'd just have a good look at auto electrical sites to see what's available.

As John says our cars have old electrical connections now and it's worth checking them and also the wires which may be black and oxidized. The side repeater connections are prone to corrosion and botched repairs.

I've replaced some wiring because the wiring was so poor. Another issue is that previous owners often do poor electrical jobs on cars when they add stuff or fault find.
 

Paul_S

Club Member
Thank you for your replies gentlemen, great info :thumbs:

I plan to trim back any wires which are corroded until it's good, then solder on a new tail, heat shrink the join and wrap new tape around. Hopefully I won't get carried away and replace too much at this point - that's a winter job for after I've enjoyed the car for a couple of seasons.

I've been looking at http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/ who some interesting items (I've used them before for other stuff). In particular I'm looking at:
I'm not going to be fanatical, but I don't want anything new to stick out like a sore thumb.
 

toopy

Club Member
Thank you for your replies gentlemen, great info :thumbs:

I plan to trim back any wires which are corroded until it's good, then solder on a new tail, heat shrink the join and wrap new tape around. Hopefully I won't get carried away and replace too much at this point - that's a winter job for after I've enjoyed the car for a couple of seasons.

I've been looking at http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/ who some interesting items (I've used them before for other stuff). In particular I'm looking at:

I have some of those Stainless Steel P clips, as i also like the look of them, they're not on the car yet tho!

That non adhesive tape is what i have used on mine, it clings to itself without sticking and forms round the wires nicely, good stuff :) just remember to use some normal sticky type tape at either end, I forgot after having a T break and a week later opening the bonnet revealed a very unprofessional baggy loom!!

The white connectors I have also used here and there, nice and secure but also quite easy to disconnect, however they are quite bulky so cant be hidden easily within a taped up loom.

I've used these in places where you need to repair or splice something in, and then re-tape it all up https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/32/category/6
I normally add a bit of solder in addition to crimping as well, just to be sure it wont cause problems down the line, you could of course just solder the wire ends in the first place and forget the connectors!
 
Top