question on the main harness plug on firewall

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Dave NEO

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on '68 barracuda - how does this plug/unplug ? in parts/sections or does whole works come unplugged? I am just being very careful not to screw up this old plug but I need to get a look at contacts and clean if possible - lately they are causing entire electrical system to go off- with a wiggle it comes back.. comments appreciated.
 
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dont know but once you get it cleaned, pack it with dielectric grease. Axle grease works.
 
There are plastic "catches" on each section, and there are 3 sections. Read the shop manual. You can download them free from MyMopar. If I get time I have a Dart harness out, but will have to dig for it.

Also read the "Mad" article which, even if you do not do the modification, gives a great overview of the pitfalls of problems with the connector

Catalog

Thanks to the lousy hard to use "improvements" in site software, you can no longer post old posts here. Try to read post 9

This is an attempt to copy that post

Electrical Bulkhead Connector?

Well Im a little late getting pics up of my bulk head connector but we had this giant snow storm stop by and reck the weekend!!
Here are some pics of both male and female side of the connector. Hope these give you the information you are looking for. Also take note to the one wire terminal on the front plug that is corroded. The start of what could have been a serious problem.

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Rod

Well Im a little late getting pics up of my bulk head connector but we had this giant snow storm stop by and reck the weekend!!
Here are some pics of both male and female side of the connector. Hope these give you the information you are looking for. Also take note to the one wire terminal on the front plug that is corroded. The start of what could have been a serious problem.

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Rod

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In the bottom photo^^ you can see the latches on the ends of the three plugs. They are uniquely keyed so you cannot get them on incorrectly Those connectors use what are called "Packard 56" terminals which you can buy and replace.
 
ooh...excellent stuff guys,.. thanks very much...I think I can definitely work with that - hey, gonna have at least 5 months to mess with it......
 
This may not work for everyone, but when I had the looms out of my car, I removed the plastic holders on the ends and bead blasted the wire ends and re-installed. No more fear of bad connections. Dielectric grease is a good idea. Also removed wires from the fuse block and blasted, followed with the grease because the fuse holders seem to get really corroded.
 
use a small screwdriver, from drivers side fender, raise top of latch with screwdriver and lean top back on plug, then use your screwdriver on bottom of plug and press down on latch while pulling, it pulls a part easy, dont worry about getting them mixed up all 3 are made with a raised spot where they will only plug on 1 of 3 connections on the bulkhead. If you can get under dash ,there are 4 clips on bulkhead that you can release from outside at firewall, then you can pull bulkhead inside, under dash and inspect and clean connections
 
raise top of latch with screwdriver and lean top back on plug, then use your screwdriver on bottom of plug and press down on latch while pulling
^This^
Pull back firmly but gently. Take your time in pulling them off. A little up and down motion as you pull.
A little too much force on the plastic retaining tabs and they can snap.
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While each of the three connectors is unique and connot be confused, the wires can be mixed up.
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Print or draw a copy of the wiring diagram from the '68 FSM, and then verify the positions before removing.
Remove the male terminals from the female connector by squeezing the open diagonal slot in the terminal and push back.
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If the foam seal is deteriorated, remove that and replace with new. They can be purchased from Detroit Muscle Technology.
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Before reinstalling the male terminals, gently open the slot so the barb will catch in the connector. This is very important or the terminal will back out.
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Remove the female terminals by depressing the retaining tab with a release tool. You can buy a tool or make one.
These are original female bulkhead terminals, in this case not Packard 56, but something like a Packard 58.
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came apart OK - found real issue was the one outside connector (hidden by taped batch of wires in pic in first post) was not fully inserted - it pried out pretty easy - was surprised to see fairly clean terminals with decent amount of dielectric grease on them. Looks like a PO was at this in the past and while the wires look original, the actual terminal block might have been replaced - it was not at all brittle, more of a fiberglass feel than hard plastic, and just did not show 50 years of age. Anyway now that I see how they come apart I can unplug the others, clean and grease them. thanks for help on this. Gotta say before we found connector was having a problem, it was a very sick feeling when I turned key and all was totally DEAD.
 
came apart OK - found real issue was the one outside connector (hidden by taped batch of wires in pic in first post) was not fully inserted - it pried out pretty easy - was surprised to see fairly clean terminals with decent amount of dielectric grease on them. Looks like a PO was at this in the past and while the wires look original, the actual terminal block might have been replaced - it was not at all brittle, more of a fiberglass feel than hard plastic, and just did not show 50 years of age. Anyway now that I see how they come apart I can unplug the others, clean and grease them. thanks for help on this. Gotta say before we found connector was having a problem, it was a very sick feeling when I turned key and all was totally DEAD.
Good for you. Sounds like you found the problem.
 
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