loose wires

The pieces that are loose are solid metal pieces that go through the bulkhead plastic connector so I'm sure "you are good" so long as the terminals / wire crimps/ screw terminals are all corrosion free and tight. "I wish to heck" Ma had stayed with those instead of what most of use are saddled with

I had to perform my first bulkhead connector repair while in the Navy in the early 70's on my own 70 440-6 RoadRunner. "I will admit that both the previous owner and I were radio amateurs, and both of us had equipment in the car at times. The bulkhead connector was badly overheated. "Back then" I just ran paired no12's through enlarged holes in the connector.