If you solder them, it is best to crimp first, then solder.Always make a solid mechanical joint to solder FIRST. Solder is soft and It tends to crack and cause an intermittent connection.
When a solid mechanical connection is not made first, then the connection is dependent on the solder for its bridge, that along with heating and cooling can and does cause the solder to crack and eventually cause a faulty connection.
Soldering first and then crimping causes the cracking immediately as the solid solder will no doubt crack.
I was an Electronic Warfare Technician ( Repair) in the Air Force and in tech school we were trained on how to solder correctly.
I have seen lots of circuit boards in years where the solder cracks and causes an intermittent connection, or complete loss of conductivity.Not just on old stuff either.
As to your question, the grey pieces are the connectors. The wire ends will have a latch,(usually a metal tang sticking up)or a hole ( usually square or rectangle shaped) that when said wire end is pushed into the grey piece, it will lock into place as there is a catch of some sort inside the grey piece.Study the 2 pieces up close, you will see it.
The white piece shoves into the grey piece to keep the lock mechanism from letting go, thereby causing a terminal to back out of its connector.
Here's a link to the Lisle 56500 tool, along with the specialized crimping pliers unique to the GM type pin connectors. Both tools will make a potentially frustrating job much easier. (Yes there are other sources for the tools......)
the bottom grey connector, there are two rows of four. Just to the right of the R/H row of four, (the holes kinda look like a "C") at each open end of the "C" you see a light grey tab (looks like a square dot) that is the locking tab. I use a de-pinning tool but a jewelers screwdriver will work, to gently push the locking tab and let the pins slide out the rear. As long as you don't insert the white spacer lock, the pins will remove easily.
Those pins can be crimped with out the special crimping tool, but it's a pain (been there done that). I have many different sized crimpers and have purchased them all from ebay, and the ones meant for the job makes it so much easier.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Hot Rod Forum
2.2M posts
175.7K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to hot rod owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!