Restoring plastic electrical connectors…how do you do it?

[64SF]

Getting ready to start rewiring the car and would like to clean up and restore the electrical connectors. I've read somewhere someone soaked them in some type of cleaner. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[bigblock]

A new wiring harness will probably be the cheaper route.

 

[66Satellite_in_NC]

I read the same story of a person who soaked all of the wiring connectors, both in engine bay and inside the car with a solution of salt and vinegar. He claims to have had great results. I have used the same method and it did clear a lot of the corrosion out but not all of it.

I just ordered the complete front harness from year one and will swap it out. The bulkhead connectors (main block at firewall and 3 of the individual connectors) can be bought off e-Bay.

 

[64SF]

I read the same story of a person who soaked all of the wiring connectors, both in engine bay and inside the car with a solution of salt and vinegar. He claims to have had great results. I have used the same method and it did clear a lot of the corrosion out but not all of it.

I just ordered the complete front harness from year one and will swap it out. The bulkhead connectors (main block at firewall and 3 of the individual connectors) can be bought off e-Bay.

I've got a new EZ-wire harness may have to use a few of the old connectors. Example: ignition switch, steering column.

 

[soundhd]

Trying to clean & restore an old original 30 year old (or more) wiring harness(es) is pretty much a waste of time even if the connectors are not cracked and broken. The problem is with the wiring insulation itself...at that age the rubber/plastic has gotten hard and brittle and has cracked all the way through to the wiring in more places then you can even imagine and also what is happening the wiring at the same locations as those hundreds of cracks is also starting to crack and fail thus you have "opens" as they are called in the electrical world that result from those cracks, so no matter what you try and do to clean up or restore the harnesses it is better in the long run to just replace them. It is better on your pocket book, your time and your sanity...........