Interchangeability of Douglas and Packard connectors?

[CTgreen]

My 1953 has Douglas wire connectors. Can I use wiring harnesses that have Packard connectors with the Douglas connectors? I have never worked with either. H.

[powerwagontim]

Not easily. The Douglas connectors will not plug into the Packard nor vice versa. The crimped on metal ends of the wire are common to both, you can take the Packard fittings off and replace them with the Douglas parts, but it would be a pain.
Tim

[Carter]

It's not all that hard to do, I have done it on several taillights. Slide the Packard rubber back along the wire and remove the metal clip and install the Douglas stuff.

Another post on this subject: http: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4040

[DJ]

Spray a little lubricant on the wire before you pull the rubber back to remove the clip, then when it's back give the metal connector a shot of lube.

[M37UK]

Or get hold of the proper crimping tool and make up your own Douglas connectors.
I bought my parts from Joe at Vintage Wiring of Maine:

- single Douglas shell only, male or female $1.50 each plus shipping
- double Douglas shell only, male or female $3.50 each plus shipping
- metal bushings $0.40 each plus shipping
- rubber grommets $0.35 each plus shipping
- male bullet $0.30 each plus shipping

This is the type of tool you will need to crimp the bullets:
http://www.doitbest.com/Electrical+tool ... 514526.dib

Cheers
Stu

[powerwagontim]

Carter,
I know it can be done, but he was talking about doing an entire truck worth. I dont think its worth doing it for an entire truck. And buying the individual pieces at a buck and a half or so a shot will cost more than just getting a proper harness!
Tim

[Carter]

Never thought about an entire wiring harness just a couple of mis-matched terminal ends.

[powerwagontim]

Yeah, I had a couple to swap out on my truck too.
Tim

[snowdad]

I read on another site (not sure which one) that most old wiring harnesses can be reused except for the first foot or so on each wire. It said peel back the tape to expose good wire and cut the end off from there. Slide on some heat shrink tubing and solder the wire end on covering with the heat shrink. Then re-tape the harness. You have to reuse the old Douglas or Packard connectors. The only thing one would have to purchase would be the bullet ends and a crimper. Rubber plugs would also be in order if they were bad. I guess if one were so inclined they could unsolder the bullet ends and reuse them. This would save a ton if money if it would work. Even if you had to buy new bullet ends, it would not be that expensive. I plan on checking my harness shortly to see its condition underneath the tape and to see if it might work. I haven't gotten to that part on mine yet, but have researched it in anticipation. Any ideas?

[Rick C]

I have used that trick to get some wire out of a harness but never really tried reusing the whole harness like that. If you had to shorten any of the ends by much they won't be long enough, especially the light connections. You also would need to check the entire harness for any unseen damage......seems like a lot of work either way.
Rick
PS I always scavanged Douglas componets off any wiring I removed. Most can be reused with some cleanup.

[snowdad]

UPDATE-I checked my wiring harness's individual wires in the vicinity of the tail lights today and after pulling tape off the harness about a foot or more 'upstream' from the fixture, I was able to scratch ALL the insulation off the wire! It was that soft. Not worth the risk. Think I will make my own harness. Just can't afford the $1100 price tag. Looks like most of the wire is 14 gauge. Hopefully, I will be able to reuse all the Douglas connectors. My only concern is the plug that goes into the rear of the light switch. Anybody have any experiance good or bad here?
Phillip