Eliminate ammeter junction block on 73 Mustang

[cbrsurfr]

Been going through and fixing the wiring on my 73 Mustang. I'm at the point where I'm replacing the alternator wiring harness and voltage regulator. The old wiring was shot and I wanted to clean up the engine bay. Wiring tends to scare me but I thought this would be an easy job...swap out a few cables and make it look new again.

During removal of the old wiring I destroyed something called the ammeter junction block. It sits below the volt regulator and brings 1 wire from the alt wiring harness together with another wire going into the front loom. Replacement part is only available NOS.

Here is one on ebay: Link

No way I'm paying $57 for a piece of plastic with a screw.

I was thinking if all this does is link these 2 wires together, can't I just snip off the post connectors, crimp them together and cover with heat shrink tubing? Maybe zip tie out of the way.

I couldn't find anyone else with this problem so figured I'd ask advice.

Thx

 

[PottedMeat]

No way I'm paying $57 for a piece of plastic with a screw.

I was thinking if all this does is link these 2 wires together, can't I just snip off the post connectors, crimp them together and cover with heat shrink tubing? Maybe zip tie out of the way.

I wouldn't even snip off the post connectors. Just bolt them together and put some heat shrink around it.

 

[Ronstang]

You have already broken a part, do not add insult to injury by butchering an original wiring harness. If you want a quick solution that is reversible just use a short machine screw and nut to connect the wires and use heat shrink to protect it from shorting.

My solution would be to make a suitable replacement myself. I have spent a lot ot time over the years making replacement parts because new ones could not be had at the time.

Once you have it working again it is time to look at any salvage yards that have old cars like this still sitting around. I used to have a couple of favorite yards for Mustangs. Even though they had been sitting in the yard for 30-40 years there were always little goodies left on the shells....things like what you broke. I have found tons of little items like this on junkers over the years because most people are not looking for that part specifically and leave the little stuff.

I once found a completely stripped 68 Mustang coupe. There was absolutely nothing left on the car except one thing. The original instrument cluster with rare factory tach and the appropriate wiring harness attached. I could not believe that everyone who had stripped that clunker overlooked one of the rarest parts on that car. It worked perfectly and only cost $35....with the harness!

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/cn-1.shtml

 

[cbrsurfr]

If the wiring was in good shape believe me, I wouldn't be touching it. It's so bad anything is an improvement. It's been through too many hands. None of the gauges work, missing lights, cuts, splices, dead ends, etc... So I'm focusing on the engine bay and gauges right now.

Thx for the link LTC. Looks like that may work. It's a little bigger but certainly the right price.

 

[bruceb]

That should do it, as long as the stud diameter is correct for your ring terminals.
If not, check most auto parts stores or a marine supply store. One of them will have something suitable for the job (marine store for sure)