Solid Distribution

At some point (likely during the engine swap by a previous owner) the distributor in my 280z was swapped for a later unit; this was a common modification.  One thing that I didn't appreciate was the way in which the trigger wires were spliced using acorn-style crimp connectors.

Not only is this style of connection susceptible to loosening over time but the way this particular splice was performed left the connection open to the elements and corrosion.  I removed the radiator for maintenance so I decided to clean up this splice while the area was open.

To properly splice these connections I first cut the connectors out and removed a good bit of the brittle sleeve over the wires.  I then slid larger heat-shrink tubing over the old sleeve to act as the outer layer of protection.  I then slid individual heat-shrink tubes over the individual wires to cover the joints once soldered.  The next step was to strip and solder the individual wires.

I slid the individual heat-shrink tubes over the wires and used a heat gun to set them.  Note the glue on the edges; I just discovered this type of heat shrink tubing and it is now my preferred protection for wires.

Finally, I moved the outer tubes into position and set them.  This gave me a splice that is not only protected from the elements but also requires a close look to determine that it is not as delivered from the factory.