The best way to prevent wiring problems is to PLAN AHEAD, TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT, USE THE BEST MATERIALS AVAILABLE and DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING when you are done. One thing that gets overlooked the most is the crimping tool. There are some terminal crimpers that cost $4.00 and some that cost $30.00. Without a doubt the $30.00 ones are the better value because of the reliable and proper crimping they do on the connectors.

I asked Jim Pulliam at Dragstar why he didn't solder all the connectors. His reply was simple -- it is not necessary and can cause more problems that it is worth. He uses a professional crimper, available from electrical supply shops, MATCO, Mac Tools, Snap-On, etc. He also prefers non-insulated connectors so he can see the actual connection better. Then he covers them with a top quality shrink sleeve. You end up with a very clean and reliable connection that will last for years.

There are a couple other things I want to mention about wiring. GROUND WIRES are every bit as important as the power wire. They must be grounded to the chassis (frame) and be free of any paint or rust. The battery must also be grounded to the frame with a good clean tight connection. I have always liked to ground my timers directly to the negative post on the battery. I also recommend a ground strap from the block to the frame as close to the starter as possible. In the case of our MSD unit, I try to keep the crank trigger wires separated from the two coil wires to prevent signal interference. If you twist those wires around each other, it will limit the interference they emit.

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