WIDE Contacts

[markandson]

After discussion with Opellane and Saxybiker I decided that running wires through the door jamb to operate electric windows and mirrors was not a good idea. I looked on the net for door contacts and came up with W.I.D.E. Contacts. These units are designed with springs inside and have brass contacts, so that when the door is closed current will flow to the components that are connected inside the door. The blocks are only available with a maximum of 5 contacts, I needed 6 plus a switch to operated the existing dome light. The pictures show a mock up of the 5 plus 2 that I originally purchased. I did not like the look at all so I opted to make my own 7 contact plastic block. I bought a piece of Delrin 5/8 x 1 x 4'-0" from (where else) Mcmaster Carr and did a little milling work and came up with what you see in one of the pictures. The new 7 contact block will be installed in my car shortly and I will take pictures of the final install. Some of the pictures are shown with the door skin cut out of the way and the fender cut out of the way so that you can see how little room there is for this modification.

[BQS4]

I don't know about other car manufacturers, but, Chevy uses these on the Suburban rear doors.

[Phoenix]

It's a very good idea and something which very new and unique.

[markandson]

The holes are now cut into my good GT body for the 7 contact blocks. The material that the body shop used was too thin, IMO, so I was afraid the screws would strip out eventually from the pressure exerted by the 7 springs being pushed in simultaneously. I took some 1 x 3/16" steel flat home last night and made backing plates with tapped holes for the flat head screws that will hold the blocks in place. The backing plates will be held behind the sheet metal by plug welds. Pictures to follow when job is completed.

[markandson]

This is the finished body work to install the 7 contact block, note that all the contours that were in the door jamb for the original dome light switch are GONE.
There was a lot of body work necessary to get this done.

[gr_diver]

Very good finding!! I was actually thinking of fabricating something similar to use in my cousin's car. I didn't know they were available pre-made!

I was wondering though, do they come with some sort of a seal, to prevent water getting inside the door or the car's interior?

Just don't use them for speaker connections. The headunit or amplifier will not appreciate being brutally dis/re-connected from/to the speakers each time you open/close the door. Also voltage spikes during re-connection might kill some voice coils. Unless you turn off your stereo each time a door is about to open... which will be a pain...

[markandson]

Originally Posted by gr_diver Very good finding!! I was actually thinking of fabricating something similar to use in my cousin's car. I didn't know they were available pre-made! I was wondering though, do they come with some sort of a seal, to prevent water getting inside the door or the car's interior? Just don't use them for speaker connections. The headunit or amplifier will not appreciate being brutally dis/re-connected from/to the speakers each time you open/close the door. Also voltage spikes during re-connection might kill some voice coils. Unless you turn off your stereo each time a door is about to open... which will be a pain...

No seal is supplied, but making one is not difficult, or using silicone sealer, which is what I plan on doing, is also another option.