Yeah that's how all of our connections are put together with some solder and shrink wrap then electrical tape it's just to be able to keep the connection to our little hot foot button .

Ya'll must have a really hot solder gun to heat up that # 8 wire enough to also melt the solder.

I got some brass "U" shapped clamps [from Lowes] to connect the wires and then used electrical tap. Also, under my front deck I found that there was another "plug-in" type connector that I also removed.

Go to a welding supply stop and buy the eyes there. There is also a tool to crimp them, which you hit with a hammer. Afterwards, heat it up with a small torch and drop in your solder. Same for the splices, use a torch. You can make your own butt splices with copper tubing.