My Firewall Is A Mess
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach, FL
My Firewall Is A Mess
Can those of you who can, please send me pictures of how you dressed-up all the wires in the engine compartment specifically on the firewall.
Mine looks like a bunch of yellow and black snakes crawling everywhere so I am trying to clean it up. It is not a restoration project, it's a Hot Rod and the battery is not in the engine compartment so I don't have that to deal with.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Mine looks like a bunch of yellow and black snakes crawling everywhere so I am trying to clean it up. It is not a restoration project, it's a Hot Rod and the battery is not in the engine compartment so I don't have that to deal with.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Can those of you who can, please send me pictures of how you dressed-up all the wires in the engine compartment specifically on the firewall.
Mine looks like a bunch of yellow and black snakes crawling everywhere so I am trying to clean it up. It is not a restoration project, it's a Hot Rod and the battery is not in the engine compartment so I don't have that to deal with.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Mine looks like a bunch of yellow and black snakes crawling everywhere so I am trying to clean it up. It is not a restoration project, it's a Hot Rod and the battery is not in the engine compartment so I don't have that to deal with.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
the engine based wires come up over the engine in a polished stainless tube (polished to match the chrome coated intake) and then branch out up front in heat shrinked groups one to the distrib, a/c and temp, one to the alt, fan and starter.
oil pressure and carb choke come out of separate holes in the tube.
there are 2 weatherpack waterproof connectors above the tranny so you can disconnect the engine part and slide it out without disconnecting any wires.. had to do that too when the engine blew up after break-in..
I'll post an engine bay pic as soon as I can find one (traveling this week)
this is one with the pvc prototype tube from before I got the wiring all done..
this is the best one I can find quickly (Atachment).. the tube is just above the valve cover here.. (both shiny, hard to see), the wire to the carb choke comes up from underneath the tube (so u can't see the hole)..
Sam
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
Mine was just a matter of bundling the wires into one or two cables, taking all the useless garbage off - Alternator regulator, fuse bars, extra clips and screws, then I sprayed it with undercoat behind the engine and Zolatone (spatter paint type) on the sides.
I relocated the horn relay and wiper washer to sit neatly.
PS th etwo cables coiled up are now tucked behind the washer jar. They are for a hood release I have yet to design and install, and an overdrive I no longer plan to install but have the cable panle for in the cab.
I relocated the horn relay and wiper washer to sit neatly.
PS th etwo cables coiled up are now tucked behind the washer jar. They are for a hood release I have yet to design and install, and an overdrive I no longer plan to install but have the cable panle for in the cab.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
...
there are 2 weatherpack waterproof connectors above the tranny so you can disconnect the engine part and slide it out without disconnecting any wires.. had to do that too when the engine blew up after break-in..
Sam
there are 2 weatherpack waterproof connectors above the tranny so you can disconnect the engine part and slide it out without disconnecting any wires.. had to do that too when the engine blew up after break-in..
Sam
Sam
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 5
From: Meade, KS
I would be wary of running wires through a tube though. I'd be worried about heat not being able to dissapate properly causing premature wire failure. I use cloth or split loom on my truck depending on where it is. I use electrical tape ONLY IN SMALL AMOUNTS to pull wires together. Zip ties have a nasty habit of biting you when you slide your hand up under the dash or other small place. One-two layers of tape pull wires together without being a PITA to undo, and when covered in loom you don't have to worry about it coming undone/looking crappy.
Good luck!
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
...
I would be wary of running wires through a tube though. I'd be worried about heat not being able to dissapate properly causing premature wire failure. I use cloth or split loom on my truck depending on where it is. I use electrical tape ONLY IN SMALL AMOUNTS to pull wires together. Zip ties have a nasty habit of biting you when you slide your hand up under the dash or other small place. One-two layers of tape pull wires together without being a PITA to undo, and when covered in loom you don't have to worry about it coming undone/looking crappy.
Good luck!
I would be wary of running wires through a tube though. I'd be worried about heat not being able to dissapate properly causing premature wire failure. I use cloth or split loom on my truck depending on where it is. I use electrical tape ONLY IN SMALL AMOUNTS to pull wires together. Zip ties have a nasty habit of biting you when you slide your hand up under the dash or other small place. One-two layers of tape pull wires together without being a PITA to undo, and when covered in loom you don't have to worry about it coming undone/looking crappy.
Good luck!
Also, the only wire that carries any real load here is the fusebox main.
the fan wire is a relay trigger. the choke is only on early, oil & water temp are ground relative, a/c compressor clutch is low power and that leaves the coil..
so, load temp in the bundle is low..
big draw items, fuel pump, air bag pump, head lights, fans all run off dedicated relay controlled circuits direct from the battery, individually fused. to reduce the load demand into the fuse box main.
I should have noted, as you did, I have a connector at the front harness (inside the chassis horn, to pull the front clip as well..)
I am SO glad I did these connectors, cause we blew up the engine after the breakin cause the engine builder forgot to clearance the new valves with the pistons.. SO, I had to tear the front clip off to get the engine out/back in again..
Sam
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 93
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From: Daytona Beach, FL
sdetweil (Sam)
I noticed from your pics that you had two fans with a shroud on your radiator then two fans without a shroud. What's your opinion about one or two fans and with or without a shroud.
Stan
I noticed from your pics that you had two fans with a shroud on your radiator then two fans without a shroud. What's your opinion about one or two fans and with or without a shroud.
Stan
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
when I had the two fans on the shroud installed, I had an overheat problem. pulled the shroud, moved new fans to the rad face.. no change
solved the overheat problem (wrong thermostat type, not enough flow)
without the shroud, and with a flow restrictor instead of a thermostat the temps fell back to 165.. (outside air temp at 75)
have gone back to the shroud & fans cause of the look.. didn't like the open rad fins showing..
now.. I MAY still have a tiny heat problem with this shroud, and MAY have to make flaps to allow more air during driving. (at 98 out, with A/C on, after 15 miles, sitting running for 10 mins with A/C on while I took pics, temp climbed to 210 from 195..
and never really came all the way down on the 15 mile drive back..
this is the first time the A/C has been working too..
sam
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,047
Likes: 10,055
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Mine was a mess as well, wires and holes all over the place. I'm no where close to the level of Sam's truck but I did route all of my wires up from underneath.
Split loom is great for routing wiring. Go to any wrecking yard and look under the hood of any late model car. Split loom is everywhere with great connections for "T"ing off branches, etc.
Here's what I started with;
Here's a shot while patching holes;
After;
Engine installed;
Bobby
Split loom is great for routing wiring. Go to any wrecking yard and look under the hood of any late model car. Split loom is everywhere with great connections for "T"ing off branches, etc.
Here's what I started with;
Here's a shot while patching holes;
After;
Engine installed;
Bobby
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 129
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Hey Bobby, it looks like you recessed your firewall for the caddy and then looks like it doesn’t sit that far back, I’m doing a 460 (Dist @ front) and don’t know yet if I’m going to have to install a recess, any tips. 
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,047
Likes: 10,055
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Nope, that's the factory recess. My truck was originally an inline 6 but I think the firewalls were all the same. I didn't have to touch the firewall at all. I have about 1/2" of clearance between the rearward head and the firewall. I was also able to keep the engine and tranny low enough so that I didn't have to build a tranny tunnel in the floor. The only thing I had to do was to slightly roll the lip of the tranny cover opening.
Can you get a rear sump oil pan for the 460ci? You'll need it.
Bobby
Can you get a rear sump oil pan for the 460ci? You'll need it.
Bobby
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 129
From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca
Thank you for the information, great stuff, made my day!
Yep, got a used (pavement rash) 460 fox body pan off eBay. Not on yet, hope it’s the right one.
Thanks again.
Yep, got a used (pavement rash) 460 fox body pan off eBay. Not on yet, hope it’s the right one.
Thanks again.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
also note that you'll need the long arm pickup from the pump to the deep part of the pan, wherever it is..
Sam