C4 Wiring Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: OH
C4 Wiring Question
I'm about to start the process of replacing the stereo on my '85 BOSE system. I removed the speakers and head unit, now just waiting for the new part to come UPS.
I got a 12" sub that I am putting in as well. I need to get power to the amp, which wants a direct battery connection. My main question is where is the best location to get the wire from the cabin into the engine bay?
Also while on the topic of wiring, is there any prefered method of routing the speaker wires to the new head unit? Is it possible to "recycle" the bose wiring to the new speakers? It seems you could do it with a little splicing and dicing, but are there drawbacks to this?
I got a 12" sub that I am putting in as well. I need to get power to the amp, which wants a direct battery connection. My main question is where is the best location to get the wire from the cabin into the engine bay?
Also while on the topic of wiring, is there any prefered method of routing the speaker wires to the new head unit? Is it possible to "recycle" the bose wiring to the new speakers? It seems you could do it with a little splicing and dicing, but are there drawbacks to this?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: C4 Wiring Question (rsafier)
I have my power coming out just to the right/middle, of the battery. It was pretty easy to drill a hole next to the battery, and slip a grommet on the wire to close up the hole. When I wired the amp, I ran the wire through the firewall to the interior. It was easier to find the wire than the hole. I have my power wires running across the car from left to right and then pushed them down into the carpet under the right hand sill to the amp that sits underneath the passenger seat. I used new speaker wire... 18 gauge. Somewhere I read it is much better than using the crappy stock wiring. At the time I knew why, but that was several years ago, so the reasoning has faded.
My speaker wire runs directly underneath the sill, so I have some separation between the power lines and the speaker lines. You do not want your speaker wires to pick up "noise" from the power lines.
I also used wire ties, and flexible plastic covering to make the installation "neat."
My speaker wire runs directly underneath the sill, so I have some separation between the power lines and the speaker lines. You do not want your speaker wires to pick up "noise" from the power lines.
I also used wire ties, and flexible plastic covering to make the installation "neat."
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: C4 Wiring Question (rsafier)
Sounds good to me :thumbs:
A must is new wire but IM sure if you spent your hard cash for speakers you want them to sound best as possible and with the newwer wires today you wont get engine noise..
So CD Changer cable,Amp. Remote wire,RCA's and speaker leads on one side and power down he other...Take your time and be safe...
Rob :cheers:
A must is new wire but IM sure if you spent your hard cash for speakers you want them to sound best as possible and with the newwer wires today you wont get engine noise..
So CD Changer cable,Amp. Remote wire,RCA's and speaker leads on one side and power down he other...Take your time and be safe...
Rob :cheers:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: OH
Re: C4 Wiring Question (Tolofou)
ok, seems to make sense. Once my stuff comes it time to wire :) Little worried about drilling into any part of the car, but I gotta get power to that amp somehow, and 20 amps is a little much to try piggybacking on something else.
Just got my box-top built, kinda rough, will need to pretty it up later. I am debating if I should make the side with the amp hindged so I could still use one of the storage bins, but I am worried that it would rattle with the sub. I also wanted to place the amp on the underside, but am really worried about overheating it.
[Modified by rsafier, 6:28 AM 4/7/2003]
Just got my box-top built, kinda rough, will need to pretty it up later. I am debating if I should make the side with the amp hindged so I could still use one of the storage bins, but I am worried that it would rattle with the sub. I also wanted to place the amp on the underside, but am really worried about overheating it.
[Modified by rsafier, 6:28 AM 4/7/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,712
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
Re: C4 Wiring Question (rsafier)
I have my power wires routed through a different part of the firewall, I couldn't get them through the existing holes so I just drilled. No big deal, as there is nothing in that part of the firewall.
There are pics here:
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/df/
I ran all new speaker wire. So much of my car was ripped apart it was no big deal.
There are pics here:
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/df/
I ran all new speaker wire. So much of my car was ripped apart it was no big deal.
