Headers vs. Electricity
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Headers vs. Electricity
I want to relocate my fuse system to the engine bay where I can get to it without having to look like a Buddhist monk that's been run through a laundry ringer. I grabbed a really nice underhood fuse/relay box from a Lincoln Mark VIII when I was nabbing a fan at the boneyard. The issue: the spot where I want to mount the box will leave approximately 1" clearance between the outside edge of the box and the headers...maybe as much as 1.25". Will this be too close? Do I need to wrap the headers? If I put wrap on, how can I seal it to keep water from getting in there and rusting the headers?
Second - where can I find a multi-wire bulkhead connector to replace the stock fusebox/firewall connector?
Second - where can I find a multi-wire bulkhead connector to replace the stock fusebox/firewall connector?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I scratched my *** plenty looking all OVER my car for a suitable easy to get at place for the damn fuse block, back 6 years ago when rewiring the car....and found nothing better, so I gave in and left it alone...I did rewire the entire underhood and pass compartment though.....
IF the fuse block/clips are clean and unrusted, I would leave them alone, it's a huge PIA to change out....
IF the fuse block/clips are clean and unrusted, I would leave them alone, it's a huge PIA to change out....
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I scratched my *** plenty looking all OVER my car for a suitable easy to get at place for the damn fuse block, back 6 years ago when rewiring the car....and found nothing better, so I gave in and left it alone...I did rewire the entire underhood and pass compartment though.....
IF the fuse block/clips are clean and unrusted, I would leave them alone, it's a huge PIA to change out....
IF the fuse block/clips are clean and unrusted, I would leave them alone, it's a huge PIA to change out....
(not about scratching my azz)It seems it would be a ton of work to go to.Once all the electric issues are fixed you shouldnt be going back to the fuse box very often.
#1*But one thought might be to leave the fuse box loose from the bulkhead so you can pull it down a little to gain easier access until the problems are resolved.*
#2Another thought and I'm pulling this out of my azz -could you modify the firewall at the bulkhead to allow the "fusebox bulkhead assembly" to move and turn on the existing wiring to gain easier access?
#1 would be easiest and could be resecured with say velcro instead of the original screws if you wanted quicker access.just a thought
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I do NOT run a heater. I removed the entire heater assembly and plated over the hole in the firewall. I then made up another aluminum plate mounting a bank of relays and fuses. I carefully marked all the relays with their respective fuses and proceeded to wire these in place of the existing fuse panel.
I can quickly remove the cover panel on passengers side to expose all the relays and fuses. I always carry a short jumper wire with alligator snaps on the end.
If I run into a problem anywhere I can quickly short out the relay and fuse to limp home.
I also mounted my MSD ignition, my coil and my ford starter solenoid right there to keep them cool and make wiring them in simple
I can quickly remove the cover panel on passengers side to expose all the relays and fuses. I always carry a short jumper wire with alligator snaps on the end.
If I run into a problem anywhere I can quickly short out the relay and fuse to limp home.
I also mounted my MSD ignition, my coil and my ford starter solenoid right there to keep them cool and make wiring them in simple
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
I used the space behind the passenger dash panel similar to Norval, but was able to retain the heater box.
There I mounted the ignition box, coil, junction block for fans and electronics etc.
There I mounted the ignition box, coil, junction block for fans and electronics etc.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Murphy NC
For my LS engine swap I removed the washer fluid resivour and cruise transducer to mount my relay/fuse box. I used the transducer mounting bracket to mount it. Its a clean install but not exactly easier than the factory fuse location. Im wondering why its a problem anyway? Do you pop that many fuses?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
For my LS engine swap I removed the washer fluid resivour and cruise transducer to mount my relay/fuse box. I used the transducer mounting bracket to mount it. Its a clean install but not exactly easier than the factory fuse location. Im wondering why its a problem anyway? Do you pop that many fuses?
WHICH is the foundation of my ultimate decision to leave it alone....
clean up the harness, bypass the bulkhead connector except for headlight wiring, and run direct....this car is not a assembly line operation anymore...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
For my LS engine swap I removed the washer fluid resivour and cruise transducer to mount my relay/fuse box. I used the transducer mounting bracket to mount it. Its a clean install but not exactly easier than the factory fuse location. Im wondering why its a problem anyway? Do you pop that many fuses?
I don't pop many fuses, but I always end up with glass in my eyes when I do, since I have to lay on my back to get to the panel and those stupid glass fuses always break on me. I'm adding some circuits to the car (and I'm going to add more when I go to fuel injection), so having everything in one spot would be nice. This box is designed to be connected directly to the alternator, with about six relay circuits and 20+ fuse circuits split about evenly between normal and maxi fuses. I just want to be certain that it isn't going to burn up on me that close to the exhaust.
Last edited by I'm Batman; Jul 19, 2007 at 01:57 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
IMO, anything like a fuse block, computer, etc needs be in the pass compartment, heat and moisture are primary enemies of electrical/tronic gear....fuse contacts, interconnects....
anything not weathertite under the hood is begging failures...them weathertite connectors on modern cars aint there for no reason....
beeleemee,I been at this crap for decades now....
anything not weathertite under the hood is begging failures...them weathertite connectors on modern cars aint there for no reason....
beeleemee,I been at this crap for decades now....
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
IMO, anything like a fuse block, computer, etc needs be in the pass compartment, heat and moisture are primary enemies of electrical/tronic gear....fuse contacts, interconnects....
anything not weathertite under the hood is begging failures...them weathertite connectors on modern cars aint there for no reason....
beeleemee,I been at this crap for decades now....
anything not weathertite under the hood is begging failures...them weathertite connectors on modern cars aint there for no reason....
beeleemee,I been at this crap for decades now....
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Tullahoma Tennessee
I'll be rewiring my '77 this winter and I really was thinking about the center rear compartment, other than the long run of heavy gauge wires, I don't see a problem with that. Am I missing something?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I still need a multi-wire bulkhead connector...does anyone make such a thing?
I think I'm going to wrap the headers to cut down on heat damage. They've already been painted on the tubes, so if I seal the wrap with paint I think they'll be relatively well-protected from rust.