• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Aftermarket wiring kit - routing ??

gkent

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
5:16 PM
Joined
Aug 8, 2012
Messages
5,696
Reaction score
6,222
Location
Ontario, Canada
Who has installed an aftermarket wiring kit (Ron Francis, EZ Wire, etc) in their car and where did you run the wires through the firewall for the engine/front end wiring?
 
Don't they go in the same place were old ones came out.
 
I've done several cars using the 21 & 12 Ez wire kits. I always take the front end wires under the driver fender in a wire loom. The few that need to go to the motor I bring through just above the top of the trans hump.
 
I've done several cars using the 21 & 12 Ez wire kits. I always take the front end wires under the driver fender in a wire loom. The few that need to go to the motor I bring through just above the top of the trans hump.

Mike67...where did you mount the breaker panel?
 
Mike67...where did you mount the breaker panel?
In mine I have it just slightly above the dimmer switch...tried to keep it low for if I ever have to service it ( I have a cage).
The Nova and Mustang I had built custom consoles and made a mount to go directly behind it. The T bird it was mounted on the firewall.
I'm doing my car a little different, I'm using the 12 ckt mini and plan on having everything running through relays and primary feeds coming from a fixed distribution block. Overkill but the 12 ckt didn't allow for a lot of things I'll be running with my fuel injection.
 
On this 71 Satellite I am drilling out the centers of the bulkhead connector to feed the wires through. So that it remains stockish looking. Its actually a pain in the *** since this is a cheaper harness than you guys use. Hopefully it wont look all trashy when its done. I will also be mounting the fuse panel in the stock location on the rear of the bulkhead connector.
 
The whole idea of an aftermarket kit is to clean up the appearance. If you're just going to run through the stock location you may as well just use reproduction harnesses or replace the wires. There's nothing wrong with factory connectors, just the fact that they're highly visible and ugly. remember, these cars were designed to be built at a rate one one a minute so things were placed for quick assembly, not good looks. I'd like to through around the dimmer switch and along the inner fender, I want to avoid having to screw cable clamps into the inners, any suggestions?
 
i installed a 23 circuit pain less harness . i installed the fuse box in the glove box with factory mount i wanted a newer style fuse [ now atc ] and extra circuits for a/c and cruise control fuel inj, sys. i ran each wire thru thru old bulk head then to there components. i wasn't worried about seeing the harness as to me if you have ever tried to trace a ele, problem then you might understand. all will have covering to look cleaner than factory but e-z to work on.
 
On the car we are doing now, we are reusing the stock bulkhead (cleaned up and replaced one broken engine side connector.)
Just ordered up a bunch of the Packard 56 terminals to have new connections in the bulkhead.
Made a few revisions to which bulkhead cavity goes to different circuits so there is not the wires that go between the different harnesses.
There is a fuse and relay block in the engine compartment for the headlights, cooling fans and horn. That will take the load off the bulkhead connector.
All the real power goes through a single stud/power type bulkhead connector. Battery cable from trunk mount battery, and the feed to the interior fuse box attach to the inside terminal of the single stud type bulkhead connector. The outside (engine compartment side) connects to starter power, alternator output, and the engine compartment mounted fuse/relay box.
Because the dash is using aftermarket gauges and switches, I had to run a few spdt relays for the hazard light switch and wiper motor switch.
I could have done the hazard switch configuration with diodes, but did not have any rated for about 5 Amps.
 
The whole idea of an aftermarket kit is to clean up the appearance. If you're just going to run through the stock location you may as well just use reproduction harnesses or replace the wires. There's nothing wrong with factory connectors, just the fact that they're highly visible and ugly. remember, these cars were designed to be built at a rate one one a minute so things were placed for quick assembly, not good looks. I'd like to through around the dimmer switch and along the inner fender, I want to avoid having to screw cable clamps into the inners, any suggestions?

What I've done is replace the fender/apron bolts with button heads, used the back side to attach a cush clamp to hold the loom up out of the way.
 
U used a mil-spec multipin circular connector as a bulkhead connector on mine. I ran the headlight wiring up under the passenger side fender and to in front of the radiator core support. The engine wiring will be going through a similar connector right above the transmission hump bias to the passenger side as well - my MS3 will be in the glove box and the fuse block is behind the box facing down to I can see/test fuses

100_0345.JPG
 
U used a mil-spec multipin circular connector as a bulkhead connector on mine. I ran the headlight wiring up under the passenger side fender and to in front of the radiator core support. The engine wiring will be going through a similar connector right above the transmission hump bias to the passenger side as well - my MS3 will be in the glove box and the fuse block is behind the box facing down to I can see/test fuses

View attachment 893956

Nice. Looks like 38999 Series 2? Is there any place you can get those at a discount? Also, the crimpers too.
 
Last edited:
Nice. Looks like 38999 Series 2? Is there any place you can get those at a discount? Also, the crimpers too.

I believe that's exactly what it is - discount? not that I've found unfortunately... the crimper.... no discount either haha I felt like I took a paycheck and threw it into a fire when I picked that stuff up.
 
I looked at maybe going that direction with the 38999 connectors a few years ago, but the price was too much for me.
I'm not sold on any specific connectors right now. I have a bunch of the Packard 56 for most of the stock stuff, and also WeatherPack connectors too.
I just used a MetriPack 280, but not the 150 or any of the Deutsch connectors.
 
Who has installed an aftermarket wiring kit (Ron Francis, EZ Wire, etc) in their car and where did you run the wires through the firewall for the engine/front end wiring?
I used a Ron Francis kit and ran most everything through the bulkhead connector spot. I removed the bulkhead connector and fabricated a plate to cover with correct size hole and grommet and was an everything that I needed right through that. I really too extra care in grounding the vehicle when I did and I mounted the fuse panel up under the dash behind the glovebox and came through firewall tight there for grounds to the new ground junction box I installed.

TIP...when you get to wiring it up, take your time and lay out the harnesses and really think is this where I want it to go? I did a pretty darn good job on mine but there are a couple things I would have tidy’d up a bit if given the second opportunity and more thought..

Good luck!
 
Who has installed an aftermarket wiring kit (Ron Francis, EZ Wire, etc) in their car and where did you run the wires through the firewall for the engine/front end wiring?


I think it goes something like this...


e%20the%20car%20and%20sort%20out%2025%20year%20old%20wiring.%20Everything%20has%20its%20place....jpg
 
Nice work I really like the clamps to hold it in place. I think that harness is for a lawnmower.
 
I used a Ron Francis kit and ran most everything through the bulkhead connector spot. I removed the bulkhead connector and fabricated a plate to cover with correct size hole and grommet and was an everything that I needed right through that. I really too extra care in grounding the vehicle when I did and I mounted the fuse panel up under the dash behind the glovebox and came through firewall tight there for grounds to the new ground junction box I installed.

TIP...when you get to wiring it up, take your time and lay out the harnesses and really think is this where I want it to go? I did a pretty darn good job on mine but there are a couple things I would have tidy’d up a bit if given the second opportunity and more thought..

Good luck!
any pics of that plate you fabricated?
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top