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Relocating my ecu ?

Tony Tee

Tony Tee

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Relocating my ecu on my 78 dodge magnum. Yes it had the lean burn ignition system originally..but the previous owner converted it to a orange box ecu . And I don't like that it's mounted on the passenger side inner fender sorta near the big block distributor and the exhaust manifold. My question is, how close can something be from the ecu without causing problems? I heard that it's not wise to touch the ecu as it is a shock hazzard. I myself have never accidentally touched one. And could it arc to a nearby metal surface ? Thanks in advance, Tony Tee.
 
I have never seen a ECU shock you at all. I test them quite a bit also. You can mount it where ever you want if the wiring is long enough or you add some.
 
Usually try and keep it away from heat. Mine was on my inner fender right next to the headers when I bought the car and I moved it to the firewall under the lip and above the heater box bolts to keep it away from the exhaust heat and baking it to death.
 
HALIFAXHOPS said:
I have never seen a ECU shock you at all. I test them quite a bit also. You can mount it where ever you want if the wiring is long enough or you add some.
Click to expand...
I just Googled the shock hazzard question, and a post from dodge charger.Com website came up, and it indicated that touching the transistor on the ecu can shock you while the car is running. So, im not going to try it ! I've been shocked from a spark plug wire before! That was not fun at all. anybody here get shocked from a ecu?
 
New one on me. Next time I test one I wll stick a meter on it and see if there is anything, should not be though, its grounded.
 
I have seen several cars with the ECU mounted inside the passenger compartment under the dash to really keep it away from engine heat
 
HALIFAXHOPS said:
New one on me. Next time I test one I wll stick a meter on it and see if there is anything, should not be though, its


I heard about the shock Hazzard a long time ago. Anyway, I think I will be moving the ecu farther away from the heat, towards the front, on the passenger inner fender where there's incoming fresh air from the grill, and there's already enough wire length to do so.
Click to expand...
 
You will have more of a burn hazzard than a electrical hazzard. The transistor can get hot during operation. The shock hazzard would be no greater than touching the battery post.
jus sayin...
 
It is a 12v system, so there is ONLY 12v going thru the transistor. The size of the transistor is due to the current, therefore, it only gets hot during operation. A dry finger touch has approximately 40K ohm to 1M ohm resistance while the circuit resistance is a lot lower. This has the equivalency of touching a multimeter (10K ohm to 20K ohm impedance) to a circuit with very minimal circuit change (LOW current draw), and the finger touch impedance is 4x or more higher, so you will NOT get shocked. On the other hand, grab the HT coil wire if you want to curl your hair...
 
Last edited:
If your getting shocked by it I would say it is broken!
And even so 12v is nothing try double or triple!
Hell 110 in your house is worse

I would get it away from exhaust where a rubber glove if your scarred if it !


I'm used to getting shocked at a job I had the new guy got his *** shocked they brought in a jeep with these ripped up seats rand a spark plug wire around to seat told new guy truck had misfire go drive it
Well everytime that spark hit you would jump!
Do I parked it next to the office door wrapped the lead to the door handle and let it sit there running at 2000 rpms never seen the boss so mad !
Or we would play hot potato with a cap from a points distributor!!!!

Ahhh good time s
 
I made a bracket that bolts to the rear of the valley pan under the air cleaner because I don’t want to see it.
AE532FE2-9579-48CE-A570-9A3FC704972C.png
 
Wow learned something new today! Never had it happen though.
 
Here’s some better photos. Really a simple thing to make.
F11F31B4-8F6D-4E05-B8C0-ACEA1C01CA33.jpeg
CFA5F15C-E2F9-4E08-8569-7A40F14C09F4.jpeg
 
IMG_4422.JPG
Behind the manifold! Brackets are on ebay and other sites 6pack lid.jpg
 
Tony Tee said:
Relocating my ecu on my 78 dodge magnum. Yes it had the lean burn ignition system originally..but the previous owner converted it to a orange box ecu . And I don't like that it's mounted on the passenger side inner fender sorta near the big block distributor and the exhaust manifold. My question is, how close can something be from the ecu without causing problems? I heard that it's not wise to touch the ecu as it is a shock hazzard. I myself have never accidentally touched one. And could it arc to a nearby metal surface ? Thanks in advance, Tony Tee.
Click to expand...
I mounted mine low on the radiator support pass side.... 68 Charger.
 
Best hiding spot I've seen yet for an MSD system.... on the Dart I just bought.
1969dartswingercleanup 086.JPG
 
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