where on my firewall?

[baxtej44]

basically I need to wire my amp.


I've got my stock battery terminals (as far as I know) and I am pretty sure I am fine on attaching my power wire to my positive terminal.

but where is a good place to go through my firewall? or is there a better alternative for wiring placement?



I have a 4g kit, if that narrows it down.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

this is where i ran mine.

see the gromet where the heater box wiring goes. under the heater box. this was a good location for me.

 

[4x4fun]

i normally used the engine harness rubber seal. cut a small hole with a razor, off the side of it and force the wire thur so it seals around the new wire

 

[baxtej44]

where is the engine harness seal and the heater box in an 88 located at?


me and my bud looked around on there, and couldn't really find much so i bought a hole saw bit for my drill. 3/8" hole cutter

 

[RangerFabWorks]

where is the engine harness seal and the heater box in an 88 located at?


me and my bud looked around on there, and couldn't really find much so i bought a hole saw bit for my drill. 3/8" hole cutter

thatll work, just get a rubber grommet for it and be done.

but i showed you where the heater box is located. 83-88 share the same body, and firewall layout. unless you have a/c, which i doubt you do, then yours should look identical to mine. maybe taking the heater box cover off will help. its only a couple of bolts and nuts.

all of which are on the engine side, i think theres one in the cab, but its very easy to find.

 

[baxtej44]

thatll work, just get a rubber grommet for it and be done.

but i showed you where the heater box is located. 83-88 share the same body, and firewall layout. unless you have a/c, which i doubt you do, then yours should look identical to mine. maybe taking the heater box cover off will help. its only a couple of bolts and nuts.

all of which are on the engine side, i think theres one in the cab, but its very easy to find.

i do have a/c. but okay i think i'll just drill my own hole, i did pick up rubber gromets when i bought the hole saw attachment.

i just have to find a good spot to drill one.... then i have to figure out a good spot to route a huge cable like that... 4g will make a huge bump in the carpet haha, but i do have floor mats... so that would cover it up i guess...

i don't really want the cable out in the open so i think i want to route it underneath the carpet.

 

[baxtej44]

Definitely. Can't even see that I am running a 4ga under mine..

Pete

oh, great. i figured you would still be able to see it under the carpet.

might i ask where you ran it under your carpet?





i also propose that question to anyone with a gen1 ranger... just in case the spot/hole/etc is unique to gen1's

 

[offroadranger]

I have wiring for my - sirius radio and antennae, amp, trans temp gauge, vhf radio, brake controller and probably something else Im forgetting under the carpet. lol. its fine. been that way for 3 years now, cant even tell its there.

I started using silicone at the firewall instead of grommets. Ive found the grommets only last about a year and start to deteriorate. Could have just been a bad batch, but silicone is working good.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

around the tranny tunnel would be the best spot. but near the door sill will be fine also.

 

[baxtej44]

around the tranny tunnel would be the best spot. but near the door sill will be fine also.

the tranny tunnel is the big hump in the middle of the cab?

sorry, i have no knowledge of anything automotive...

 

[4x4fun]

i put them some where under your steering column to the side of your petals, so it can run right down your door sill

 

[baxtej44]

got my wire through!

cut open a slit on this big gromet that when looking at it from the inside is on the really up high left...



really excited, because i figured it's practically all downhill from here...



still deciding on if i want to do a ported or sealed box though...... calls for the same cubic feet either way, so idk.


can't wait to start building my box (have to use the tools at my school shop)



one drawback... the stainless steel piece on the floor that holds the carpet down on the drivers side... like the door jam area sorta, there are three screws and i could only get the rear one out. the other two are way too hard to get out.. even with a drill or by hand.

the very front one is like crazy gunked up, and i just dunno what i'm gonna do. is my only option to maybe order a new one (i think i have seen them in LMC but idk how much they are) and drill out the screws?

 

[RangerFabWorks]

drill out the screws. then buy some self tapping screws for any hardware store, and screw them in with a drill, with a phillips head bit.

and id go ported on the box since you have a regular cab. thats just my opinion.

 

[baxtej44]

got the power hooked up to my battery and routed through my engine compartment today, also got my RCA's and my remote turn on out of the back of my headunit and routed through my dash to the floor.


I have Wed-Sun off this upcoming week for Fall Break for school, so I will hopefully be all done besides the box by next week.

My teacher needs to email me back about when I can come to the shop and work on my box. I still need to figure out if I want ported or sealed... and work out the final dimensions.

Say I measure roughly and see that I have 8 inches at the base behind my seats... should I make the box 7.5 inches (including material thickness) at the bottom just for some clearance?

also, think I should cut a square of my carpet out (on the back wall) and liquid nails a piece of mdf to the back of the wall, and then self tap screw my amp on to that instead of going through the back wall leaving holes?