help with hiding electric system under hood

[Camaro_Dan]

as it says in the topic, I need Ideas and prefferably pictures of the nice work you guys have done hiding your electrical systems under your hoods! I don't want wires all over the place but how can I not have that with the need of relays and stuff for horn, electric fan, blowermotor, etc.

pictures plz

thanks!

[Travis B]

As far as the fan and other electrical items that are close to the engine or have minimal wires we run them through brake line and polish the line...again I don't reccomend this for evey wire but the ones that cannot be hidden this always looks better!

[parsonsj]

No need to hide it. I like the look of well engineered wiring. Just route it in a pleasing fashion. Use mesh or plastic wrap and avoid the spaghetti look.

jp

[astroracer]

I use Radio Shack "Project Boxes"
http://www.radioshack.com/search.as...=24&image1.y=36
to hide relays and fuse holders. They are VERY inexpensive. I will usually paint the box (or boxes) to match the theme of the vehicle and run the wires in and out through the bottom or back whenever possible to keep them out of site. Really cleans things up and the aluminum covers can be polished or painted to suite the look you want.
If you want to hide the wiring you can run it up inside the fenders. This will require rewiring a large part of the harness but the headlight and horn harnesses can usually be re-routed without to much of a tear-up...
Mark

[LowBuckX]

The Project boxes are an awsome idea.

[yody]

I like to use all GXL wire from Terminal supply, the stuff is really nice, I hate working with stuff like kragen wire. The nicest way to make the wires look good is to leave them bare and just use a series of small zip ties to keep them in a bundle, but be sure to make the wires straight so they don't twist up inside. If you use electrical tape in the harnesses, don't use the sticky stuff, you can get the original tape that only sticks to itself. What I do is wrap the harness in the non stick electrical tape, when I am done wrapping it I use one small piece of electrical tape to secure it at the end so it doesn't unravel(spelling?)

You can run your main harness wires between the inner fender and fender so it is out of site, That is what I did along with the hydroboost hoses. If you think it is going to rub somewhere put a big piece of shrink tubing over the harness where you think it will rub. Also when using convoluted tubing or electrical tape, cut it short before the connection, leave bare wire(as in non covered, not bare copper!!!) about 3-4 inches before where you connect it, like a sending unit or so. And give the wire an nice curvy bend or something.
You can make a board to mount all of your relays and such and hide it somewhere, where you can still access it.

Here are some pics of mine, on my circuit board(or whatever you call it) it got too crammed and there are some some wires I can run in series instead and clean up the clutter, I need to go through it again, it isn't exaclty how I wanted.


Right in the middle near the hood latch support, the wire harness was rubbing so I put a big piece of shrink tube, not sure if you can see it in the picture, the wire hold downs are from orchard and are real cheap

You can see how i routed my wires (or how I will) behind the inner fender, the zip tie job is pretty bad, needs to be cut and redone, they are all over the place!!

I did kind of what was mentioned earlier I used 3/8" fuel line to put my 8 guage alternator cable in and painted it black;

Just remember, zip ties are your friend!
and sorry for all the "look at me" pictures!!!!!

[Camaro_Dan]

GREAT Yody! That's what I was looking for! And I personaly love the pictures, and your car :D big fan! I might even put a cover on the circuit board and paint it black so you can't see it as easy. great ideas! thanks!

[myclone]

love the pictures, and your car :D big fan

Ditto with what he said... There isnt anything on that car I dont like (ok, Id like to see it with a shaker and chin spoiler but thats splitting hairs).

FWIW, when you put wire ties/zip ties on position them so the latch end is out of sight by installing them but not cinching(sp?) them down tight so you can rotate them around so the latch is out of sight. Once theyre positioned the way you want them then tighten them up and cut the excess off. Even though it takes longer to do all that the install turns out quite a bit more appealing to the eye IMO. Oh, once youve cut the excess off go back with a pair of flush cut wire cutters or an Xacto knife and trim the sharp edge off where you cut the excess zip tie....your skin will thank you when you have to do maintenance/repairs near the zip ties.

[parsonsj]

Yody,
Nice looking wiring. That's what I was trying to say above. Don't hide the wires, engineer them and they will look great. It requires planning to get it right, and I like that better then having then all hidden away (which sucks for maintenance).

jp

[paul67]

When I ran some wires through alloy fuel line make sure the ends have a rubber gromet as the first time I had a short which set fire to the trike I built and you can not stop the short as the power travels on the alloy so you have to disconnect the battery, as the wire melted together in side the tube.
paul67

[yody]

true, the power wire i have has a really thick covering, but I did notice that. Good point

[Camaro_Dan]

Parsons - are you by any chance related to an english man named Charles Parsons who inveted the Steam Turbine engine in 1884?

[parsonsj]

Dan,
My name comes from southern England, so perhaps. My ancestors moved into the hills of western Virginia (later to be renamed West Virginia during the Civil War) sometime during the 17th century.

If he made a fortune and provided large trust funds for his whole family, then I guess not.

jp

[Camaro_Dan]

haha, maybe he did and no one has yet to claim his fortune? :D

[Rubes]

Another option for wire harnesses you cant hide, or are trying to dress nicly like Parsonsj said, is to "Lace" them with thread. This is old scool aircraft stuff I think, and looks pretty tidious. But details are what makes these projects.

here's a link for an example

[Pro-touring towncar]

I have seen one guy do a mustang with only the dual optima batteries showing. every other wire was hidden. No lighting wires no nothing. only the nessisary engine wiring was seen. But that was super clean.

Tim

[Camaro_Dan]

pictures of that mustang maybe?

[parsonsj]

Terry at Road Killer Kustoms does his wiring using black "sleeves" of material. I forget what the material was called, but he said he gets it at McMaster Carr. It's a nylon webbing type thingie that expands in diameter as it shortens. It's nice because it is lightweight, easy to use and gently holds the wires in place. Then you use Adel clamps or zip ties to position it and heat shrink tubing to terminate it. I keep meaning to call him and ask (again) about that.

jp

[Jagarang]

To expand a bit on the "Lacing" mentioned above...

http://www.infodotinc.com/neets/book4/12q.htm

[Rubes]

Terry at Road Killer Kustoms does his wiring using black "sleeves" of material. I forget what the material was called, but he said he gets it at McMaster Carr. It's a nylon webbing type thingie that expands in diameter as it shortens. It's nice because it is lightweight, easy to use and gently holds the wires in place. Then you use Adel clamps or zip ties to position it and heat shrink tubing to terminate it. I keep meaning to call him and ask (again) about that.

jp

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