I was thinking of using relays and pulling power from the radio ign and illumination unless you guys know of a better place. If i were to run relays would I just pull power from the battery for the switch side of the relay or is there aux power from a fuse box somewhere? I dont like the idea of running extra power wires throug the firewall.

 

Fuse block has two empty slots. One has switched 12v. You can use a male spade connector to fit in there. Or you can pick up an "add a circiut" from the autoparts store. Its basically a spade connector that you insert into a fuse slot, that you took the fuse out then put that fuse into the holder, and then connect your power qqire for whatever to the end of it.

 

Nice, what about the illumination?

 

I spliced the the light that goes into the ash tray. Works like a charm plus, when I turn on the lights the gauge will then light up. Unlike many FD's I've seen.

 

Pat, you done seen some ghetto FDs lol

But yea, these 2 guys are right on the money.

 

The ash tray light is easy to access, also. Just unscrew the shift **** and pull everything up. Easy to work with.

 

Ramy, I'm fixing up a gehetto FD now. The previous owner probably still uses crayons. I found four sets of RCA cables running to the back of the car. Several power wires going to god knows what. He used speaker wire to wire everything plus ground. Two different car alarms; both not working mind you. He had the spliced the factory speaker wire in the rear, but had it runnig toward the front. The jackass also tried to relo the batt to the bins, but when I went to redo everything I found that he drilled about 10 f'n holes in the bin. I'm going to have to get them welded by Mitch.

Also, you should have seen under the dash!!! OMG I had a field day removing wires. All in all it's starting to look like a great track beast! Also, the single turbo install is going well...

 

Pat that sounds jacked up!

 

Unless your gauges will draw big current for some reason, forget the relays and just tap the ashtray light wire. You can ground anywhere.

 

For lighting that's fine. Some gauges are electric and require power just to function and that means you'll have to draw power from somewhere else, otherwise the gauge would only work when the lights are on.

 

DamonB very true didn't think of that. I guess I use the cheap gauges that don't require power

 

You're right - I assumed he just needed to light them up.

 

they are electronic oil and water temp gauges from autometer, I'll be using both ign and lighting. I don't seem to have a fuse cover, so I don't know which fuse slot is switched.

 

Yea I cant stand some of the things I've seen, I hate even wiring into the fuse box for the switched circuit but its still cleaner than other options and low risk compared to actually jumping into the main harness.

I have my guage pod mounted in the center speaker location and I ran the power wire under the steering column along the trim inside and have it come out from behind the fuse box, took a bit of monkey-handing but it was worth it. For ground I twisted the wires together and a ground not using one of the dash bolts for now -- I'm going to redo this and splice into the stereo ground when I have time. The illumination I used the illumination wire for my headunit as well which worked well enough.


Just after installation, still had my headunit wiring exposed...

~Kris