Where to route through bulkhead?

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 26 Aug 2007, 17:29

I would be most grateful if anyone could provide me with suggestions for routing. I've had a cursory glance around the car and without actually removing or dismantling parts I can't see anywhere I can run the following items;

1. Turbo boost gauge tubing.
2. High current wiring
3. N2O tubing

For #1, I'd like the shortest possible route. The tubing will be attached to the small pipe that operated the fuel pump diaphragm - unless there is a better place to plumb into? I don't know where to mount the gauge either - was thinking of modding the ashtray or an air vent

For #2, I intend to re-wire the horns - don't ask! - and will also be needing to route the wiring for the N2O. Would prefer a neat as job as possible while the length of run isn't important.

For #3, this is heat critical, the cooler (relatively) the better. The tubing will run through the bulkhead into the engine bay and on to the soleniod, which should be mounted somewhere relatively cool and solid like the inner bodywork. Additionally, the tubing from this solenoid is ideally as short as possible which is plumbed into the air intake, anywhere from from the intercooler to the inlet manifold.

All suggestions and comments most welcome, thank you.

Stempy · Post by **Stempy** » 26 Aug 2007, 17:39

Don't want to be a stick in the mud, but when I had the dash out to do the matrix I looked for a route through and found it to be a total firewall, no way to the engine bay without drilling. I just about managed to pull through the thinnest of thin wires through an existing loom route.

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 26 Aug 2007, 18:03

For the boost gauge on mine I filed a hole on where the throttle cable passes through the bulkhead. I made a file hole at the lower part of it large enough to pass the tube through. I made sure that the tubeing was wrapped in tape and then cut up a small section of houshold flex to wrap it in to protect it from chafing. A small amount of cutting the rubber fitting of the throttle cable gromit where it passes through the bulkhead. Looks a neat and tidy job if I do say so myself

All the best - Craig.

mpr1956 · Post by **mpr1956** » 26 Aug 2007, 23:55

Hi Mike, the Xant bulkhead is indeed almost impregnable.. I managed eventually to get a high current wire through the rubber grommet that seals the bonnet cable as it passes through the firewall. This was eventually achieved peering under the drivers footwell and poking the wire through using a shaped length of wire coathanger - (how I ever walked upright again after that little game I don't know ) Good luck anyway, Martin

mpr1956 · Post by **mpr1956** » 26 Aug 2007, 23:55

Hi Mike, the Xant bulkhead is indeed almost impregnable.. I managed eventually to get a high current wire through the rubber grommet that seals the bonnet cable as it passes through the firewall. This was eventually achieved peering under the drivers footwell and poking the wire through using a shaped length of wire coathanger - (how I ever walked upright again after that little game I don't know ) Good luck anyway, Martin

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 27 Aug 2007, 00:10

Yep. the only way through the bulkhead is the bonnet release cable
- I'll second (or third) that!!

Don't do what I did a short while ago a totally kill the heater matrix pipe
mounting on the bulkhead above the bonnet release cable's entry into the
engine bay. I leaned the pipes to one side off a U clip mounting and the
rather brittle plastic collar sheared just below its bent mounting bracket
making removal and subsequent repair very 'challenging'.

All this to feed a new +ve wire direct from the battery. In the end I forced
a wire through the big door pillar grommet sharing the loom to the door
and then ran it up into the engine bay that way. What a struggle that was!!

Andrew

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 27 Aug 2007, 13:41

I didn't expect it to be THAT problematic! But I appreciate the advice and suggestions all the same, thank you.

Criag; Best of british luck on the MOT!

weety · Post by **weety** » 27 Aug 2007, 17:34

its a bit of a bodge but you can get wiring through the air intake for the internal fan (which at least gets it past the bulkhead)..... on my car the flap controlling internal/external air is jammed solid anyway so i just dropped wires down through there and then out through some of the plastic tubing

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 27 Aug 2007, 19:39

Sturdybloke wrote:For the boost gauge on mine...

Where did you plumb into the boost pressure? I was originally thinking of the small pipe that operates the fuel pump. Is there a better place for accuracy or ease of fit? If I'm to fit N2O I'm wondering if the additional pressure will affect the boost reading directly.

And how/where did you mount the gauge?

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 27 Aug 2007, 19:40

weety wrote:its a bit of a bodge but you can get wiring through the air intake for the internal fan

I have that possibility in mind already. Thanks for letting me know you had success with it!

Sturdybloke · Post by **Sturdybloke** » 28 Aug 2007, 16:25

MikeT wrote:Where did you plumb into the boost pressure?

I tapped into the small rubber pipe that goes fron the plastic turbo pipe to the top of the injection pump. Split it into two and put the T piece connector between them.

MikeT wrote:And how/where did you mount the gauge?

Here -

This is the best place I thought. I was talking to someone on here before and they thought about taking the dash binnacle apart and putting it into the blank circle on the right (where the oil temp gauge is on a VSX/Activa) but I think most gauges are a little big for this, shame because it was a good idea. Not too keen on cutting up the PCB board though.

The entire centre of the dash has to come apart (and the airbag & colum surround). And then once you have the grey plastic moulding off (8 or 9 rivets + a couple of nuts and bolts) you have to cut a section of the dash to get the back of the gauge physically into the dash. Dont worry though the plastic that you cut up is not needed its just left on from the casting process of when it was new. I would go for the TIM type ones as the would blend in with the dash better than mine (TBH I think that its a bit chavvy, but its all the store had at the time

) but it can change colour (if you like that sort of thing

)

The TIM one -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TIM-BOOST-GAU ... dZViewItem

All the best - Craig.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 28 Aug 2007, 16:34

Could you mount it in the panel just the other side of the column, just under the rear electric window cutout and alarm sensor cutout switches?
You an just pull it off if you don't mind breaking it's mounts, and then pop it back in (it's still held securely).

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 29 Aug 2007, 17:42

Sturdybloke wrote: I was talking to someone on here before and they thought about taking the dash binnacle apart and putting it into the blank circle on the right

That's where I thought it may go and what a perfect place! But I bought a TIM gauge and it is, as you say, too big for that hole - pity. I eventually took the gauge back for a refund as I couldn't understand why it needed so many wires and neither could the shop assistant. Also, the wires were far too short and even the tubing wasn't that long - if it's to be neatly routed - I'm tight like that

Thanks for the info Craig, saves me a lot of head-scratching and brain-ache though I think the place you have yours is out of direct eye-sight?

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 29 Aug 2007, 17:46

Xac wrote:Could you mount it in the panel just the other side of the column, just under the rear electric window cutout and alarm sensor cutout switches?
You an just pull it off if you don't mind breaking it's mounts, and then pop it back in (it's still held securely).

That seems a good place xac, it's nice and close the fuesbox too! I just need to know if there's adequate space behind it and easy access to route the tube through to the bulhead as I understand there's a highly-populated whole new world behind these facias!

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 29 Aug 2007, 17:57

I'll take a photo and post it up later