Where to pass battery cable through firewall, 4 speed car.

[DionR]

Working on relocating my battery to the trunk. Wiring and such aren't an issue, nor gauge. What I am struggling with is how to get the heavy battery cable thought the firewall. I see lots of people use the clutch rod hole, but with a 4 speed, that isn't an option.

Need some ideas on how and where to do this. Thought about one of those insulated lugs, but not even sure where to put it.

Any ideas or experience? Pictures would be great, too.

 

[ScampMike]

typically you run that wire out the trunk and along a frame rail - not a wire that you really want inside the passenger compartment.

 

[340doc]

^^^^ Agree

 

[DionR]

Thanks, but not the info I was looking for.

 

[crackedback]

You can use one of these.

Stud Type Junction Block - Feed-Through Panel Mount - 3/8&#34 Stud

I run my starter cable inside all my cars, never under the car. BUT, my starter cable is hot only when the car is being started...

 

[DionR]

You can use one of these.

Stud Type Junction Block - Feed-Through Panel Mount - 3/8&#34 Stud

Yep, thought about those. There are one or two similar ones (one that is supposed to be watertight, too), that I have found that people have used. Been surfing Google for a while now looking for ideas before I posted here.

Where to put it, though? That's what I'm curious to see.

I run my starter cable inside all my cars, never under the car. BUT, my starter cable is hot only when the car is being started...

Right now mine will be hot, but that might change if my remote disconnect won't handle the load of the starter. I'm only doing this so I can put in the disconnect and use a Viper alarm to cut power to the car beyond the trunk at the same time I arm the alarm, not so I can put in an NHRA legal cutoff or something. If the disconnect wont handle it, then I will go to the Ford starter similar to your setup and run another line to the front to power the car.

In regards to being hot at all times, not sure why it matters if a 8 ga wire or a large starter wire is hot. If you cut the 8 ga wire you still have full battery power running into whatever you cut it with. I know the 8 ga wire has about a third of the amp capacity of a 1/0 gauge wire, but I suspect that just means the 8 ga wire will catch on fire at the same time it makes a big spark, while the 1/0 ga wire will just spark.

 

[72bluNblu]

I ran my battery cable from the trunk and inside the car along the rocker, where the original wiring harness is run and protected with the factory shielding. I just drilled a hole in the floorboard near where the rocker terminates and used a grommet to seal it up. I think I have a few pictures I can post when I get back to my computer. It took a little planning because the 1 gauge I used doesn't make bends very well and you have to make sure the nine of the pedals will hit it.

As far as inside vs outside, it doesn't matter at all. The cable is more likely to be damaged under the car. And if the cable gets damaged and grounds to a frame rail the carpet on the inside will catch on fire anyway. If the original wiring survived on the rocker with the factory covers, so will a 1 gauge battery cable.

 

[DionR]

I ran my battery cable from the trunk and inside the car along the rocker, where the original wiring harness is run and protected with the factory shielding. I just drilled a hole in the floorboard near where the rocker terminates and used a grommet to seal it up. I think I have a few pictures I can post when I get back to my computer. It took a little planning because the 1 gauge I used doesn't make bends very well and you have to make sure the nine of the pedals will hit it.

Thanks!

I went with welding cable from the same place rapom65 got his (TEMCo), so hopefully it is easy to mold.

 

[67Dart273]

I see no reason to run the cable under the car. Brake tubes, fuel line, hot exhaust, road debri.........much safer I think........up inside the rocker panel

 

[AJ/FormS]

I ran mine like Blu, up the passenger side. Right where it came thru is where I put my start relay, down on the frame. It's hard to see down there, so I figured harder to hotwire in the dark.But when parking overnight in a strange place, I still disco the battery(in the trunk), and pull the coil wire. Since the coil is mounted to the apron,a thief would also need a 2ft coil wire. Then I leave the doors unlocked, so I don't have to deal with broken glass. After 16 years, the car has never been stolen. They would have to tow it.
One time 600 miles from home, I also took the rotor out,while I slept soundly in the Hotel.

 

[68cuda408]

all LX(trunk mount) cars and a lot of gm suv's with the battery behind the passenger front seat in a floor well (enclave,traverse etc.) are run inside. I'm converting mine to a floor or foot park brake so I used the park brake cable hole with a weatherproof bulkhead stud and ran the efi harness through the clutch hole. the pos cable runs through the factory wire channel with pos on driver side and neg on pass side and through the antenna cable hole (no connector)to the frame and block

 

[72bluNblu]

Ok, finally got a picture of where mine is routed, thought I had one but I guess not. Yeah, I know, it looks a little goofy. But if you run it straight up the rocker and straight out it exits into the wheel well, and if you run it higher up the firewall you still have to take it all the way back down to the starter. Routed like this it misses where the pedals hit the floor, is behind the pedals so it won't get stepped on, and exits the firewall very close to the starter. I'm sure there are better ways to accomplish it, I wanted to run it higher up the firewall on the inside, then over to the steering column and back down so it didn't transverse the floor that low, but I didn't have enough cable with my kit from Summit. And actually you'd have to go up pretty high to miss all the pedal interference. A few extra feet of cable would have made it easier.

 

[DionR]

I ran mine like Blu, up the passenger side. Right where it came thru is where I put my start relay, down on the frame. It's hard to see down there, so I figured harder to hotwire in the dark.But when parking overnight in a strange place, I still disco the battery(in the trunk), and pull the coil wire. Since the coil is mounted to the apron,a thief would also need a 2ft coil wire. Then I leave the doors unlocked, so I don't have to deal with broken glass. After 16 years, the car has never been stolen. They would have to tow it.
One time 600 miles from home, I also took the rotor out,while I slept soundly in the Hotel.

Thanks!

all LX(trunk mount) cars and a lot of gm suv's with the battery behind the passenger front seat in a floor well (enclave,traverse etc.) are run inside. I'm converting mine to a floor or foot park brake so I used the park brake cable hole with a weatherproof bulkhead stud and ran the efi harness through the clutch hole. the pos cable runs through the factory wire channel with pos on driver side and neg on pass side and through the antenna cable hole (no connector)to the frame and blockView attachment 1714932018 View attachment 1714932019 View attachment 1714932018 View attachment 1714932019 View attachment 1714932020 View attachment 1714932021

Thanks! I don't plan to remove my e-brake, but I will have to look in that area.

Ok, finally got a picture of where mine is routed, thought I had one but I guess not. Yeah, I know, it looks a little goofy. But if you run it straight up the rocker and straight out it exits into the wheel well, and if you run it higher up the firewall you still have to take it all the way back down to the starter. Routed like this it misses where the pedals hit the floor, is behind the pedals so it won't get stepped on, and exits the firewall very close to the starter. I'm sure there are better ways to accomplish it, I wanted to run it higher up the firewall on the inside, then over to the steering column and back down so it didn't transverse the floor that low, but I didn't have enough cable with my kit from Summit. And actually you'd have to go up pretty high to miss all the pedal interference. A few extra feet of cable would have made it easier.

View attachment 1714932113

Thanks, that helps.

 

[AJ/FormS]

After I went through the passenger side firewall to the relay; I ran the original slanty cable up over the bellhouse, and down to the starter.That slanty cable was pretty long.

I guess there's lots of ways to skin that cat!, eh

 

[67Dart273]

Ok, finally got a picture of where mine is routed,

View attachment 1714932113

Mine is in this neighborhood except I used a feedthrough stud. Bought it from a marine supplier "Blue Sea" I think mine is right up against the edge of the clutch rod hole, itself being used for the Holley EFI cable.

I don't remember think it's a 5/16" stud

 

[72bluNblu]

That looks like a nice solution there! Get rid of that awkward bend in the cable as it goes through the floor. Of course it's another connection and it would need some kind of insulating cover or boot on the floor side. But I think that would be a better deal than what I did in the long run.

 

[DionR]

Ok, finally got a picture of where mine is routed, thought I had one but I guess not. Yeah, I know, it looks a little goofy. But if you run it straight up the rocker and straight out it exits into the wheel well, and if you run it higher up the firewall you still have to take it all the way back down to the starter. Routed like this it misses where the pedals hit the floor, is behind the pedals so it won't get stepped on, and exits the firewall very close to the starter. I'm sure there are better ways to accomplish it, I wanted to run it higher up the firewall on the inside, then over to the steering column and back down so it didn't transverse the floor that low, but I didn't have enough cable with my kit from Summit. And actually you'd have to go up pretty high to miss all the pedal interference. A few extra feet of cable would have made it easier.

View attachment 1714932113

I know it's been a good while since I asked this question, but thought I would update it since I finally got it installed just in case anyone cares. Yeah, I know I am slow.

I ended up drilling a hole a little to the right of where you did Blu:

On my car, there is a spot there that is angled to the rest of the floor that kept the bend smaller and it is just about pointed right at the starter lug.

It's well protected from the gas pedal and I ran the cable higher on the firewall so it wouldn't be under my feet. Seemed to work well. I will inspect the whole cable regularly just to avoid issues and see how it holds up over time.