Gauge wiring through firewall

[valleyman]

I'm installing an oil temp gauge on the A pillar. Those of you who have installed gauges in places other than the pod by the shift lever, where'd you run the sensor wiring through the firewall? Is there any place in particular where it is ridiculously easy to get one 18 gauge wire through?

[valleyman]

Never mind. I found a good spot.

[FiveO]

Care to share?

I'll be doing some wiring soon enough...

[valleyman]

[QUOTE=FiveO]Care to share?

Glad to. I drilled through the firewall on the driver's side with a regular 3/8" drill using a 1/4" bit drilling from the cabin side. An easily accessible spot is in between where the parking brake cable passes through the firewall and the port in the firewall that holds the EEC. (Sorry, I don't have a camera.) I removed the plastic trim piece beneath the steering wheel and the metal piece that is then exposed (it's held on with five 10mm sheet metal screws). When you get down on the floor under the steering wheel by the pedals you'll see the one courtesy light bulb down there that comes on when the door is open. The left-hand edge of the plastic piece that that light bulb is in leads almost directly to where you want to drill. Once you move the carpet out of the way you only have to pull back an inch or so of the insulation. Your drill bit will walk like crazy though if you don't center punch where you want to drill first. I used an el cheapo 22" Phillips screwdriver to reach in there as the punch.

[SergntMac]

Thank you, valleyman, for posting this 411.

[FiveO]

Yup...thank you!

Very good info.

[valleyman]

My pleasure. Glad I can finally offer something: I've benefitted so much around here from the knowlege of others, contributing immeasurably to how much I ENJOY this car!

[Constable]

Here's something a bit easier:

Run the wire or wires across/under the dash to the pass. side foot area. Peel back the carpeting from the top of the foot area on the pass. floor. You will see a huge rubber grommet with the interior's main harness running through it. Use a sheetrock knife or other sharp object to puncture the side of the grommet. Run the wires through this puncture and into the engine bay. They will enter the engine bay above the pass. side frame rail near the wheel well. Since your particular application calls for oil temp, run the wire foward along an A/C line and then across on the front sway bar. It will come out about 6" from the temp sender. NO DRILLING.

[jaywish]

Also there is the wire harness passthough near the top of the gas pedal. You can snake an 18g through there along with the existing bundle. No cutting.

Jay