Batboard

Hey, got a '94 explorer and about to install a 110 remote spectra.
any advice on routing power wires, etc... getting through the firewall is my biggest concern. I'm also curious if there is a good underhood power bus to buy. Do they still make those oddball battery terminals with power connections for stuff?? What about a small explorer-specific console?
Links most appreciated!!!
thanks!

For power, use #8. Connect at the starter solenoid rather than the battery. Any stereo shop will have a good fuseholer and wafer fuse (50A).
As for the hole, right side- there's all kind of room.
Route down the right side rocker moulding track to the rear.

Hey Jim,

I have the factory power cable, about 15 feet. I assume it will be enough... you say 'plenty of room' on the right... is that room I need to make or something there I can use??
I've always punched grommets and such, never drilled a firewall... what's the bad things about it?
thanks!

What you're doing sounds alright. The HVAC system, as I remember, has a grommet on the right side. The factory radio harness will be okay- it DID come with the radio.

Ok, I'll dig around in there and figure it out.
thanks for the help!

Hey Woody, I got your email I just haven't had a chance to respond. As for consoles I am using a Troy C-06 console with a standard explorer floor mount. If you take out the center console but leave the armrest it fit's perfectly. On the power wiring/routing (btw, I have a 4 door) I ran the wiring underneath in split loom all the way on the passenger side and up right behind the back seat where my radio is mounted. There are some rubber grommets that you can pull up to bring the wiring in without drilling holes, also this area has lots of room for grounding. I ran my control cables underneath the trim on the passenger side (undo the screws and pull it up) and pulled it underneath the passenger seat into the console. If I can get a chance I'll take some pics and post them. Any other questions just ask.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I pulled my ignition sense off the cigarette lighter and used a switch, I like being able to use the radio when I want...)

Hey appreciate that if you can shoot over the pix.
I'm curious that the cable seems too big to fit under the strip trim. As for the console, do u have a website or other brands you considered?
thanks!

I recently installed a Syntor X9000 in a '94 Explorer. The cables fit nicely under the lower door frame trim, which is where some of the factory wiring is located. For a power tap, there is a heavy terminal on the front of the fuse panel on the right side of the engine compartment that is connected directly to the battery. For the actual location of the radio, I cheated a little . I removed the "pocket" in the right-side trim at the back of the cargo area and was able to get (barely!) enough room for the drawer and siren PA. The hole left in the trim panel was filled with the speaker grill from an Explorer with a JBL Premium Sound System (the subwofer for those were mounted in that location). I will try to post some pictures of my install at a later date.

Hey, forgot all about that post... hehe...
Yeah, the thing went in slick as a whistle, didn't take much loose at all. The front antenna install behind the sunroof was a no-brainer but the rear VHF ended up taking some time trying to pilfer the coax from the rear pillar (which wasn't easily loosed from the floor/wall) to where I just drilled a 0.5" hole below the seatbelt exit in the plastic panel, and mounted the radio to the "flap-cover" that covers the seatback when folded down. Now when I fold the seat, the radio folds with it out of the way and when folded up, the cables all slide in and the plugs hit right in the 0.5" hole for a slick/clean setup.
Juice was tapped from the hot side of the starter solenoid (NOT using ign. sense feature for fear of spikes) and grounded under the back seat at the seatbelt bolt. I'm a happy hi-wattage camper.

Woody,

Hey, now that you got the radio installed - you gonna take that thing off of the seement blocks in your front yard?

Just checkin'.........


Hehehehehe


Jack

Damn... NOW I get it... thanks... I've had the tranny out 3 times trying to figure out why it won't go...

Hadn't talked to you in a while - so I thought I'd yank your crank a little......

I'm looking for a D44 if you run across one. Dash or remote, don't care.


Jack

hehe... yeah, I got a kick outta that... go to rec.radio.swap newsgroup.. for search it on google groups. I think I saw a guy peddling dashmount 50w UHF Spectras for less than $200
I'll check my mailers in case it was in one of those.
I've been really tied up tracking my favorite felon and haven't been paying attention like I usually do...

Yeah - :o aint it. I know what would have happened to the guy in the old days. And a good old fashioned GI party today wouldn't hurt any......

Good luck. It's hard to get justice out of the legal system....



Jack