Author Topic: POWER DISTRIBUTION WIRING CONVERSION (w/pics)  (Read 2093 times)

Offline dpcd67

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POWER DISTRIBUTION WIRING CONVERSION (w/pics)
« on: August 22, 2014 - 06:40:16 PM »
First off, I want to say that I didn't invent this method; it was developed by the guy who runs Mad Enterprises/Electrical, Mr Hamilton. I just thought it was a good idea and I did the conversion on my 73 340 Barracuda.
CONCLUSION:  it works, it makes your 40 year old wiring work like new and will keep your car from burning up, either all at once, or a little at a time, at the wiring connections. I will be brief as his web site already tells you how to do it; here is a little real world story.
My wiring was in "good" shape but the center big, black wire connection was melted a bit and was dark at the firewall connector.  You can look at your manual wiring diagram to see which ones I am referring to.  That wire would get very hot, and I knew I had to address that, so why not convert the whole thing whilst I am at it? 
PARTS NEEDED: 3 feet of 10 ga red wire, 11 feet of black 10 ga wire, some tinned copper, solder type connections (Mad says not to use cheap crimp on connectors for this and I concur and you can get them from him as you will not find them in any modern auto parts store),  I got them from an "old school" electrical auto shop. Rosin core solder, shrink tubing, a 14 and 16 ga fusible link. 
TOOLS: Drill with #3 bit or so, I used a small butane torch to solder, crimp tool. 
GOAL: to remove all the knife male/female connectors from the charging and power feed system on your car; You do this by hard wiring it all around the starter relay and taking the ammeter out of the system.
SEQUENCE: First, I used 8 feet of black 10 ga wire and wired my alternator to the starter relay, around the front of the radiator.  Secondly, the black and red main wires will now be hard wired through the firewall and will be soldered inside the cabin; no more quick disconnects. Drill out the plastic connectors, male and female, so the wires can run smoothly through them; run those wires from the firewall to the starter relay and connect with 16 ga fusible links; I used one for each.  Wire the black and red wire at the ammeter together; Mad recommends soldered connection but you can just bolt them together if you want to.
Wrap the wiring harness up with your new black and red wires if you want to; makes it neater. I left the one around the front of the radiator support bare for now but it will be better wrapped or tubed.
You are done.
RESULTS: cooler wires, more constant power from the alternator to the system, and most of all, peace of mind that my car is not going to burst into flames, at least not from bad wiring.
Here are some pics along the way;

« Last Edit: August 23, 2014 - 11:52:00 AM by dpcd67 »
1963 Dodge M37 (3)
1967 Dodge WM300 (2)
1971 Plymouth Duster
Bought new in '71; I wanted the Challenger but they were $2850; too much $ so I got the 318, 3 speed on the floor, Twister Duster for $2100.
1973 Plymouth Barracuda
I ain't done yet.




Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: IMPLEMENTED "MAD" CONVERSION TODAY (w/pics)
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2014 - 06:49:47 PM »
I did this years ago after burning/arcing the bulkhead connectors. It all looks factory from the engine compartment side. Usually always goes out when the headlights were on. Always a good thing to fix it during daylight hours, before it happens.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline johns cuda shop

  • 71 Cuda Pro-Touring Build
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Re: IMPLEMENTED "MAD" CONVERSION TODAY (w/pics)
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2014 - 07:33:56 PM »
Anything you can do to get away from the bulkhead connector is good. A maxi fuse might be safer than a fusible link. :2cents:
71 Cuda Gen III Aluminum 426 Hemi T56 6 speed 4.10 8.75 Modified & Lowered RMS coilover suspension Wilwood discs

Offline dpcd67

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Re: IMPLEMENTED "MAD" CONVERSION TODAY (w/pics)
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2014 - 07:40:47 PM »
I did it IAW with the MAD directions using fusible links; do not know what a maxi fuse is.
1963 Dodge M37 (3)
1967 Dodge WM300 (2)
1971 Plymouth Duster
Bought new in '71; I wanted the Challenger but they were $2850; too much $ so I got the 318, 3 speed on the floor, Twister Duster for $2100.
1973 Plymouth Barracuda
I ain't done yet.