55.2-59 clean electronics install? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

56 3100 · 11-24-2022, 04:25 PM

looking to install MSD ignition box and electric fan controller soon . want to be as cleanan install as possible (under dash drop down panel?) what have others done? thanks

mr48chev · 11-24-2022, 04:51 PM

I've never had the need for an MSD setup but would think that unless you have to have airflow over it to cool it under the dash would work.

**Dan in Pasadena** · 11-25-2022, 01:19 AM

I didn't do it but I once saw a guy who had put his fuse panel on a small aluminum "board" he then mounted on full extension drawer slides under the driver seat with a small magnetic latch to secure it. I thought it was ingenious. I wish I'd taken a picture of it.

leegreen · 11-25-2022, 01:53 AM

I did something similar, a panel with the guts of the wiring slides up into the dash. held up with a couple spring clips
Name: panel.jpg
Views: 230
Size: 55.8 KB

Name: panel.jpg
Views: 230
Size: 55.8 KB

Be nice if it was a little larger to allow more room to lay out the wiring neater, but if I made it any bigger it would not have fit where I wanted it, which is on the dash side of the cowl vent to avoid any prolonged drips. As it is I can cut a few zip ties and get at every wire and every wire is labelled.

Putting a panel at the back of the cab where the factory tank used to live is tempting, but you are going to have a lot of wires running back and forth to the dash.

Making it slide is a bit of a pain, there is about a 1 inch bundle of wires in a service loop to allow that.
Hinged open would be easier to wire and for future access if you can find a place to do it.

56 3100 - rad fan circuit for me lives mainly on the firewall and fan shroud. A circuit breaker near battery, relay near fans, relay trigger gets power from ignition and starts the fans when the thermal switch in block goes to ground completing the trigger circuit.

jwhotrod · 11-25-2022, 12:09 PM

do what you want. but whatever you do make sure it wont get wet. MSD boxes are NOT waterproof and will fail if they get wet. Or short out and put 50K voltage back into your wiring harness, it happened to me.

56 3100 · 11-25-2022, 01:35 PM

think i will redo fuse box mounting panel and add room for MSD box as well.

56 3100 · 12-02-2022, 04:52 PM

i think i am on the right track.i had a bracket made for under dash to mount fusebox,MSD box and mercedes fan controller.
test fit:

mounted in vise :

56 3100 · 12-02-2022, 04:52 PM

i think i am on the right track.i had a bracket made for under dash to mount fusebox,MSD box and mercedes fan controller.
test fit:

mounted in vise :

11-24-2022, 04:25 PM	#1
56 3100 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: dartmouth,nova scotia,canada Posts: 332	clean electronics install? looking to install MSD ignition box and electric fan controller soon . want to be as cleanan install as possible (under dash drop down panel?) what have others done? thanks

11-24-2022, 04:51 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,268	Re: clean electronics install? I've never had the need for an MSD setup but would think that unless you have to have airflow over it to cool it under the dash would work. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

11-25-2022, 01:19 AM	#3
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,331	Re: clean electronics install? I didn't do it but I once saw a guy who had put his fuse panel on a small aluminum "board" he then mounted on full extension drawer slides under the driver seat with a small magnetic latch to secure it. I thought it was ingenious. I wish I'd taken a picture of it. __________________ '55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda!

11-25-2022, 01:53 AM	#4
leegreen Registered User Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 681	Re: clean electronics install? I did something similar, a panel with the guts of the wiring slides up into the dash. held up with a couple spring clips Be nice if it was a little larger to allow more room to lay out the wiring neater, but if I made it any bigger it would not have fit where I wanted it, which is on the dash side of the cowl vent to avoid any prolonged drips. As it is I can cut a few zip ties and get at every wire and every wire is labelled. Putting a panel at the back of the cab where the factory tank used to live is tempting, but you are going to have a lot of wires running back and forth to the dash. Making it slide is a bit of a pain, there is about a 1 inch bundle of wires in a service loop to allow that. Hinged open would be easier to wire and for future access if you can find a place to do it. 56 3100 - rad fan circuit for me lives mainly on the firewall and fan shroud. A circuit breaker near battery, relay near fans, relay trigger gets power from ignition and starts the fans when the thermal switch in block goes to ground completing the trigger circuit.

11-25-2022, 12:09 PM	#5
jwhotrod Registered User Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: DeKalb, IL Posts: 153	Re: clean electronics install? do what you want. but whatever you do make sure it wont get wet. MSD boxes are NOT waterproof and will fail if they get wet. Or short out and put 50K voltage back into your wiring harness, it happened to me.

11-25-2022, 01:35 PM	#6
56 3100 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: dartmouth,nova scotia,canada Posts: 332	Re: clean electronics install? think i will redo fuse box mounting panel and add room for MSD box as well.

12-02-2022, 04:52 PM	#7
56 3100 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: dartmouth,nova scotia,canada Posts: 332	Re: clean electronics install? i think i am on the right track.i had a bracket made for under dash to mount fusebox,MSD box and mercedes fan controller. test fit: mounted in vise :



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.