This is my first time installing an amp. I am planning to do it probably tomorrow. First I am planning on running the power wire thru that groment on the passenger side door. How do you punch a hole in the groment? Also how would i go about poping the door sill off without scratching it? Another question is could i hook my amp to the power distrobution block instead of the battery? If so which terminal would be positive on the distroblock? Ok once i get the power wire thru the door sill will i have to pop a panel to the left of it off to get the power wire to the back of the truck or can i just run it under the carpet from right there. That pretty much sums up all the questions i have. I am pretty confident this will be easy. I just don't wanna scratch anything in the process.

 

I was advised by some very knowlegdable folks here to go through the firewall on the driver's side just above and to the right of the steering column. There's a lot of stuff on the passenger side that you don't want to mess with like the heater core. You can pop that grommet out with your fingers from the engine side and use a pocket kinfe to poke a hole in it. There is a foam piece that will punch out from inside the cab. Mine was like a tear drop shape? Anyway, then I ran the cable under the conduit that runs across the top of the firewall on the engine side. There were 3 or 4 screws on the bottom holding it down. I just removed them and slid the wire underneath. I ran mine to the distribution block right next to the battery. This is where someone else's advice might come in handy. That terminal block is like 12 inches from the battery and you can follow the positive lead over to it. There is a cover over it at least on mine that just pops off. Has anyone else hooked there's up like this? There may be some conjecture as to whether the wire to that junction can handle the additional load. I only have a 70wx2 amp so I don't think I'll have a problem but someone pushing 1000 or more watts might defintely do it differently. Good luck

 

I would run the amp directly off of the battery with a fuse as close to the battery as is feasible. The door sills will just pull of with slight pressure. Run your wiring under the sills all the way to the back.

 

NO!

Either way...it is easier to run the power wire along the door sill, then under the carpet to the amp. Just cut a hole in the carpet next to your amp and pull all of your wires through the hole.

 

Is this the grommet location you're referring to?




If you're gonna run it there.. you'll want to put some type of protection around your wire.. there are lots of sharp metal edges in the area you're running the wire. I used some nonmetallic sealtite flex conduit.. it works great and its really durable. You could do fine with some nice durable wire loom though. You just wanna protect the wire insulation from getting cut on one of the sharp edges.

Just poke a hole through the rubber grommet. If you pull the sill plate off you'll be able to run your wire all the way down the side. And I would connect directly to the battery.. just pick up a battery terminal and it'll work just fine and give you a nice secure connection.

 

Tek2000 great post and thanks again for all the rest of the people who posted. I just need to know one thing Tek. How did you pop the sill off. With a flat head screw driver or your fingers. Do you just pull up on it. There is already a hole in the carpet where my factory six disk cd changer was. So i will not have to cut any carpet. My amp if going right there. I think i got it under control now. Just need to know about poping that darn seal off.

 

I did it with my fingers.. its just some clips holding it on.. they're just clipped onto a metal piece running the length of the door sill.

 

Having installed tons of amps in my day...in very high end systems...I am lost as to WHY you are talking about running power wires through the door jam? Am i missreading something here? You should already have several holes in your firewall...that is where you want to come through with your power wire. Fuse it within 18" of the battery and use heavy enough power wire for the job...8-guage minimum. Use plastic tie wraps every 6 inches and make sure you use a rubber gromment at the fierwall. And for ground also use a heavy wire and drill a hole in to the chassis, and be sure to scrape away the pain to bare metal before securing the ground wire so as not to get "the whine" FWIW.

 

Thanks again Tek2000. I think I got it now. The door jam seems the seems the easiest way for me to get the power wire in the truck. I am using 8 gauge monster cables and 300 watt amp. 12 gauge speaker wire to two 12s. I just really thought that would be the easiest way to do it without having to pull out seats and pull back alot of carpet. If you might know an easier way I am all for it.

 

It is much easier to run the power wire through the grommet on the driver's side (behind gas pedal), and you don't have to worry about sharp edges...

 

I guess wiring to the power distribution block is a bad thing. I haven't got mine completely hooked up yet either. I'll just get a new battery terminal and wire it there. Thanks guys.

 

Wiring to the power distribution box is a very bad thing...the only correct way to do it is straight to the battery.

 

Thanks 2Trucks, I ordered a battery terminal connector and an inline fuse today to get it wired properly.