Northstar rebuild: Will style (Page 112/119)
Will APR 28, 12:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by zkhennings:

Any benefits to your chosen relay/fuse holding solution over the Eaton Bussman fuse/relay blocks that I had recommended earlier? I am trying to decide what to go with myself, or whether I should trust the factory wiring using the factory fuse block lmao.



When I was running the 0411 based Shelby engine management, I distributed the loads across the Fiero electrical system and never had any electrical problems with it. The stock Fiero system is fine as long as you're intelligent about where the additional loads go.

Eaton product like these? https://www.waytekwire.com/...S-002-0-ssVEC-Power/

That looks similar in concept to the GEP Power Distribution Module that the dude at www.customconnectorkits.com recommended to me. The modular center I ordered is VERY compact and streamlined... I also like that it has specific locations for relays rather than a large array of terminals into which you can plug relays.

I'll post pics when I get it... which could be as soon as tomorrow.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 04-28-2022).]

zkhennings APR 28, 02:16 PM
I was specifically looking at this one: https://www.waytekwire.com/...LKKbsvhoCWIIQAvD_BwE

Very well priced, sealed, but maybe larger than your solution, though very modular.

I only really need relays for the fan, fuel pump, and ecu power. Looks like the relays should be able to support powering a fan, might run two relays if I run two fans. Input limit of 80 amps *should* be able to power everything I need.

[This message has been edited by zkhennings (edited 04-28-2022).]

Will APR 28, 02:54 PM
The capacity of the unit I ordered is 4 micro-relays and 6 mini-fuses, which is one more than I need in each kind, so it just seemed perfect.

The '06 Corvette system needs a powertrain relay, fuel pump relay and A/C comp relay. The Fiero has the fan relay and A/C power relay in the front compartment.

If you have two fan motors, study how GM uses 3 relays to set those fans up in series for low speed and in parallel for high speed.
zkhennings APR 28, 04:31 PM
Ah neat, maybe I can maintain the stock relay for the fan. I was going to have the microsquirt control the fan and I did my research a while ago but thought I might have an issue controlling the stock relay with the microsquirt. I don’t really want to run two fans, but if I need the cooling capacity I was preparing for it. I imagine running them in parallel and in series vs running just a single one at full power or both at full power helps extend the life of the fans due to having two fans doing half the work the majority of the time.
Will MAY 03, 08:14 AM
Modular Electrical Center module:



Starter cable installed:



Split convoluted tubing:



The way the junction block works with the manifold in place:



The lavender wire is the crank wire. I'll put a single pin Metri-pack 630 connector in the middle of it, and terminate the other end in the C500 connector once the powertrain is in the vehicle.
Will MAY 03, 02:43 PM
Ordered the terminals for the electrical center today. Fussing through that list was annoying. The relays take Metri-Pack 480 control pins for 18-20ga wire and Metri-Pack 630 pins for the switched circuit. The electrical center page specifically called out 480 *RELAY* terminals, which are slightly different than the standard 480 female terminals. The same page did not specifically call out 630 standard vs relay terminals, so I ordered both. Four of each set are for 16ga wire for the A/C Comp and Fuel Pump relays. However, the PowerTrain relay gets a single 10ga input and dual 12ga outputs, so I had to order ONE of each of those terminals.

The fuse area uses two rows of Metri-Pack 280 "bus bar" terminals for the input side of the fuses and standard 280 female terminals on the output side. The bus bar terminals are only available from Mouser in a string of 20, so I had to get that when I need two strings of 3 each, for 12ga wire, to work with the dual 12ga wires coming off the PowerTrain relay.

Then I need five 280 female terminals for the five fuses.

So, yeah, fussy. Now that I have that figured out, I should be able to finish the wire list and get the main shipment of harness parts ordered.
zkhennings MAY 04, 06:33 PM
Nice, looking good, looking forward to seeing how block looks all populated. Where are you planning to put it?
Will MAY 05, 11:02 AM
I was thinking I'd hang it on the strut tower by the battery. It's not technially "sealed", but it should be ok there as long as I mount it correctly. GM uses unsealed electrical centers in the engine bay in other applications.
Will MAY 09, 11:18 AM
I got a large diameter tensioner pulley selected over the weekend. I didn't measure, but it looks like it's 3.25" or so. That's above my arbitrary target of 3" for idler and tensioner pulleys to keep their speeds down. It just barely fits with the current belt.

Since my accessory drive looks basically final, I tore it down so I could POR-15 the bracket along with my intermediate axle bracket, pieces of my house, parts of the engine cradle where the 20 year old powder coating is peeling and some touch up spots on The Mule's tub that I'd missed previously.

I have Navy duty the next two weekends. I'm thinking that over Memorial Day weekend, I'll get the engine and transmission assembled and on the cradle. I'll put the powertrain up on a heavy duty cart I've been using as a workbench so that it's at a good height for working on wiring. I also need to snag updated glamo(u)r photos that actually include the Cometic head gasket envelope.

I also need to trim the alternator rear adapter and mod the alternator rear bracket to open up space around the output stud.
Will MAY 25, 10:11 AM
Backordered terminals from Mouser arrived yesterday.
I have been slammed with other stuff and have not been able to finish the updated wire list yet.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-25-2022).]