Engine bay clean up?
03-16-2014, 05:38 PM
#1
Engine bay clean up?
I've been going through my Photobucket and found a picture of my engine bay, and I just realized how cluttered the driver side of the motor is. I searched for various things on here like wire tucks and what not and haven't found a lot of definitive answers. But I also came up with a couple of other questions.
I read that you can't really cut and extend a lot of the wires much at all, but I don't know how true this is. Can anyone shed some light on it? I've seen talk about relocating the fuse block to inside the glove compartment but that just seems like more hassle then its worth, but I did think about this; can you relocate the coolant overflow tank to the passenger side and maybe fabricate a bracket to move the fuse box over a bit toward the drivers side a little more? Kind of giving the appearance of having more room in the engine bay?
I read that you can't really cut and extend a lot of the wires much at all, but I don't know how true this is. Can anyone shed some light on it? I've seen talk about relocating the fuse block to inside the glove compartment but that just seems like more hassle then its worth, but I did think about this; can you relocate the coolant overflow tank to the passenger side and maybe fabricate a bracket to move the fuse box over a bit toward the drivers side a little more? Kind of giving the appearance of having more room in the engine bay?
03-16-2014, 07:41 PM
#5
Well when I supercharged mine, a lot of wires got moved to being in between the valve cover and the fuse box. I think some might be able to be hidden a bit better, as well as a lot of the vacuum hoses and rubber lines running around the engine bay. Its just the fact that the damn drivers side is so cluttered that I think makes the bay look like ****. Especially when there's really nothing on the passenger side anymore.
03-16-2014, 07:52 PM
#7
Here's mine.
Its such a ******* mess. I think an aluminum over flow tank on the passenger side would look pretty cool. Then move the fuse block over a little bit maybe to open up a bit more gap between it and the head. Then maybe eventually replace as many hoses as possible with braided hoses, if they can be, and reloom as much as possible. I just haven't really ever gotten too worried about hiding stuff until I saw some of the other engine bays out at CCM. Made me realize mine looked like a dirty ass hole.
Its such a ******* mess. I think an aluminum over flow tank on the passenger side would look pretty cool. Then move the fuse block over a little bit maybe to open up a bit more gap between it and the head. Then maybe eventually replace as many hoses as possible with braided hoses, if they can be, and reloom as much as possible. I just haven't really ever gotten too worried about hiding stuff until I saw some of the other engine bays out at CCM. Made me realize mine looked like a dirty ass hole.
03-16-2014, 09:38 PM
#12
Dont rush like I did. Cut long enough pieces of hose to be able to run them out of sight. Be mindful of the fact that certain plugs are going to have to be relocated, so you'll have to figure that out as you come to them. Certain things can be extended, cause I lengthened my MAF wires probably 18" when I installed a CAI. Some wires you don't want to cut and extend, although I still really dont see why cutting and extending wires is a bad thing, but I can see where it could be a headache later on down the road.
Im going to end up having to buy new sections of hose to extend them and hide them how they need to be, all because I was rushing in the first place. So in the end it'll be cheaper for you to do it right the first time and not have to do it over again.
Im going to end up having to buy new sections of hose to extend them and hide them how they need to be, all because I was rushing in the first place. So in the end it'll be cheaper for you to do it right the first time and not have to do it over again.
03-16-2014, 10:28 PM
#14
wrap the wires 
I had issues years ago with a clutch cable and LT's on a fox. I had to heat wrap it, then route it away from the headers it ran right next to it. Hooker super comps and a Tremec tko are fun stuff, especially when you melt 3 150.00 cables in 500 miles
I had issues years ago with a clutch cable and LT's on a fox. I had to heat wrap it, then route it away from the headers it ran right next to it. Hooker super comps and a Tremec tko are fun stuff, especially when you melt 3 150.00 cables in 500 miles
03-16-2014, 10:29 PM
#15
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: 07-20-09
Location: Platteville, WI
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wish you could easily clean up and engine bay in a cobalt as easily as you can other cars, but to my knowledge the computer senses built in resistances to the wires so lengthening them would possibly screw that up. That uncertainty is enough for me to not want to mess with it, but I have yet to see anyone actually try it
my miata on the other hand.. is stupid easy to tuck with a little patience
before
after
my miata on the other hand.. is stupid easy to tuck with a little patience
before
after
03-16-2014, 10:42 PM
#17
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: 07-20-09
Location: Platteville, WI
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thats what I'm waiting for the summer for.. screw this cold weather 
will be painting the intake manifold, degreasing the engine block and painting it, then smoothing out the entire bay (tacking up some holes), then respraying it
will be painting the intake manifold, degreasing the engine block and painting it, then smoothing out the entire bay (tacking up some holes), then respraying it
03-16-2014, 11:05 PM
#19
Well I lengthened the wires on the MAF, like I said, and it didnt throw any codes. I would think that if it measured a built in resistance, then doing that would have thrown a code, or even using the ZZP MAF extension could cause a problem. I mean, I get what you're saying about the worry being enough to not do it. Hell I dont know that I would even want to undertake a complete tuck, I just wish it was easier to clean up.
If I can get enough room to move the fuse box a little though, I'll be happy. We really need to convince someone to do a wire tuck and see how it works out. I honestly think it would be fine, just cause the thought of GM using a fairly sophisticated voltage recognition system in the ECM on such a cheap car seems a little out of place, but considering how damn finicky these cars are to begin with, who knows.
On a side note, the coolant tank is just an overflow tank right and not an expansion tank?
If I can get enough room to move the fuse box a little though, I'll be happy. We really need to convince someone to do a wire tuck and see how it works out. I honestly think it would be fine, just cause the thought of GM using a fairly sophisticated voltage recognition system in the ECM on such a cheap car seems a little out of place, but considering how damn finicky these cars are to begin with, who knows.
On a side note, the coolant tank is just an overflow tank right and not an expansion tank?
03-16-2014, 11:15 PM
#20
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: 07-20-09
Location: Platteville, WI
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I lengthened the wires on the MAF, like I said, and it didnt throw any codes. I would think that if it measured a built in resistance, then doing that would have thrown a code, or even using the ZZP MAF extension could cause a problem. I mean, I get what you're saying about the worry being enough to not do it. Hell I dont know that I would even want to undertake a complete tuck, I just wish it was easier to clean up.
If I can get enough room to move the fuse box a little though, I'll be happy. We really need to convince someone to do a wire tuck and see how it works out. I honestly think it would be fine, just cause the thought of GM using a fairly sophisticated voltage recognition system in the ECM on such a cheap car seems a little out of place, but considering how damn finicky these cars are to begin with, who knows.
On a side note, the coolant tank is just an overflow tank right and not an expansion tank?
If I can get enough room to move the fuse box a little though, I'll be happy. We really need to convince someone to do a wire tuck and see how it works out. I honestly think it would be fine, just cause the thought of GM using a fairly sophisticated voltage recognition system in the ECM on such a cheap car seems a little out of place, but considering how damn finicky these cars are to begin with, who knows.
On a side note, the coolant tank is just an overflow tank right and not an expansion tank?
03-16-2014, 11:22 PM
#21
I hear you. Cheapest I've found so far for a used engine harness has been $150 from a junk yard. I really dont want to drop that just cause I screw something up trying something no one has done before. Hence why we need to talk someone else into trying it. Haha
I honestly think just moving the coolant tank will make the engine bay look a bit more balanced and a little less cluttered. Then cleaning up the hoses and just routing the harness a little better instead of just wadding it up and using zipties to hold it together will help alot. Plus, there are wires that I put in that really need to be hidden now cause I was just too lazy to do it right the first time.
I honestly think just moving the coolant tank will make the engine bay look a bit more balanced and a little less cluttered. Then cleaning up the hoses and just routing the harness a little better instead of just wadding it up and using zipties to hold it together will help alot. Plus, there are wires that I put in that really need to be hidden now cause I was just too lazy to do it right the first time.
03-17-2014, 01:05 AM
#22
Well to some extent, it has been done before. Several hours of searching the subject turned up this:
I've signed up on G5 club to try and figure out more, but from the looks of it, it is possible. Still a bit cluttered looking on the drivers side, but Im looking at a way to clean that up a little right now. If the fuse box and ECM had been relocated that **** would be clean as hell. When I figure out more details about it, I'll be sure to post them up in case people are interested in it.
I've signed up on G5 club to try and figure out more, but from the looks of it, it is possible. Still a bit cluttered looking on the drivers side, but Im looking at a way to clean that up a little right now. If the fuse box and ECM had been relocated that **** would be clean as hell. When I figure out more details about it, I'll be sure to post them up in case people are interested in it.