• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Wiring question; junction box for power

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nicoleb3x3
  • Start date Start date Jun 21, 2009

Nicoleb3x3

Member
Jun 9, 2004
274
0
16
southern NH
Jun 21, 2009
#1
  • Jun 21, 2009
  • #1
I'm moving my battery to the trunk and I wanted to get a junction box like this one to help run additional power connections in the front of the car.



Can I substitue this for a second starter relay? If not; where can I find this locally in a store?

And, can I take the power from the original starter relay to power it?
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Jun 21, 2009
#2
  • Jun 21, 2009
  • #2
Distribution block ideas - See Power Distribution Blocks.

Also check out Junction blocks,electrical junction block,power feed,magnum,feedthrough

Be careful about mounting any electrical add on hardware under the hood. Some of it is made from plastic that softens and flows when exposed to under hood temperatures.


Some wiring help in your quest for a rear monted battery...

Rear mounted battery ground wiring. Follow this plan and you will have zero
ground problems.


One 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from battery negative post to a clean shiny spot
on the chassis near the battery. Use a 5/16” bolt and bolt it down to make the
rear ground. Use a 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from the rear ground bolt to a clean
shiny spot on the block.

One 4 gauge wire from the block where you connected the battery ground wire to
the chassis ground where the battery was mounted up front. Use a 5/16” bolt
and bolt down the 4 gauge engine to chassis ground, make sure that it the metal
around the bolt is clean & shiny. This is the alternator power ground.




The computer has a dedicated power ground wire with a cylindrical quick connect
(about 2 ½”long by 1” diameter. It comes out of the wiring harness near the
ignition coil & starter solenoid (or relay). Be sure to bolt it to the chassis ground
in the same place as you bolted the alternator power ground. This is an
absolute don’t overlook it item for EFI cars

Note: The quick disconnect may have fallen victim to damage or removal by
a previous owner. However, it is still of utmost importance that the black/green
wires have a high quality ground..

The screwdriver points to the common body ground for the alternator, battery and computer.

Picture courtesy timewarped1972



Crimp or even better, solder the lugs on the all the wire. The local auto stereo
shop will have them if the auto parts store doesn't. Use some heat shrink tubing
to cover the lugs and make things look nice.


For a battery cut off switch, see Moroso : Category Display
is the switch http://www.moroso.com/catalog/images/74102_inst.pdf is the installation instructions.
Use the super duty switch and the following tech note to wire it and you will
be good to go.

Use the Moroso plan for the alternator wiring and you risk a fire. The 10
gauge wire they recommend is even less adequate that the stock Mustang
wiring.

There is a solution, but it will require about 40' of 18 gauge green wire.

Wire the battery to the two 1/2" posts as shown in the diagram.

The alternator requires a different approach. On the small alternator plug
there is a green wire. It is the sense lead that turns the regulator on when
the ignition switch is in the run position. Cut the green wire and solder the
40' of green wire between the two pieces. Use some heat shrink to cover the
splices. See Ford Fuel Injection How To Solder Like a Pro for some excellent
help on soldering & using heat shrink tubing.

Run the green wire back to the Moroso switch and cut off the excess wire.
Try to run the green wire inside the car and protect it from getting cut or
chaffed. Crimp a 18 gauge ring terminal (red is 18 gauge color code for the crimp
on terminals) on each wire. Bolt one ring terminal to each of the 3/16" studs.
Do not add the jumper between the 1/2" stud and the 3/16" stud as shown it the
Moroso diagram.

How it works:
The green wire is the ignition on sense feed to the regulator. It supplies a turn
on signal to the regulator when the ignition switch is in the Run position. Turn the
Moroso switch to off, and the sense voltage goes away, the voltage
regulator shuts off and the alternator quits making power.

The fuse & wiring in the following diagram are for a 3G alternator. The stock alternator uses a dark green fuse link wire that connects to 2 black/orange wires. Always leave them connected to the starter solenoid even if you have a 3G alternator.



See the following website for some help from Tmoss (diagram designer)
& Stang&2Birds (website host) for help on 88-95 wiring
Mustang FAQ - Engine Information Everyone should bookmark this site.

Ignition switch wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/IgnitionSwitchWiring.gif

Fuel, alternator, A/C and ignition wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/fuel-alt-links-ign-ac.gif

Complete computer, actuator & sensor wiring diagram for 88-91 Mass Air Mustangs
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/88-91_5.0_EEC_Wiring_Diagram.gif

Vacuum diagram 89-93 Mustangs
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/mustangFoxFordVacuumDiagram.jpg
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Jun 21, 2009
#3
  • Jun 21, 2009
  • #3
Nicoleb3x3 said:
Can I substitue this for a second starter relay? If not; where can I find this locally in a store?

And, can I take the power from the original starter relay to power it?
Click to expand...

No, you really should have both relays. Newer stangs still use a slave relay to the piggyback solenoid.

You can run a cable from the battery lug of the solenoid to the new distribution block. Being anal, I would circuit protect this big feed, and be sure all the little items attached to the block are also fused (for their appropriate relatively small ratings).

On that first like of JRichker's, someone recently used one of those blocks (part number 70008 IIRC). It is a nice looking piece. I'm too poor for stuff like that (I cut a half-melted POS plastic ANL fuseholder in half and reinforced and re-insulated the backing plate on the good half).

If you go to the junkyard ever, you can find some late model cars with remote batteries and/or distribution blocks. Fourth Gen Camaros had an insulated block on the passenger wheel well. Stuff like Dodge Strati (plural of stratus?) have a distrbution block too (the battery is in the fender).
 

Nicoleb3x3

Member
Jun 9, 2004
274
0
16
southern NH
Jun 29, 2009
#4
  • Jun 29, 2009
  • #4
I have a some-what related question;

is the two brackets that mount the lower harness to the engine block part of any grounding? My brackets will no longer reach their mounting points due to the new location of the starter relay has taken up 1" of slack in one direction......

I'm planning to NOT use these brackets to secure the lower harness but use zip ties instead. Is this going to cause any issues?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Power Wire Upgrade Question
  • jhaling
  • Dec 21, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
264
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 23, 2026
Noobz347
Electrical Mini-Starter Wiring
  • RekeHavoc
  • Jul 25, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Aug 24, 2025
Mustang5L5
F
Electrical From scratch: alternator wiring
  • fox racer v2
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
584
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 23, 2025
fox racer v2
F
S
1965 Mustang with 80s 5.0 engine in it Power Steering hose or connection ID?
  • spearce
  • May 19, 2026
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
114
Classic Mustang Specific Tech Jun 8, 2026
AeroCoupe
Electrical Key on power for Fan relay
  • Nine Finger Wrenching
  • Jan 14, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
480
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 20, 2025
Nine Finger Wrenching
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?