UNUSED ACCESSORY MOUNTING TERRITORY

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I was looking at the ugly maze of wires and hoses on that flat plate, mounted on my right wheel-well housing.

With the narrow inline Cummins, and a two-inch body-lift, I am contemplating possibly lining the under-side of my hood with aluminum tread-plate, then relocating such things as the voltage regulator, vacuum reservoir, etc. to the under-side of the hood, covering all wires, tubes, etc., with split-loom sleeving.

I also intend mounting a second brand-new voltage regulator, right beside the existing one, such that should the one fail, I simply move the plug over to the other one, and keep on trucking.

There are locations, on the under-hood surface, that don't get within a mile of anything else, when the hood is down.

What do you guys think??

Thanks.

 

[Agnem]

Not sure that's such a great idea. Couple of reasons, all what if's....

What if....

You need to take off your hood?

Over the years the wires break from flexing due to the hood opening and closing.

A minor collision prevents the hood from latching, yet the truck is still driveable?

Vibration causes fasteners to become loose and components fall on the motor or hot exhaust?

The area you mount your components in is hotter than what temps the would normally see in the factory location.

All your grounds have to come through flexible connections?


I'm an idiot and your a genius?

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

The vibrations as Mel said would also be my biggest concern. Granted yes the whole truck vibrates but the hood mounting would be a weight hanging load and over time I could see thing s wiggling loose.

I'd make that whole hood look purdy and clean.


Just my $.02 worth.

 

[Agnem]

Actually, I've always thought a tilt front end would be cool. The biggest pain would be moving all the batteries and wiring somewhere else. If you really want to move that stuff, put it in a cabinet in the bed.

 

[typ4]

The springs may not hold all that up either.

 

[TLBREWER]

I've often considered getting rid of the plastic inner fenders as well and fabbing a nice clean set of metal ones...much like the rodders do. I think that and a more efficient use of fender well space is the way to go.

Tom

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I think that more efficient use of fender well space is the way to go.

Tom

It isn't really evident, just how crowded it is, under the hood of these trucks, until you take a real good look under the hood of a fully-loaded pre-1994 Dodge.

There is tons of open territory in those Dodges; yet, they don't look any bigger than our Fords.