Fuse block locations

This weekend I will be installing my Rebel wiring kit into my 55.5 Chevy truck, and am wondering where best to locate the fuse block; under the dash tucked up and exposed? Within some sort of enclosure? Under the hood within some sort of weather-proof enclosure? Just looking for ideas/suggestions. What did you do?

 

Tucked up under the dash, driver's side, not near any water leaks. Not too tucked that swapping fuses becomes a pain. No enclosure.

 

Also, most kits are cut that way, left side fuse install, so the right side lighting wires are longer.

 

I made a hinged pannel that drops down from the firewall and is held up with a thumb screw to the bottom of the dash. Its up out of sight, but when you need it, it falls down to where you can see it all. The wires have to bend through only 90 degrees to do this.

 

I am at the place where I can start wiring anytime, I am thinking real hard about my fuse box location also. Some more "out of the box" ideas like Ole don's would be cool.

 

Sounds like a cool idea. Do you happen to have a photo?

 

No I dont. I used a chunk of aluminum plate that was gathering dust, cut it to size and put a small hinge on one end. The hinge fit on two screws that were already through the fire wall. The fuse block, Mopar ignition block, and a switch for the electric fuel pump all fit on the top. A piece of 1/8 by 1 strap was connected under the nuts that hold the fuse block to the aluminum, it is long enough to reach the bottom edge of the dash, and a common hardware store thumb screw holds it up in place. The fuel pump switch handle faces down so you can flick it off if there is ever a flooding situation. I have done three cars like this, it works great. If you every have to work on it, open the right door and kneel on a carpet square, undo one screw, its all right there.

 

I agree. Don't over think this

 

Exactly what I was thinking

 

wherever you place the fuse panel think about first attaching it to a piece of aluminum, or steel, plate that is a few inches wider/longer than the fuse panel. Then place spacers, even use nuts large enough for actual mounting bolts, screws, to p*** thru on the back side for attaching added mounting plate to solid mounting area. this will give you a place to mount extra relays, grounding strips, etc. by using the spacers this gives clearance for bolts, screws for relays, etc and will not have to drill more holes in area where fuse panel is located. you should not have any water entering cab, so you do not need a cover. as stated you need fairly easy view and access to change fuses, etc.

 

How about behind the seat ?

 

check early 9o's ford there fuse panels fold down from the factory and the wireing harness is bolted to the bracket all you need to do is mount a plate to bolt your fuse block to the bracket then bolt it to the bottom of the dash works good

 

When I can I like to put them on the p***enger side inside the car. Yea you might have to have to extend some of the wires, but most hot rods don't have much room between the seat and the door jam. Then throw in the steering column, brake & clutch pedals and us fat boys don't have much room to get in there. Just my two cents.

 

Regardless of where you mount it keep in mind to keep it easily accessible for problems in the future. I've worked on rods where you have to be a circus act just to see the fuse block, not fun or cool.

 

I dont recall how deep the B pillar cab corner pocket is on your truck, on my 49 I put it in that location and am making an access panel in the rear cab cover, gets the box at near eye level and no obstructions once you pull the seat back.

 

i have a 1934 ford pickup i installed a new master cylinder and shorted the brake light wire and now no lights or head lights i have looked for the fuse or block till i have shorted out can some one out there tell me where the fuses or fuse is located thanks

 

I put mine up under the dash on the driver's side...easy to get at but the one thing I brain-faded on was the fact that I wear bi-focal gl***es, the fuse block is pretty much unreadable unless I get my old reading gl***es out

This gettin' old stuff is ****!

 

Send our member glenn33 a pm, He is owner of Rebel Wire and should have some good tips for you as well as having all USA made kits with great prices and service after the sale if advice is needed it's as close as your phone.

 

It could be anywhere. Start out by following the wires from the ignition switch, starter motor, or any other main wires you can see. You just have to back-track until you find it. Good luck. Now back on topic...........

 

A blown brake light fuse should not kill the head lights. Look on the back of your H/L switch. Some of the old ones have a fuse there for the lighting circuit before a fuse box was common. Depending on how the brake light circuit was wired, it's possible that you could have blown this fuse.

A brake light circuit should be fed from a constant 12V source with a fuse so that even without the key turned on the brake lights still work. You can still get an inline fuse to put in the circuit.

 

I put mine on the p*** side. of the car.

 

I just wired in my fuse block and I put it behind the glove box so when I build the interior for the glovebox I can make a back panel that removes to access the fuses.

 

Yeah, under the dash, just out of sight, but someplace you can access easily with a flashlight in your mouth at 1:00 am, which is usually when fuses decide to blow.

 

Mines to the right of the steering column behind the dash on my '51 Ford.

I used a big rebel wire kit but couldn't put it on the p*** side like I wanted. I can't remember why if wires too short or what.

Last I heard they make them to fit either side now.

 

Slightly O/T....Just a note about the under dash area...............I painted the back side of the last dash I built with some rattle can bright white. Sure did make things a lot easier to see the one time I had to look up under there.

 

I was raised on GM cars so I like it to be on the drivers side firewall high enough so it's not in plain sight while seated in the front seat but easily accessible with a test light with the drivers door open while kneeling on the ground. The older one gets, the more important things like that get.

 

I put mine under the driver's seat on a roll-out panel using roller slides like a file cabinet drawer. Super easy to see when needed and totally invisible behind a small door or flap wnen not needed.

 

I like that idea. I've spent too much time upside down and backwards checking fuses or circuits to want one that is too out of the way and inaccessible. Usually when a guy has to check fuses on the side of the road conditions aren't the most favorable for some reason.

I'd do it with a latch setup that didn't require tools to access it too.

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDo***ent> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDo***ent> </xml><![endif]--> On my last several builds I put mine under the dash on the p***enger side, it is a lot easer to get to, you don’t have to deal with the steering column, I did not have any problems with wires being to short.

 

Here is mine in my 55 F100. It is mounted in a bracket mounted to the bottom of the dash and folds down to where it is vertical and can be easily seen.



Here is a mount I saw in a 56 F100 that I liked