Main Engine Harness Firewall Grommet, suggestions please!

[KatoKid]

The plug for my main engine wiring harness to the ECU is pretty big, around 150mm long and 50mm wide and I need to bring this through the firewall so I can mount the ECU in the cabin. Problem is that the plug is too big to push through a rubber grommet that will still seal on the wiring harness that will only be around 25mm in diameter. Ive been to pick- a- part and looked at all sorts of grommets but nothing fits the bill. Normally you would de-pin the plug, push the harness through the grommet then re-pin the plug but I don't want to do this as I have 88 pins which are very small and I don't want to damage the plug or pins in the process.

 

 

 

I have found this on the internet http://www.sealsit.com/grommet_split.asp which would do the job but its $30 plus freight from the US. The alternative would be to use a grommet of the right size (50mm OD x 25mm ID), split it on one side and then glue it together with something after putting it over the harness. Not sure how well this would work and what sort of adhesive to use?

 

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

Also where to buy grommets rather than spending hours rooting through smashed cars?

 

Cheers.

 

David

[benny]

the seals it one looks quite good... i did one recently just with a grommet from clarks. I heated it up in boiling water for quite a while then was able to get it over the ecu connector Problem is finding correct id and od.

 

 

If you get really excited theres always something like this.

 

 

http://bluewiremotorsport.com/products/billet-wire-harness-plug-kit-37pin

 

 

 

 

[PeterAllen]

I reused the one that can from my VZ SS Ute donor car. I split it. There is so much cross-section surface that I'm not worried about applying glue etc. Also, I came in through the bathroom window (sorry, couldn't help myself there)... through the transmission tunnel just behind the bellhousing rather than the firewall.

[KatoKid]

the seals it one looks quite good... i did one recently just with a grommet from clarks. I heated it up in boiling water for quite a while then was able to get it over the ecu connector Problem is finding correct id and od.

 

 

If you get really excited theres always something like this.

 

 

http://bluewiremotorsport.com/products/billet-wire-harness-plug-kit-37pin

 

Thanks Benny. I considered something like the bluewire plug but seriously I have probably about 100 wires to go through as I have relays and diagnostic ports that I'm going to bring inside as well.

[KatoKid]

I reused the one that can from my VZ SS Ute donor car. I split it. There is so much cross-section surface that I'm not worried about applying glue etc. Also, I came in through the bathroom window (sorry, couldn't help myself there)... through the transmission tunnel just behind the bellhousing rather than the firewall.

 

Thanks Pete.

 

I saw those grommets in earlier model Commodores, they look to be about 30 -40mm thick and tapper to a smaller OD outside?

 

Good to see that's where you ran yours through the tunnel as that was my plan as well, it will run nicely under the heater box/fan up to the ECU mounted vertically on the firewall between the fan and the kick panel.

[Zedman240®]

I remember Hella had a rather large multi pin military grade plug/connector with around 50? pins that was water tight and weather proof. Pushes together them has a collar that screws on to hold it together. Would be great for quick engine removal as the engine loom can be disconnected at the firewall rather than disconnecting each plug from injectors etc...Gave away my last Hella catalogue so I cant find part number sorry...

[KatoKid]

Thanks for the suggestion Dimitri.

 

Undoing each connection on the engine just isn't an option for me.....there are too many and too hard to get to. I will only have the main ECU plug and one other which I will need to unplug and then pull them through the firewall so the whole engine harness will stay on the engine when I have to remove it.

[Six_Shooter]

I'm finishing up a swap, where I brought the wire harness into the car in a similar (maybe same) location as PeterAllen  did.

 

For a "grommet" I had to get creative, since I just couldn't locate one that would do what I wanted. In the shop we had taken apart a truck a few months previous, and had two boots left over that pass the wires between the body and the door. It had two different sized openings so I could choose a large hole or a smaller one. I cut one end off, leaving a grommet like end, that could attach to the body, then at the other end cut 4 slots length wise, to create 4 tabs. I taped the boot to the harness over two of the tabs, on opposite sides of the harness, then continued wrapping the tape, eventually over the other two tabs, creating a sealed flexible grommet.

 

I will be using this idea in the future.

[dat240z]

My tip to save heaps on that sort of gear - especially grommets etc for firewalls is go to clarke rubber. They have a massive range and i did my entire firewall for $20 i think!!! New set was $150+

[fly-s30]

I remember Hella had a rather large multi pin military grade plug/connector with around 50? pins that was water tight and weather proof. Pushes together them has a collar that screws on to hold it together. Would be great for quick engine removal as the engine loom can be disconnected at the firewall rather than disconnecting each plug from injectors etc...Gave away my last Hella catalogue so I cant find part number sorry...

 

What zedman240 is talking about is called a cannon plug. They come in many sizes and are waterproof, that is the only electrical connector used in naval applications, where a secure connection is needed. They come in different attachments, and in 45* and 90* with different male/female combinations.

This is they way ill be going when its time.