You should use the groment under the dash on the drives side to keep the power away from any new speaker wiring. Its under the clutch res.

 

Assuming it doesn't rain, I'm finally ready to bite the bullet and do the full HU, amp, front speaker install this weekend. Parts are all here, instructions and photo/threads printed, helper properly bribed - all systems go.

Another planning question though: I've seen a thread (which I can't find now) where the RCA's are all run through the center console instead of with the speaker wires down the passenger side. Is there enough space under the door sill to run 3 or 4 sets of RCA's AND the speaker wire (4 conductor 14 gauge)? I'll be added S-Pods and the Ipod do-hicky later this summer but rather put in the wire now that I have everything taken apart.

 

Yes, those wires will be fine on the passenger side. Make sure you lay them nice and flat not in a big tie-wrapped bunch. Once you open it up you'll understand.

 

Just finished running the power and amp cables from the battery to the trunk. Another question though. Is there a good way to avoid some of those sharp metal edges when running the power cables through the rear panel area. I used plastic cable hose/housing on the cables and a couple of layers of duct tape on the metal edges to keep things safe.

 

I don't remember the edges being that shape in my car but putting some tape on the shape edge will be fine.

 

Great post and discussion!

I also like this as a good ground too (for the HU and anything else upfront).
I liked your rear ground and I think I am actually going to change my ground to that since mine is now behind the passenger seat and it's very hard to work on anything that requires me to move the amp around.

 

Thanks! Glad I could help you out a little

 

How about a quick "how to" on how to solder, since I am obviously really bad at it.

 

That is something best learned through practice By a good soldering iron and practice, practice, practice....

A little tip for you though remember to heat the wire so the sold melts into it not the other way around. Heat the wire and the solder togther that way the solder bonds the wires together and it just doesn't sit on top of a cool wire.

How I do it:

I strip wire back about 1/2 - 5/8 of and inch. I fan the wire strands out a little. I push them together a little and twist them together. I heat the wire from the underside, and place the solder on the top of the wire. This way the solder will melt and evenly spread through the strands.

Don't forget to shrink-wrap the connection. Don't use tape.

 

damn... that's awesome DK! Thanks! A little too late for me, unless I need to redo it, I'll find that out tomorrow... but thanks anyway.