Installation problem ARB Air Compressor in 80 Series

[Red_Nut]

Team,
I have decided on the high output ARB compressor for my 80 series. Now comes the time to fit it......

Fitting this sucker was to be my ANZAC Day project. I had a look at it and didn't get much furthur than that!!!!

Has anyone mounted one of these things under the driver's seat of an 80s before? It's not that I think the mounting will be an issue, it is the wiring and fitting switches in the dash that has me stumped. I can't see how I can get to the back of the dash near the blank switches in the 80s!!!! It is a DX so there are plenty of spare switch positions to the left of the steering wheel, but I can't see how to get up there to access them. The bottom dash section doesn't go up high enough, and the next dash sections looks like it goes all the way to the glovebox.

Has anyone fitted one of these suckers in an 80s before, and have any hints / pictures to share?

As always, it would be good to fit it myself rather than spend more money at ARB.

Any hints would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Ed.

[BrandonH]

Hey mate, I have a DX 80 series also. I haven't fitted a air compressor yet but did do the immobilizer install with a friend witch included a flashing light in one of these switch positions (right of steering wheel though). I have also installed my CB and mp3 stereo both have wires going the length of the dash.

I didn't have to pull any of the dash apart at all, I got on my back and worked around the back of it and pushed the needed wires through the whole of the switch plate. Not sure how this would work for the plates near the center console I will have a look tonight and see if there is a trick to it

cheers
Brandon...

[Red_Nut]

Brandon - That's spot on - it is the switch positions near the centre console that I am looking at. Specifically the ones near the rear fuel tank switch. My other basic and easily accessible switch positions low on each side of the steering wheel are being used for (a) spotlights and (B) LED running / clearance lights running the length of my alloy side steps, and some red LED eyes on a Mack Truck Bulldog on the bonnet.

I'd like to point out that the side step running lights and bullgod LED eyes were fitted by the previous owner!!! After having the vehicle for 6 months my wife still enjoys ribbing me about those lights!!

Cheers.

Ed.

[BrandonH]

I just had a look at mine and found what your talking about, It will be hard to pull that section of dash out cause of all the wires and things running into the aircon and so on but you only need a couple of wires to make it up there.

There is a piece of plastic at the base of that section of the dash on mine, I can't remember if there was a pair of screws there hidden from this piece. another option would be to remove hte section under the steering wheel and see if you can get the panel pushed out and wires through. The other way to go would be from behind the glove box, its not too hard to remove and I think it opens up a bit of space behind that section. let me know how you go

Cheers
Brandon...

[Roughasguts]

How about going the other way. Poke a hole where you wan't the switch then poke a coat hanger wire through there, and that attached to the new switch wire and that should do it.

[Red_Nut]

Roughasguts - this was the other option I have considered. I may have to use the cable-pulling technique if I can't gain access to the back of the dash.

I'll have another look this weekend and see what I come up with. I think I may need to extend the power wires also, as the ones in the standard ARB wiring kit will be too short. Adding approx 1.5m shouldn't introduce too much more resistance in the cable.

Cheers Lads.

If there are any other hints please let me know. I was also a bit stuck about how to remove the blank switch blocks from the dash, but a bit of a screwdriver twist may fix that one.

Ed.

[Roughasguts]

Yup you always need to extend the wires on these things, I just installed an electric brake controller and extended the wires with 6mm stuff.