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Best junkyard cars for relay packs

RootBreaker

RootBreaker

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Ok so I know you can buy aftermarket relays but I like the OEM from cars. Can get at any parts stores, etc.
so post up what cars have the best setup so when at a yard we can go looking?

mine is from a 1989 olds 88. Relay pack on the firewall with fuses. I scored this for $20!!!! complete

yes factory bolt holes and yes a mess.. out of truck but going back in and will be cleaned up and done right next time.

relay.jpg


relay_fuses.jpg


relays.jpg






side note, the other day I was at a junkyard and a Cadillac had a 4 relay pack with mount under the elec fan area. Going to go back and try to remove it and buy it... nice 4 piece mount or just take all the 30A relays out.
They had an olds 88 but hood wouldn't open. Ill get that thing open and see how much for that relay pack as well.. may just buy it an do a better job at preserving the wires longer....


So choices....
@RootBreaker - post 1 - 1989 olds 88 relay/fuse pack located on passenger side firewall
@RSWORDS - post 4 - Volvo dual speed fan relay
@Blue85 - post 9 - Ford Ranger entire electric circuit
@NTXJIMMY - post 16 - 94 dodge Dakota box
 
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You're onto it already, at least that I have found. Early-mid 90's GM fwd anything will have a nice setup. After that they got huge "relay centers" that are harder to use in another application.
 
bigjimmy82 said:
You're onto it already, at least that I have found. Early-mid 90's GM fwd anything will have a nice setup. After that they got huge "relay centers" that are harder to use in another application.
Click to expand...
Interesting. While walking the junkyard yest. I couldnt find crap.... thus why i started this. Ill dig more but blizzard coming today so looks like no junkyard walking this weekend
 
RSWORDS said:
Volvo dual speed fan relay. Self contained, small, PLENTY of amperage to run your dual electric fans.

View attachment 254088
Click to expand...

This is what im hoping for.. to post up great stuff like this. Im going to add elec fans. 9x offroad lights.. 2x elec fuel pumps. I forsee many relays

Where on car are they found?

So that must be a huge relay to handle 2 elec fans?
 
I'm using the same one to run the dual speed windstar fan. it draws a good but of amperage. no issues at all.
 
Abusfullofnuns said:
I'm using the same one to run the dual speed windstar fan. it draws a good but of amperage. no issues at all.
Click to expand...

Do you have it wired like i posted? So this unit and relay?

Im just trying to understand what this volvo vox does?

Also your fans are dual speed or 1 fan then dual speed aka... 2 fans?
 
I'm using a whole electrical center from a Ford Ranger. It has large and small relays, large and small fuses. Only makes sense when adding relays to fuse them separately and only makes sense to put all that in one place. I leave the factory terminal crimps alone and splice the wires with solder and heatshrink. I made a cheat sheet to remember what's for what.

Electrical Center layout 2.jpg
 
RootBreaker said:
Do you have it wired like i posted? So this unit and relay?

Im just trying to understand what this volvo vox does?

Also your fans are dual speed or 1 fan then dual speed aka... 2 fans?
Click to expand...

Wired like posted...except that I have a manual override and the temp switch is controlled by the ecm. I use hp tuners to control the on temps.
 
Blue85 said:
I'm using a whole electrical center from a Ford Ranger. It has large and small relays, large and small fuses. Only makes sense when adding relays to fuse them separately and only makes sense to put all that in one place. I leave the factory terminal crimps alone and splice the wires with solder and heatshrink. I made a cheat sheet to remember what's for what.

View attachment 254111
Click to expand...


I thought of doing this.. just wasn't sure what vehicle makes more sense as in a nice package with a lot and fit nicely in truck. got any pics of it installed?
 
RootBreaker said:
got any pics of it installed?
Click to expand...
This is the only one I have:

PICT0021.JPG

It's after the MPFI conversion, but before I cleaned up the wiring.

If you look at the one you have, many of the fuses are probably already in series with the relays. Just roll with that.
 
RootBreaker said:
are you actually using this? looks good

$30 OBO... !!! with plugs.. not bad and don't have to get dirty...
https://www.ebay.com/i/201493538698?chn=ps

but this is weird.. I found a wiring diagram and there is another relay used in this setup but it also uses a dual temp on/off switch!!!!

volvo_relay_diagram.PNG
Click to expand...
So it appears this fan controller is for a single fan with dual speeds. So does it have an interlock so it won't energize both low and high speeds?
 
RootBreaker said:
are you actually using this? looks good

$30 OBO... !!! with plugs.. not bad and don't have to get dirty...
https://www.ebay.com/i/201493538698?chn=ps

but this is weird.. I found a wiring diagram and there is another relay used in this setup but it also uses a dual temp on/off switch!!!!

volvo_relay_diagram.PNG
Click to expand...

That's the way I had it rigged on my crawler so I could kill power to the fans for water crossing
 
94 dodge Dakota box
Love this thing!
I have 3 more that I went back to the salvage yard and got for future projects
6 relays
11 Fuse slots
Plenty for my ls swap needs and additional items like lights and fans

6C0A4A83-9FD8-4E8D-8B78-7865B062A3BF.jpeg

17DE47A9-5ECF-4A98-8BEA-4756DDA13F59.jpeg

11085149-2FC5-4A06-964D-935B67F5A0FE.jpeg
 
Check government and public safety vehicles. Huge relays and boxes on ambulances, highway maintenance trucks, railroad maintenance, police cruisers, etc.

Also wheelchair lift vans and handicapped-adapted vehicles.
 
so I guess something I overlooked... what size fuse or breaker are yall running to these boxes?
I figure you run straight from the battery and it is best to protect the circuit... a breaker maybe more desirable over a fuse as the breaker can reset....
 
so another big question on this... what size breaker should be ran from the battery to power a distribution center like these?
100A, 200A, 300A????? don't want to use a fuse as they will blow and your dead... want to have a breaker that you can reset...
 
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