Thread: Ex-box fitting instructions

While its not designed for the sole purpose of an electrical/electronics box for the relocation of items from under the drivers seat, it can and (is in my case) be use for such. I also have installed the LT77 & R380 Center Seat Tool Box from YRM: LT77 & R380 Centre Seat Tool Box - YRM Metal Solutions under the MUD Cubby Box Locker and am using it as a heat shield as well as the location for all new quick connects I have installed for the loom to and from all the parts that were under the drivers seat. My ECU I've also put an extension cable onto and will be routing that up the B Pillar into my roofs center line console (includes the A/C unit). I picked up some 36 core cable (not cheap btw) and will run 2 lines up the B pillar (may have to be one per side - yet to be determined). Inside the Locker box I installed all new components to replace the old tech gear (Circuit Breakers, SS Relays, 3 Double Port USB charging stations. All the C/B's are mounted onto an Aluminum plate I made up to fit and that mounts at the points that the cubby box has for its internal dividers that are provided but I don't need.

The LT77 & R380 Center Seat Tool Box is made from aluminum and needs to be aluminum brazed on the corners to make it water tight, luckily this can be done with a propane torch and cheap aluminum brazing rods that one can buy off the internet (amazon, aliexpress, ect). This is then drilled with 60mm holes to take the connections and cable loom from engine bay to Box. At this point I installed 2 Bronze Compression gland for both looms coming in, and will install 2 more for the 36 core cables going out to the relocated ECU.

So, yes its not designed on purpose as an Ex Box, but since there is no alternative (and would appear that no other will be forth coming) and with a little out of the BOX thinking (LOL) one can make do with what one has on hand.

Originally Posted by Gibs

While its not designed for the sole purpose of an electrical/electronics box for the relocation of items from under the drivers seat, it can and (is in my case) be use for such. I also have installed the LT77 & R380 Center Seat Tool Box from YRM: LT77 & R380 Centre Seat Tool Box - YRM Metal Solutions under the MUD Cubby Box Locker and am using it as a heat shield as well as the location for all new quick connects I have installed for the loom to and from all the parts that were under the drivers seat. My ECU I've also put an extension cable onto and will be routing that up the B Pillar into my roofs center line console (includes the A/C unit). I picked up some 36 core cable (not cheap btw) and will run to lines up the B pillar (may have to be one per side - yet to be determined). Inside the Locker box I installed all new components to replace the old tech gear (Circuit Breakers, SS Relays, 3 Double Port USB charging stations. All the C/B's are mounted onto an Aluminum plate I made up to fit and that mounts at the points that the cubby box has for its internal dividers that are provided but I don't need.

The LT77 & R380 Center Seat Tool Box is made from aluminum and needs to be aluminum brazed on the corners to make it water tight, luckily this can be done with a propane torch and cheap aluminum brazing rods that one can buy off the internet (amazon, aliexpress, ect). This is then drilled with 60mm holes to take the connections and cable loom from engine bay to Box. At this point I installed 2 Bronze Compression gland for both looms coming in, and will install 2 more for the 36 core cables going out to the relocated ECU.

So, yes its not designed on purpose as an Ex Box, but since there is no alternative (and would appear that no other will be forth coming) and with a little out of the BOX thinking (LOL) one can make do with what one has on hand.

Thanks again Gibs

Some clever thinking there, yes out of the box. I actually have a Tdi, Td5 and a Puma so they all have slightly different requirements and I have long thought of relocating the ECU into a roof console (the Td5 has the two ways in a roof console and there is room for the ECU). There used to be an extension cable available for this at around $700 a decade or more ago and that put me off back then.

Anyway you have given me plenty to think about. Am sure an Ex-Box would not be that difficult to build and at the moment I have the time, just not the money! need a job first!

Cheer - Simon

This is in my Td5 130, the wife wants to keep her TDCi 2.2 90 stock, and who am I to say otherwise!
The ECU extension I made up myself, I used some 38 pin inline connector's off of Aliexpress : 1 set WS/TP48 Aviation Plug Socket Male&Female Docking aviation circular connector 5/7/20/27/38/42 Pin Butt plugs|Connectors| - AliExpress
and the cable I brought from RS online. I then just redid the ends at the ECU to the new cable, one extension!

Originally Posted by Gibs

This is in my Td5 130, the wife wants to keep her TDCi 2.2 90 stock, and who am I to say otherwise!
The ECU extension I made up myself, I used some 38 pin inline connector's off of Aliexpress : 1 set WS/TP48 Aviation Plug Socket Male&Female Docking aviation circular connector 5/7/20/27/38/42 Pin Butt plugs|Connectors| - AliExpress
and the cable I brought from RS online. I then just redid the ends at the ECU to the new cable, one extension!

My wife drives the 2.2 90 too! Unfortunately the link didn't work, ad.admitad.com’s server IP address could not be found. But not to worry I am just scoping/planning at this stage.

Cheers - Simon

Probably 15 years ago now I fitted an X-Box to my 2003 110. Good move, but not without some challenges.

One thing I discovered was that the earth for the EMC was via a stud in the floor under the driver's seat - but that the x-Box relied on the screws securing it to the floor under the cubby box. This proved to be very problematic.

My advice is to be sure that the EMC earth wire is grounded properly. It will save you much grief !

Originally Posted by Floydo

Mulgo no longer doing the Ex-box? Tried contacting them about this as it is not on there website, never heard back from them.

I placed an order for an ex box (pre-paying) back in April, recieved it three weeks ago. I had been asking them for 12 months when they would make them again......
I understand that was their last run of them for a while. Suggest a group buy if there are enough people interested.
Also thanks for all the info on the install, I plan to put mine in over this coming long weekend.

Cheers

Thanks Gibs, Just ordered one from MUDUK . Like the idea of the slide. Have there dash pod and radio mount. Good stuff.

Originally Posted by Discofender

I placed an order for an ex box (pre-paying) back in April, recieved it three weeks ago. I had been asking them for 12 months when they would make them again......
I understand that was their last run of them for a while. Suggest a group buy if there are enough people interested.
Also thanks for all the info on the install, I plan to put mine in over this coming long weekend.

Cheers

Hi all,
I’ve been trying to get hold of an ex box now for ages and am surprised you got one discofender!
do you know if they have any more of them? As you said, they never reply to my Enquiries re the Ex-Box.
I’ve been thinking of going down the Mud cubby box locker as an alternative myself.
regards
Tieds