Is this black panel on the passenger side of a non-SAI equipped truck easy to remove and replace? It would make an idea mounting plate for some auxiliary electronics but I don’t want to open up a can of worms. My hope is that it’s just a panel on the frame to cover hole to accommodate for left and right hand drive markets.

 

I like the idea, but if in doubt, you still can use like 8 screws there to install a bunch of electronics in the engine side. Open the can of worms, there may be no worms at all...

 

Thats the plan, to install the electronics on the engine side, I just need to be able to remove the panel so I can drill through it and access the back side to bolt things to it. But I think you’re right, I’ll probably just go for it, worms be damned!

 

I expect you won't find any worms, but I'm curious, what electronics are you wanting to mount there?

 

Nothing special, just some power busses and relays. My battery holder already has an oversized battery and my aux battery isolator in it so I don’t have a lot of space there- it just seems like a nice, flat surface with nothing going on so I can make the install nice and organized.

 

the small ARB air compressor fits nicely there with a quick L bracket

 

As an update, I tried to remove the panel, it’s held in place with an adhesive which was easy enough to break but the real problem is that it seems that the SLABS and BCU modules are attached to a bracket on the backside of the panel. I think they attach those modules to the panel so they can insert it as one subassembly during assembly. I’m going to make one quick attempt to disconnect the multi plugs and remove the panel, if not I’m going to make a panel and mount it with the bolts holding the panel.

 

Ok, so ultimately it was just easier for me to rig up a panel and install it using the bolt holes rather than try and pull the black cover. The bolts FYI are M8x1.5 and the ones in the truck have a thread cutting profile to them (slightly triangular). I replaced three of them with longer bolts to accommodate for some 3/8” spacers I made with my lathe so the panel stands off from the plate a little to accommodate for fasteners.

 

That looks like very nice work. Very slick, neat and tidy. Great idea.

Your thread reminds me that many years ago now I used that space to store a gallon of premix coolant. I added a plastic loop attached to one of the bolts and hooked one end of a bungee cord to it and the other end to the bracket at the outboard end of the panel. The Prestone jug rested on the little "shelf" underneath. But I haven't needed to do that since I replaced the headgaskets, now a little over 10 years ago.

I'm slightly embarrassed I didn't think about the computers being mounted to the panel. Should've been obvious to me!