I like to take it 1 step further.

 

That is about 50% of what mine looks like lol, been apart so long its gonna suck putting it back together hahaha.

 

thanks for all the help! ill have to check for a hood ground strap tomorrow. as for the light it does have the ground wire on it, about 6 inches long.

 

This may have already been answered but 5 pages is alot to read through

My '80 F250 XLT Ranger has manual windows and door locks and i would like to convert them to power while i have the whole thing apart. If I were to find a nice set of panels at the wrecking yard, what all would i need to grab in order to make the swap?

Thanks
JM

 

First page I believe boss. I'd guess switches motors and regulators...

 

Now -how- did you get the screws out where the dash speaker bracket mounts to the front of the dash??? Both my truck and the donor truck I got my dash from had those screws seized up solid! lol I had to get "creative" with both of em...

 

Well, the 1980 is the only year that didn't have power windows as an option, so it would take some work. If you had a 1981-1986 all you would need is the switches, wires, motors, regulators, and circut breakers to plug into your fuse panel. With the 1980, running a power feed directly from the battery via a fuseable link would probably work the best, then finding a way to hook up the circut breakers, or get aftermarket ones if avaliable.

The Fuse panels are wired different as well between 1980 and 1981-1986. Here are the power distribution wiring diagrams for the 1980, then the 1981-1983.

1980 Power distribution:
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/q...ring81-1-2.jpg

1981-1983 Power Distribution:
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/q...l/scan0010.jpg

1981-1986 power windows
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/q...ciel/001-1.jpg

1981-1986 Electric Mirrors
http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/q...rordiagram.jpg

 

I sometimes use a screwdriver bit in a 1/4"-drive ratchet for things like that:

 

So if i were to find a cheap 1981-86 donor truck, and took the wiring harness out of it and put it in mine could i pull it off? Will the wiring harness from a newer truck just 'go in'? Also, someone was talking about how the holes for the rivits were already drilled... Im guessing that my truck would not have those holes, correct?

 

It may or may not have the holes in the doors. That I do not know. Most likely not, looking at Fordzilla80's, 1980 doors with the panels removed, posted in this same thread. The doors that originally came with slide locks, 1980-1981 do not have the holes for the "vertical locks" and ***** either.

As for the wiring, you could change your complete underdash harness for a 1981-1982.
Anything newer than that and you will have problems connecting components. You will have to match the main wiring harness to the charging system instrumentation that is in your truck now. Either full gauges ammeter and oil gauges, or altenator and oil warning lamps.

However, you will need to change out the headlamp switch for one for a 1981-1986, and change the instrument cluster, and instrument cluster bezel for one for a 1981-1986, or rewire the instrument cluster connector, as the printed circut on the 1980 cluster is different.

You will also have to change the slide locks to the "vertical locks" type. And as a concequence you will have to change door panels, as removing the slide locks will give you a large hole in the panel. Or just have the power windows without power door locks.

Seems like a lot of work...

 

It does seem like a lot of work. I would really like to have the power windows and locks but i dont want to go through all that work (I hate wiring). I will just have to live with the manual set up which is really no big deal. Thanks for the info!

 

I rescued a wiring harness and map/interior light set up from Pull A Part, as well as an underhood light from a bullnose they had. This information will be very helpful, especially the underhood light part. Thanks again!

 

How about wiring the digital clock above the radio into a truck that doesn't have one? Or putting cruise control in a non-cruise truck? Here's the kicker: the donor is an '85 F150 gas (auto), my truck is an 86 diesel (4 speed).

Suggestions?

 

The clock will be easy BUT you need an extension cable to run from the connector down by the ash tray (pass side of the center console) up to the clock.

No idea on cruise, it's something I tell myself I'd like to do but it's never been enough of a priority to spend time on it.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-1993-1994-1995-1996-FORD-F150-F250-F350-BRONCO-CRUISE-CONTROL-ASSEMBLY-KIT-/361291871294?hash=item541eac743e&vxp=mtr

Wrong year, but maybe it will give bluecollar4xford some ideas?