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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 10:20 AM
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Door Wiring

I'm installing a radio in my 74 F-100 soon and was wondering how you guys ran your wires from the cab to the door?

I don't want to just have them dangle, but not sure where I could drill holes and easily get to them either. Pictures or suggestions would help.

The last few trucks I've had I just ran wire under the floormat to some boxes behind the seat, but I want 4 speakers this time and my truck originally just had a dash speaker I'm assuming as there is no wire ran from the cab to the doors.
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 10:59 AM
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There are two dimples where the wires were run from the factory. One towards the top of the door in the jam area and one across from it on the cab structure. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos, but if you look you will easily find them. In the past, I was able to drill the holes with a short unibit and a right angle drill. The factory wiring used a very large plug with the speaker wires molded in. I have used smaller grommets and some wire loom. Others have had to remove the doors to drill the holes. Good Luck!
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:01 AM
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Thanks... I think I recall seeing those. Does the wire come out into the cab where you can easily access it or do you need to have a double jointed arm to get it?
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:19 AM
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From: Ideeho
There is a rubber plug about 1 1/2" diameter that is up high on the kick panels behind the dash that should be able to be used for acess. Its where the wires for the domelight door switches go thru so I'm pretty sure it will work. I am about to try this myself. I know that the plug on the passenger side allows acess up the A pillar to run wiring. I just installed my XM satellite receiver up there between the sunvisors the other day. It took some "creative fishing" to get the wiring up there but it did work. Ill let you know what I find out or if you beat me to it........please do the same.
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:21 AM
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From: Conway Arkansas
I don't have domelight switches in my truck... never had any but the plug should still be there.


It's pretty cold here today and I have other things I want to work on before the radio, but if I get to it first I'll let you know.

Thanks for the info
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:25 AM
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From: Ideeho
Originally Posted by Andysutt
I don't have domelight switches in my truck... never had any but the plug should still be there.


It's pretty cold here today and I have other things I want to work on before the radio, but if I get to it first I'll let you know.

Thanks for the info
Wow ........thats odd.......dont know Ive ever seen one without the door switches. Even if the wiring isnt there the 1 1/2" plugs should be. Are your door jambs drilled for the switches? Just curious.
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:27 AM
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Nope, if there was holes I woulda used them lol

Let me go check really quick
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:38 AM
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From: Conway Arkansas
There is a nut with something in on each door jam... where I would assume the dome light switch would be but it's not a switch. I cant get the inside where the switch would be to move at all and the drivers side actually looks like there is a screw head inside the nut lol

Don't mind the mess, the truck sat for about 13 years in a barn before I bought it so it needs some attention.

(do you have to link pics here? I thought you could upload directly)

http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/c...rent=door1.jpg

http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/c...ent%3Ddoor.jpg
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:50 AM
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Upon messing with them, Im sure its the door jam switch, I just never bothered with it much.
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:51 AM
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From: Ideeho
Yeah the nuts in the pics are your switches. They are probably rusted up and stuck in the "off" position. I had the same issue on mine. They just screw out of the holes in the body. I got one of mine to work but it was badly corroded. Never did get the other one to work. Put the working one on the drivers side for now. Something else to go on my want list. They arent all that expensive thru the normal aftermarket places. It is definitely nice to have a dome light that comes on when you open the doors though.....LOL
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 11:53 AM
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From: Conway Arkansas
Yea it is lol. Local part store here has them for $7 each so I may pick one up.

I thought they were door switches at first but as rusty as they were and all I was like nah couldnt be lol
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 12:16 PM
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Here is a close up of the spot you need to drill, I have a lot more wires but you can get the location.

 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 12:18 PM
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Yea, I don't see a way to get to that w/o taking the door off, and I'm not really wanting to do that right now lol

I'm looking for that same seat lol
I have a bench w/ the fold down arm rest but no console. Its a lot more comfortable than the factory seat for sure.
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 12:26 PM
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I believe the factory location is higher up. That small hole that is next to the cowl is where the factory wires on my 78 lariat run.
 
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 12:30 PM
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V10.......are the boots you used off of a later model Ford? I had that idea too.........just not sure I want to put that big of holes in things.
 
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