Truck Wiring
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Truck Wiring
I have a 1976 f250 pickup truck. I don't know how to do auto wiring and was wondering what the best option was for a rewire. The cheapest alternative anyway. Who ever had the truck before me screwed the wiring up so bad i have no idea what is going on. Any thoughts. Also there is an exhaust manifold leak and the bolts are fused to the metal with rust. there is no way you could get them off. would it be easy to to fill with and epoxy or some sort. Any input is greatly appreciated!
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Here are several options for rewiring your truck:
(1) Replace your harness with one from a junkyard. If this is possible, then it's the cheapest. However, this requires finding the same harness to fit your truck's year and options (hard) and finding one that's not hacked up (even harder).
(2) Repair what you've got. I have gone this route on another project (Ford Galaxie). I rebuilt the entire thing by hand. This takes a lot of patience and fair amount of dexterity and electrical skill, but is the second cheapest option if you already have the tools and materials.
(3) Replace the harness with an aftermarket harness. This is the most expensive option.
(1) Replace your harness with one from a junkyard. If this is possible, then it's the cheapest. However, this requires finding the same harness to fit your truck's year and options (hard) and finding one that's not hacked up (even harder).
(2) Repair what you've got. I have gone this route on another project (Ford Galaxie). I rebuilt the entire thing by hand. This takes a lot of patience and fair amount of dexterity and electrical skill, but is the second cheapest option if you already have the tools and materials.
(3) Replace the harness with an aftermarket harness. This is the most expensive option.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Of the aftermarket, here are some popular vendors:
Painless Wiring
American Autowire (Highway, Builder, and Power Plus series)
Ron Francis (Express & Retro series)
Kwik Wire (14 ckts for $195 or 22 ckts for $226 through Yogi's)
Painless Wiring
American Autowire (Highway, Builder, and Power Plus series)
Ron Francis (Express & Retro series)
Kwik Wire (14 ckts for $195 or 22 ckts for $226 through Yogi's)
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,375
Likes: 5
From: seattle
List your trucks option, a/c or not, tilt/cruise or not, engine size, auto or manual trans, California emissions or not and its sequential build sequence(last 6 characters of the VIN), if you can find a tag on the harness post that info as well...also which harness/es are you in need of...theres several in these trucks...
- cs65
- cs65
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 1
From: Suburbs of Chicago
A painless wiring harness is the most popular upgrade IMHO, most people are pretty happy with it.
As far as the exhaust leak, are you running headers? You're gonna have to extract the bolts in the head. Don't worry its a lot of fun. See if your manifold is cracked/warped, then make sure the mating surfaces are clean and straight. A new gasket and proper torque sequence and you should be good to go.
As far as the exhaust leak, are you running headers? You're gonna have to extract the bolts in the head. Don't worry its a lot of fun. See if your manifold is cracked/warped, then make sure the mating surfaces are clean and straight. A new gasket and proper torque sequence and you should be good to go.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
i actually don't even really need an entire rewire. We fixed some of the wiring and now it wont turn off. So if someone can just make it turn off i can be driving it around. As far as the exaust leak weve been told the only solution is new heads
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
You mean the engine doesn't shut off when you turn the key off? Sounds like the ignition switch was miswired.
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Holy crap. That's a new one... call me a skeptic because that's a drastic step for an exhaust leak. How the heck can the shop determine that the only solution is to replace the heads without removing the manifolds or actually seeing a crack? I hope yer working with a reputable and trustworthy shop cuz it sounds like the diagnosis might be a result of trying to drum up business. Lastly, you mentioned "filling it with epoxy"... fill what with epoxy?
For the potential cost of replacement, I'd be thinking of adding a few hundred dollars and go with aluminum heads.
For the potential cost of replacement, I'd be thinking of adding a few hundred dollars and go with aluminum heads.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
we cant take the bolts off that hold the manifold to the heads because there rusted so bad. I suppose we could try to get them off and end up breaking at least half of them but in the end i think new heads may be the best idea. Is painless wiring just a company that sells wiring harness? The fuse box isn't getting power. Any ideas on why it wouldn't be. We know this because we put a wire from the battery straight to the box to give it power and when we did that everything on the truck worked correctly.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
77_150
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
19
Aug 8, 2013 09:26 PM
81F100C
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Jul 20, 2012 06:55 PM
