OK

FNG here with my new to me '79 4wd short bed. The carburetor is sitting on the bench and my wife, wanting to make this a collaborated project, said she wants to rebuild it. So in the mean time I figured I'd check and repair few other things while that is in "progress".

The speedo wasn't working so I promptly located a 100 mph head figuring it would be needed. I grabbed a handful of tools and dove into pulling my dash apart.

As it turns out there is nothing wrong with the speedo but for some reason was disconnected. I think I'll still use the 100 mph head and replace all the lights with LEDs since I have it out.

I will also look around to find a half decent replacement for the Realistic auto-reverse tape deck, the CB will be removed permanently.

I think lubing the heater control cables will be helpful too.

Now here's my question, is there anything else I should maybe think of doing since I'm at this point?

Is there any type of upgrade I can do to anything else back there?

Can I upgrade the wiper switch to intermittent?

Is there a better headlight switch I can go to?

One big question. I know the ignition switches are easy to work on, this also makes them easy to tamper with and steal. I actually have an acquaintance who had a nice classic Ford P/U stolen a few years back. It traumatized him so badly that he replaced it with a new Chevy . Is there an improved, more tamper-proof, ignition switch? Should I wire up some super trick, secret secondary switch so only me and those I trust will be able to start my truck? Or am I being overly paranoid?

I plan on visiting a local wrecking yard that says they have plenty of compatible vehicles this weekend and any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

The Only thing I know of that can keep someone from starting your truck and taking it is an alarm that shutsoff power to the ignition switch using a relay. So when you lock the doors it keeps power from the ignition switch until you unlock them.

 

The wiper switch and delay box from 73-91 will work. Some says the 80-91 set up requires a wire or 2 to be moved in the plug, some say its plug and play. I bought 2 mid 80s set ups from junkyard but have not installed them yet so I can't comment on it at this point.
As far as anti-theft I'm not sure there are many easy options out there. Unless you've got the interior hood release with key on it, all a theif has to do is jump power to the coil then jump the solenoid with a screw driver and its running. That is a whole lot easier and faster than trying to mess with the ignition switch. No steering lock on these either. I don't see a secret ignition shut off of much use when you can just hook a wire to a coil and bypass the whole thing, but thats just my opinion.

 

You could add a hidden fuel shutoff somewhere. If it was stolen, it wouldn't go very far. I've seen manual and electric versions of the shutoff.
I've also seen a second solenoid wired in further down the starter cable. If you jump the first solenoid nothing happens.

 

Well if your dash pad is cracked and broken I would actually recommend talkin to the man right there Crsweet about a custom dash pad his stuff is freakin awesome and he didn't even have to plug himself for a sale.

 

To think of it I tried jumping the solenoid the other day before I pulled the carb and all I got was a few small sparks. There might already be one. I'll have to check.

 

The dash is actually in tip top shape, thank goodness.

 

Well thats rare as hell

 

No joke.

 

Can you expand on this a little? Which model came with the wiper delay?

 

80-91 F-series. You can find more info if you search for it but here is one such post.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post8573446

 

The delay wipers were available on all models. They're more commonly found on the higher end Ranger XLT's but could be on any model.
It's real easy to tell if the truck has delay wipers or not.
On standard wipers from the "off" position the switch will only turn clockwise. On trucks with delay, from the "off" position, the switch will also turn counterclockwise to activate the delay feature.
The delay system is composed of two parts, the switch and the governor box. it is a total plug-n-play system.
To install, you unplug the standard switch and remove. The wiring harness plugs into the governor box, then the delay switch plugs into the governor box.
The box bolts under the dash and the new switch installs inplace of the old.
Also, it's important to be sure the switch is grounded or else the delay function won't work.
Here's what the system's governor box looks like.

 

Wire a secondary "run/on" switch in the ashtray or some other not to ovious place. If they want it they will get it, the switch only gives you time to reload, lol.

 

According to this you need a different switch for LEDs maybe I should just replace them with the standard bulbs.

 

I just got back from the wrecking yard and found a few useful things. Most of the '73-'79s had been picked clean of nice dash parts but I found a F150 in the back that was marked as a '68 but didn't look right, it was a dent side. I opened it up and I saw a very nice dash panel that looked like mine and an instrument cluster that had a 85 MPH speedo, looks like someone got 68 & 78 confused. I grabbed my power drill and had those out in short order. Now I have cluster in perfect condition, mine is a little beat up because the screw clip didn't want to let the screw let go and a panel that is not perfect but is better condition than the one that was in mine. I didn't find an intermittent switch but that's no big deal, that can wait.

There is a yard around the corner that is a strip and stack type of operation that I went to next. I did find a few dent sides with good dashes, maybe even better than the one I found but climbing up and crawling into a cab with at least one other truck on top of it didn't appeal to me. Especially since I had already found the stuff over at the other yard.

If anyone really needs a dash panel and/or cluster I would be willing to go back. BTW they are non A/C type panels.