I have a 1979 f150 ranger lariat. I was told by the previous owner, that the original owner told him the truck came with cruise control. In fact he said it came with everything except tilt steering wheel. That was incorrect. I just found out it does have tilt steering wheel. A visit to a junkyard Monday told me that. I just checked and mine has tilt steering. It's works via the turn signal. Does anyone have a picture of what the cruise control looks like on the firewall or carburetor? What should I look for? The stock steering wheel has been replaced with a 3 spoke steering wheel. Thanks for any tips.

 

I have a '78 Lariat 400 with cruise. I'll send you pics when I get a chance to take them (next day or so). I'm not sure I'd recommend resurrecting the cruise control - looks a little scary to me how cruise control technology worked in the late 70's. :-)

 

Okay thanks. I did a little searching. I found some pictures. It looks like a "chain" runs from fire wall. A chain that would be used to turn on a light! Not sure if that's correct or not. I would appreciate some pictures.

 

For now here is the OEM steering wheel and the horn pad with the CC buttons.

The round looking thing just inboard of the power brake booster was the contraption that held the throttle on a 79 Bronco. With what looked like an aftermarket/dealership installed CC. It has the control piece off/on/set buttons attached to the turning signal switch.

I still have that round piece in the eng compartment and a black box with a adjustment screw hole that was under that dash on the "parts" Bronco.

 

Found some more pics of a CC horn pad that has been modified to still get the horn to work without a CC wiring set up. This was the PO of the blue trucks set up....I have since replaced the horn pad with a better looking one.

I have a couple of other used CC horn pads on the shelf.... I am sure at least one has been modified to work without CC.

You are looking for the large clear multi point connector set up steering wheel. And I believe some extra wiring in the column?

 

Thanks for all the pictures. I have no wiring present on my steering column. The horns no even hooked up. I'll check tomorrow if I still have anything on the firewall. Thanks again

 

I found someone who wants to sell me the steering wheel and column together. He doesn't want to separate the two. The steering column has nothing to do with cruise control does it? It's all in the horn pad?

 

There is a 3rd wire required for the CC function (as 77&79F250 mentioned) so the wiring in the truck would likely have something coming up the steering column but I'm not sure the steering column itself is any different (when I look at steering column replacements I don't see a with/without CC option)...





Here is a diagram showing the CC components that would be on the engine.








This shows the other components under the hood. Note the circled red speed sensor. The Speedometer cable is 2 parts - one from transmission to this sensor and one from sensor to speedometer.






My setup looks like the diagrams - I'll send you pics to go with it. Storms blowing through town tonight so I can't take pics until tomorrow.

 

Between 77&79F250's dealer install and my factory install info you should have a good idea of what you have to work with.

 

1978/79 F100/350 & Bronco steering wheel is different than 1975/77.

T/S switch with factory Speed Control is specific to 1978/79 F100/350 & Bronco.

Pic: This is the 1975/77 steering wheel. 9D843 is the speed control amplifier, located next to the fuse block on the inside of the firewall.

What size is the engine?

 

351M/400 4 barrel

 

Thanks a lot. That is good info. I can't get over the chain. I will check mine out to see what's left.

 

I would say yes sort of, the steering column has something to do with it. Now that I think about it, NO the actual column itself would not. But I at least least think there is a different steering column wiring harness for a truck with CC versus no CC??

How else would the cruise button on the steering wheel get the signal to the control system?

 

All the pics I saw posted of the steering wheels are from mid 80s trucks or vans and they have the resume button. 78 and 79 original wheels did not have the resume button and therefore the button does nothing. I understand that if you use a a cruise amplifier box from an 80s truck with resume , then the resume button will work.

I really don't think the column has anything special in the wiring. In fact it appears from wiring diagrams that cruise has one less wire. The cruise control amplifier has a connector that goes inline between the column connector female and male connectors. I understand it that the cruise system utilizes wiring already in the column and routes it through resistors possible inline with the wheel switches located in the wheel hornpad and somehow I think the amplifier sees the resistance differences to perform the various cruise functions.

If it is helpful at all I have most of the parts needed loose and can take pictures of what I have. I have a spare tilt column, cruise wheels from both 80s and 78/79 wheel, cruise amplifier box and servo (piece with chain for carburetor) and a brake switch. I do not have any extra vacuum cans or speedometer cable sensors but I have a complete working system in my 79 truck. i also have the factory shop manual which is much more detailed than what I posted below.

One problem you will probably have since you have a 4 barrel is that the carb linkagemight be a bit more forward than the 2 barrels. When I swapped to a 460 from 351m 2 barrel, I had to use a servo motor and bracket that I got off a 77 lincoln 460 years ago. It had a longer chain to reach the linkage.

 

Wow all that is great info. I did not get to look at mine this morning. Was running late. I have a canister on fender well. My truck was supposed to have cruise on it from the factory. Someone did put 4 barrel carburetor and change steering wheel. Thanks again. And extra thanks about resume button.