(Sorry, I mistakenly posted this previously as a reply rather than a new thread.)
Thanks to help from members responding to my previous posts, I’m slowly sorting out the issues on my recently acquired 1974 F100 XLT short bed, 3 speed column shift (was originally a 302, but now has a 1971 351W). (I now have the 5 volume shop manual, but it doesn’t seem to provide much detail regarding a wiring diagram, unless I’m missing something.)

Now for my next questions:

Dash lights- I realize this might be a can of worms, but any tips to follow are appreciated ... none of the instrument illumination lights work. (As I'm typing this, another post popped up that mentioned the light switch rheostat...how can I bypass that as a test, or should I just replace?) Other lights such as turn signal indicators, alternator light, high beam indicator and dome light do work properly. All gauges work, except for temp and oil pressure (but they are connected to aftermarket gauges). I’ve replaced the 3A fuse and checked the bulbs. (I’m not sure if this is related, but the truck has an aftermarket radio with cobbled wiring that I’m also trying to sort out.)

Cigar lighter does not work. There is no voltage at the wire that plugs into it.

Fuel door – My truck bed has a fuel door, rather than an exposed cap. Did any 1974 trucks (possibly later assembled short beds) have a fuel door? The date on the door jamb is July 1974. I know that the bed deck and front wall were previously replaced, but I thought the sides of the bed were original to the truck.
Thanks

 

For 74 the truck would of had an exposed cap. No door. For your dash lights, if the original backing is still there it maybe falling apart causing the bulb holders to not make contact or your headlight switch maybe turned all the way. I'd check that, but changing the switch is fairly easy and the price for a new one is reasonable. The radio wiring maybe easier to just remove and start fresh, I had to do that with my 79 when I got it, because sometimes the PO messes a lot of stuff up. I don't recall at the moment if there is a fuse for the cig lighter or not. I think there is. Your factory gauges may not be hooked up in the engine bay. Sometimes with aftermarket gauges people remove the original senders or just leave them unhooked. I'm sure someone with better answers will chime in.Truck looks great. Hope you get your gremlins out.

 

Nice ... I just changed the headlight switch, and now have dash lights! Easy and cheap repair. As a bonus, I found the light for the windshield wiper switch dangling behind the dash, and hooked that up. Thanks.

 

Glad you got it fixed and found a missing light all at the same time. That's always good.