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I'm gonna start off by saying I've had a few 73 to 79 model trucks. I've done all sorts of upgrades from big block swaps to A/C. I'm not a guru by any means, but I'm not a roomy either.
I was looking for another 73 to 79 model truck when I happened to find an 86 F150 short bed step side truck that I liked. Sooo..I bought it. It has a 300, Granny 4 speed, and 3.55 gears.
I've been lurking here a couple of months, learning from you guys and gathering parts. I already scored the stuff for a duraspark and non feedback carberator as well as some EFI exhaust manifolds. Then disaster struck. I suffered a catastrophic engine compartment fire last weekend. Every wire from the grill to the firewall is toast.
so, I guess my first question is: I'm rolling over some ideas to fix it..and I'm wondering if it would be best to just replace the entire .cab and engine harness with another one. I'm also wondering if I do this, would it be better to get something like an 80 to an 82 model harness that would be more correct for the duraspark and non feedback carberator.
At this point, ALL of the wires to the solenoid, starter, alternator, headlights, etc are completely shot. I'm thinking I should remove the dashboard, then the cab harness and just put another harness in. I could get another truck, or at least a body for my motor and transmision, but I really like the body and chassis that I have. They're both in great shape.
i would greatly appreciate any opinions and personal experience with a problem like this.
Last but not least, I realize we are all picture fiends so here you go...
Not a bad looking body for a truck this old. Heres what im working with.
Do yourself a favor and get an entire new harness. The only wiring that might be salvageable in that harness is in the cab (i.e. dome light and doors) or back by the tail lights. Everything else is toast.
I'm a professional electronics tech and I would laugh at one of my co-workers or my boss if they wanted me to salvage a harness with that much damage. Good luck.
That dose suck, at least you did not loose the truck.
I don't know about your year but the 81 the engine bay wiring and dash wiring are all one unit.
Down by the frame under the brake booster/master that harness plugs into a harness that goes to the rear.
If you have AC from what I found so far on my 81 there is a harness that plugs in behind the HVAC control panel and out under the HVAC box to the engine bay things.
I still dealing with wiring on mine and when done may have a non AC harness for an 81 (300 six/T18) up for grabs if it will work but may be a bit before I am done and can give it up.
BTW what was the cause of the melt down?
Dave - - - -
The cause of the meltdown is still under investigation at this point, but the fire started in the carberator area so I'm blaming the feedback carb.
Im thinking my best bet will be to take the dash board out of the truck, remove all the wiring. Then put a different main harness in the cab and run rest of the wires where ever they go. Is that the best way?
Any opinions on going to an earlier harness like 80 to 82, or should I go back with an 86?
Looking at my picture you are right.
Because I pulled both harnesses as 1 unit and not un-plugging anything I did not need to I thought it was 1
81 non-AC harness as pulled from the truck.
The 81 parts truck had AC and the AC dash I wanted and being the harness goes thru the dash frame I pulled the dash with the harness.
You can see some of the wires on the right side, the others are behind the paper.
Do you plan on keeping the feed back system? If so then I would try and find the same year or at least a feed back system harness.
If you plan on going DSII the 82 on back should do the trick I would think.
Give a look in the "parts for sale" area I think there are 2 guys that list parts for our trucks and they may have something that will work.
Reminds me I should check for an AC harness for my truck, mine has some cut wires.
Dave ----
Whenever you say relay harness, are you referring to the starter solenoid thats on the fender well?
Hey Dave, I'm not sure about 80 to 86 A/C yet, but I had a 73 that t have A/C from the factory. I went and got a 78 A/C harness. It urged right in to my dash harness and A/C components.
The whole reason I asked about using an earlier harness is the feedback system is gonna be the first thing to go. I don't like it at all.
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
Look at C in pic, the starter relay is 11450.
14A303 is the relay feed harness I see from your first post would that also be called the trailer relay harness?
The heavy ga. yellow wire in the brake booster/master area that it would plug into?
Dave ----
I'm sure that illustration will end up being quite helpful. Thanks a bunch for posting it.
That picture of the harness laying in the seat...Is that what a complete harness looks like?
I don't know why it looks like a LOT more wires than the one on the floor but both are from the same year trucks.
The only thing different is the floor one does not have the AC harness plugged into the main harness.
If you look close at the dash harness the big rubber plug that feeds the wires thru the fire wall is above the fuse box.
Now look at the floor harness that rubber plug is just to the left of the fuse box that you see the mounting bracket is black.
Also the rubber plug by the tire goes thru the right side fire wall.
That same plug is at the other end of the dash and if you follow the shifter handle up it runs right into the rubber plug.
Dave ----
11-07-2017, 02:00 AM
