Thinking about updating to an atm fuse block, any one done this?
My wiring in my truck is completely unmolested so I would rather not change the whole harness out just upgrade the fuse panel.Any thoughts!

 

I would probably try to avoid cutting any wires on your truck, but I'm probably weird about that. I'd be wanting to get a donor harness to make the new fuse box interface to the truck. But then there's the wiper motor which seems to be hard-wired into the harness with no means of disconnection!

 

If the wiring and fuse box are in good working order, and you don't intend adding electrical goodies to your truck, I wouldn't consider a new fuse box to be an upgrade.

That said, if you enjoy tinkering, and you like the idea of a new fuse box, then go for it.

I removed my entire OE wiring and rewired everything, but only because I added many new items, changed the rear lights to LED, and wanted to route wires to the back and tranny via the shifter.

I fitted 2 fuse boxes. One in the engine bay and one just under the glove box where the OE one was.

The pictures below are to give you an idea.

(I don't like the box look in the engine bay, so I'll be rebuilding it into a slimmer neater looking one.)

 

I fitted 2 fuse boxes. One in the engine bay and one just under the glove box where the OE one was.


.......I stared at that sentence a long time until I realized where you were from......

The Aux. box isn't a bad idea - I'm trying to figure out the cleanest way to beef up the circuits to a trailer pigtail, and keep coming back to adding in dedicated circuits from relays with primary power fed from another fuse box. I think that's the route I'm going to go.

 

yeah I was kinda wondering about that myself LOL. would like to add some things and clean up some others,On other trucks I've had I also added fuse blocks and relay panels and even did one with american wiring.But as we all know the fuse panels in these trucks 39 plus years old and they do have the proclivity to rust and lose there tinning on the fuse connectors,and those fuse's can be a bit tough to find at times.

 

I know on the 79 that the wiper motor unplugs from the back of wiper switch mounted on dash as there are two plugs on switch and looks like one plug when all connected .

 

I prefer the newer fuse types as well. But I have also had great results cleaning up the old ones with a good soak in Evap-O-Rust liquid. Came out looking like brand new!
Of course, it's hard on most vehicles to get the fuse box loose enough to hang down into a container of the stuff without removing it from the vehicle. Which is not a desirable option, since by that point you could just as well install your new one. But if there is that leeway and you have enough wire to let the fuse panel hang, it's another possible solution.

Paul

 

@JakeHan

LOL, I just read your post and the penny(cent) didn't drop for a while.

I see what you mean now. My Driver side is your passenger side. I'd forgotten !

I'm not sure about the U.S. trucks, but mine lacked relays !!

There was one for the horn only !!

With regard to the trailer pigtail, if your OE gauge wire and fuse can handle an extra two 12v bulbs, then you'd be ok with connectors like the white ones in the picture below, splicing the OE wires to accommodate.

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of my pigtail wiring.

@ meangreen92,

It's ok to cut wires, including the wiper motor ones, as long as all connections are done properly. (proper cutters/crimpers, heatshrink, dielectric grease etc where needed)

 

Yeah, Ford was fickle with their relays back then.
My '79 did not have a horn relay because of certain other options. So I added my own.
Same with headlight relays, since they didn't use them at all until a few years later. So I added my own in that regard too.
Happy about both additions.

Nifty dash/instrument panel you've got there FMJ. Got some pics of the business side?
Sorry if you've posted them up elsewhere and I just forgot.

Thanks

Paul

 

Hi there 1Ton.

I believe the dash is from an F600 and is OE here.

Nifty indeed. It made customising and fitting extra gauges a breeze.

That's interesting that a U.S. truck did not have a horn or headlight relay.

My Haynes book wiring colour coding only matched my truck's colours 10% !

But it did show multiple relays that I did not have.

Here's some more pics.

@alans77crew.

If you do fit new fuse boxes and relays, add in a spare relay or two for future use.

I'm about to fit an electric fuel pump via a relay and oil pressure switch, but I have no room for a new relay.

Luckily I'm rebuilding the engine bay box so I can add 2 more easily.