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1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis Econolines. E150, E250, E350, E450 and E550

Really dumb question

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Old Mar 27, 2024 | 12:23 PM
  #1  
scottscheffer55's Avatar
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Really dumb question

Hi all,
I'm doing some investigation to solve a wiring problem on my 69 E100.
I need to get better access to the part of the harness that connects to the ignition switch so I can check continuity and make sure that everything is routed correctly. The harness has been butchered over the years and solving my problems is an ongoing project. (The color coding is now useless because sections of wire have been replaced.) But, to get to the point, I can remove the collar and the ignition switch and connector don't hand down far enough to see the wires or get things figured out. Is there a bendable metal tab holding it in place or something? I feel dumb asking but maybe someone has played around with that part of the harness recently and can save me some time.
Thanks in advance,
Scott
 
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Old Mar 28, 2024 | 08:23 AM
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Get a new connector to wire in
That way there will be more wire
Those bean counters at Ford are in control of the wiring length and have been for a long time
The engineers used to tell us in school
"There is 6 miles of wire in these new Fords"
We told him back "well, you need 7 because we can't even get a headlamp switch out for testing"
Pull the drivers seat out and lay on milk crates outside the van and look up in there
Good luck
Thats why mechanics is 120 an hour at most shops
Save yourself some dough
Good help is hard to find even for the dealerships
Your 69, you peel those wires back all the way to the coil if you have to to see colors
Good thing about those old ones is there is only about 14 wires in the van going forward from the bulkhead connector including the lights and horns etc.
Should be easy to figure out and I do happen to have the Huge /Yuge 1969 Ford wiring book (somewhere)
 
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Old Mar 28, 2024 | 10:25 AM
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Wow! I actually thought about pulling the drivers seat, but told myself "No! That's ridiculous." Thanks for letting me know. I'm headed out the door to pull the driver's seat!
Thanks a lot!
Scott
 
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Old Mar 28, 2024 | 10:58 AM
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Put cardboard, plywood and carpet padding on the milk crates
Grab a beer
You might be there a while to do a real good job on the wiring repairs
 
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Old Mar 28, 2024 | 05:44 PM
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I pulled mine down far enough to replace the ignition wire, get rid of the resistor to get 12 volts for my electronic ignition upgrade, used the thin screw driver on my mini leatherman to release the pins for pulling out the connector, getting to the heater controls was the hardest.
 
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