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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Quick Wire ID...ground?

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Old Oct 10, 2024 | 02:32 PM
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Quick Wire ID...ground?

Howdy, in preperation for a wiring update with a kit from summit, can anyone confirm this 2 prong connection? I assume black is ground for (distributor?) And green goes to coil...the new kit doesnt have connections for this plug but im assuming i need it for everything to function properly? ps. This is on a 1984 with a 302 Automatic...thanks!

 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 07:05 AM
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Some plugs dont get used and are left open like that.
When I get out to my truck I will check it to see what it has, 81 F100 300 six manual
Dave ----
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 08:09 AM
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I think you have it right. Here's a pic from my truck with the very tired DS2-to-Distributor harness: LINK

My truck is an '80 so the wire color codes may be slightly different from an '84
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by aherz0g
I assume black is ground for (distributor?) And green goes to coil...
Oddly enough, the distributor does not have a ground wire. The distributor is grounded at the base via metal-to-metal contact with the engine block.

Here's a wiring diagram for 1985, which should be close for your application. See page 27 for the distributor ground, the little upside down pine tree symbol:

https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1985-evtm.html

There is a ground wire (#60) for the Duraspark module, via the distributor, but that wire does not pass through a connector with only two contacts. It passes through connector C322 (3 contacts) and C323 (4 contacts).

Your mystery connector may be C169 for the tachometer, as seen at the right of page 98. Does your truck have a factory tach? If not, the wiring provision may be there anyway, as Dave has noted.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 08:25 AM
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Your trucks wiring should be in here, 81-84'
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1981-evtm.html
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Bronco638
I think you have it right. Here's a pic from my truck with the very tired DS2-to-Distributor harness: LINK

My truck is an '80 so the wire color codes may be slightly different from an '84

Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Scroll to post #26 in that thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post21347054

That mystery connector was identified as C311 for the factory tach. In the 1981 EVTM, you can see it on page 19.

https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1981-evtm.html

In my previous reply, I was looking at a 1985 EVTM and the same connector was now called C169. This is NOT to be construed as me being the W word, but potentially merely less correct than usual.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 08:43 AM
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Yes, Karl, I hope you didn't take it as I was saying you were...mistaken... LOL
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Max Capacity
I hope you didn't take it as I was saying you were...mistaken...
We don't use that word, either.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 10:45 AM
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FYI my truck did not come with a Tach but I added one and it worked with out me needed to do anything under the hood.
Dave ----
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 11:25 AM
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hahah yall rock thanks! My truck doesn't have a tach and is an automatic so I'll probably leave that one unplugged and see if the truck is happy with that once I get the new wiring in
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by kr98664
Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Scroll to post #26 in that thread

This is NOT to be construed as me being the W word, but potentially merely less correct than usual.
Glad I could help. And, of course we would NEVER think that you were W........r.........o........
 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by aherz0g
It is definitely for the tachometer. My ‘84 has 4 connectors in that area. This was the only connector with 2 wires. The others all had 3+. When unplugged, the tachometer went dead.

In the 1981 EVTM, this connector is called C311. For 1985, it is C169. I looked in my 1984 manual and it’s not even shown, but is definitely on the vehicle. It’s as if the 1984 EVTM was prepared on a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend.


 
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Old Oct 11, 2024 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by kr98664
It is definitely for the tachometer. My ‘84 has 4 connectors in that area. This was the only connector with 2 wires. The others all had 3+. When unplugged, the tachometer went dead.

In the 1981 EVTM, this connector is called C311. For 1985, it is C169. I looked in my 1984 manual and it’s not even shown, but is definitely on the vehicle. It’s as if the 1984 EVTM was prepared on a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend.
I have not heard that "Friday / Holiday" line in a long time
Dave ----
 
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