Hi Guys,

Just a few quick questions in regards to Cruise Control for these old Ford Trucks:
1) Does this really exist?
2) Was it an Factory option, dealer option or aftermarket add-on?
3) If you find one, what should it be worth? (NOS, Aftermarket)
4) Will it add value to the Truck?
5) Does it work?
6) Is it just a pain in the butt?

Thanks!

PS check out my new mirrors in my gallery!

 

>Hi Guys,
>
>Just a few quick questions in regards to Cruise Control for
>these old Ford Trucks:
> 1) Does this really exist?
> 2) Was it an Factory option, dealer option or aftermarket
>add-on?
> 3) If you find one, what should it be worth? (NOS,
>Aftermarket)
> 4) Will it add value to the Truck?
> 5) Does it work?
> 6) Is it just a pain in the butt?
>
>Thanks!
>
>PS check out my new mirrors in my gallery!


1) Yep it's out there (Now I have the X files theme stuck in my head!)

2) All of the above. Some dealers would add it on if they had a truck in stock that someone wanted buy and had to have the option (My 78 has "Factory" dealer installed Ford A/C). You could, and still can in a lot of places, buy after market cruise. My father did this in his new 76 F250 with a kit from (gasp) K-Mart.

3) If you want it to look all "stock" then the most expensive part will be the steering column. Price range around 100. If you can find the whole system at a salvage yard I would think that you could pull everything for around 150.

4) Value is a perception. When it comes haggling time someone might offer you (for example) 2750 over 2500 because you have cruise, but its “worth” is up to you and the buyer.

5) Yep it worked great with little problems if maintained.

6) It wouldn’t be that hard to install. Maybe an afternoon with a beer or two and a friend to bull with. Personally I like cruise. It can be a leg savior on long trips.

 

Thanks Wayne!
So the cruise was on the steering column if it came from the factory -correct?
The one I heard about was dash mount and supposedly factory, this means that it would be a dealer option - something like the dealer a/c that was mounted in the vent. (BTW - I have factory a/c!)
Steering column sounds tricky and I'm not sure if I want to loose my tilt steering (I live for tilt steering!)
Adding value is more of 'theoretical' question - I would not want to do anything that would harm/devalue my Truck.
Good to hear it works.
Cruise is definately a leg saver - I've had it on other vehicles that I have used on cross-country & out-of-country trips!
Well, now I have one more thing on my wish-list to add!
Cheers!

 

The cruise control buttons are on either side of the horn pad in the steering wheel on the 78-79.

You can have cruise with or without tilt.
It's the wiring harness that makes the difference.

[b][i][font color=red]Dennis[/font][i][b]

[font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG

[font color=green]Do You Need To Decode Your 78 Truck Data Plate?
[/font

http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/FordTruckCodes.html

[font color=red]If New Ford Parts Is What You're Cravin',
Then Buy Them HERE,At Motorhaven![/font]



[font color=green]Please Feel Free To Visit My Website.[/font]

http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html

[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]


[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V [/font]

 

Yeah I should have been just a touch cleaerer about its location. That is why I said to pull the whole steering clumon.

 

Any Cruise on the Trucks before 78 was After-market.

 

Just to clairify: Ford offered FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE starting in 1973 on the Fseries trucks, in the horn pad controls.
I have a '78 F150 that came with cruise and fixed steering column, I found a tilt column in a '79 F100 Explorer and swapped it into my '78,just plugged in the wireing harness and swapped my horn pad with controls to the tilt column and I now have the best of both worlds-Tilt and Cruise.

 

Yes cruise control was definately available before 78. I have a 76 sales brochure to prove it.

If you want to swap you will need to find:
1. Brain box Mounted on bulkhead behind instrumet cluster.
2. Wiring harness. Follow it back from the brain box and unplug it as you go.
3. Turn signal switch. Do NOT cut the gray connector off the end!!
4. Steering wheel with horn pad.
5. Throttle servo
6. One way vacuum valve
7. Vacuum reservoir-- looks like a coffee can
8. Brake pedal
9. Brake power booster
10.Brake switch. There are 2, 1 black plastic, 1 silver metal. You don't have the metal one.

Takes about an afternoon and a hole saw to install. Not too bad. Hardest item to find for me was a steering wheel.

 

I got mine from a 78 Bronco tilt and cruise coloum for 25.00 and my old straight cloum very simple to install if you get every thing you do have to cut a hole to run the wiring thru best to look real close at the one you are getting and see how it set up one nice thing Ford did was put all the wiring connectors in their wiring have installed cab lights,tilt wheel and cruise,clove box light,ash tray light floor and crogo light,100mph speedometer ,intermitt wippers and lighted visers. the only thing I haven't done is the heated mimors and full guages still have lights for oil and amp the guages are next mine is a 79 f150 2wd and all the connectors were there to plug in the options

 

I have cruise control on my '78 Bronco, and it came with a fixed wheel and the swithes are on the blinker switch. I also have the manual that came with it. There's a trans-ducer that mounts on a bracket close to the drive shaft. The drive shaft has these magnets tapped to it, with shipping tape, that is inline with the trans-ducer. They send a magnetic feild through the trans-ducer to read the speed of the vehicle (I Guess ). Has anyone of ya'll heard of such a cruise control? Do any of ya'll know where i can purchase another trans-ducer? One of the male adapters has broken off and now it does'nt work. Thanks in advance, Rob

 

i just found a "ford truck accessories and specialties catalog" in the paper work i have from a truck i just bought. and ford did install cruise at the dealer. it's attached to the turn signal. it has a picture of it and here is the option number (in the book anyway) and what it reads.

L-2 universal speed control. a most handy feature that controls from the turn signal indicator lever and consistently keeps your car at exactly your desired speed. a most comfortable way to travel, and it helps you save gas. truck code B,E,FS basic Nos. Regulator 9a818, Speedo cable 9a820

im gonna post on a thread all the accessories listed, some have price's too. i'll have my girlfriend do it cause she can type WAY FASTER THEN ME.some stuff is REALLY COOL.

Paul

 

In addition to supercab76's excellent junkyard list you need the cruise specific speedo cable. Planning on adding this upgrade soon myself. Only major complication is to combine it with an AOD tranny. Also have only found servos for big blocks, they won't bolt on my '83 HO manifold. Good luck!

 

I have installed cruise control in my 76 crew cab I used the cruise control from a 76 lincoln mark IV it has a inline speed sensor that is located on the firewall the cable goes into it from the speedo and then onto the tranny the control box is the same as the one for the trucks I had to swap my colume It was bad so I use one from a 86 Econoline now my Key switch is on the colume and I have a auto the colume was wired for cruise

have fun

John Workman
76 250 Crew Cab

 

First off, I want to thank every one for their input and assistance. The response rate on this was great. I had no idea there was such interest in cruise control - I know some folks hate it, why I am not sure - I think cruise makes long-hauls much easier!
Now I guess my task is to find a system!
But there has to be one in my neck of the woods some where!
Once again, thanks to everyone for their help!
Cheers,

1979 Ford F-150 Custom Explorer

 

I saw Three Half systems today.

It's Not Funny how fast those Steering columns go.
All the other stuff was there though.


[b][i][font color=red]Dennis[/font][i][b]
[font color=red]Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]

http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Minimorleytruck.JPG

[font color=green] Truck Data Plate Info
[/font
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/FordTruckCodes.html

[font color=red]If New Ford Parts Is What You're Cravin',
Then Buy Them HERE,At Motorhaven![/font]

http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html

[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]

[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
[/font]