I have a 76 f-150 4x4 and i'm in need of a coplete wiring harness for my truck I was wondering if there our any manufactures out there? I'm doing a coplete groud up resto on this truck. It currently is in the state of dissmantle and hoping to have this truck done by the end of March 07.

 

New or used ?

The only thing available new is a harness through www.centechwire.com

The painless system people mention is actually "Painful".

 

I've had good luck with wiring at U-pullit. Seams like wiring never works out unless you buy it new or you take it off yourself.

 

The wiring harness are differant thru the years to. The 77 up is differnat then the 76 down.I know cause I had to replace all the wiring under my dash and hood, when I got my truck the wiring was hacked and it shorted out and I went to a salvage yard pulled a perfect harness and went right in no problems everything works and runs fine.I also have a 76.

 

thanks thats what i've been looking for you guys are great

 

Actualy, there are several different harnesses. Check out the wiring diagrams in the back of a Hayne's manual. I think you can use a harness from 75 up to maybe 77. 73 and 74 won't have the stuff for electronic ignition ( it can be added very easily). 78 and 79 have some different plugs where things go together. I would highly recomend trying to get a 76 harness if at all possible.
One more thing to look out for is the guage panel plug. There is one guage panel that has all guages, and one that has idiot lights for the oil presure and the amp guage. The plugs that go to the rear of the guage panel are different between the 2 different panels. Either get a harness that fits the guage panel that you have, or get the guage panel with the harness. Other than that, everything else will plug in just fine.
I also HIGHLY recomend getting one of the factory shop manuals that this sight offers. They are a little pricey, but they are well worth it when you start on your project.
Doc

 

Idiot light panel harnesses are 12 pin

Gauge panel harnesses are 18 pin

 

I found that my harness was plug and play like if you had a/c it had the plug to plug into the main harness, also for dual tanks, and cruise control everything, ford put extra plugs for these things on the main harness,mine plugged right in and worked great.I have a 76 f-250 with a/c ,dual tanks, it has cruise but i dissconnected it, and I got a regular f-100 harness with 18pin connector and all my extras plugged right in no sweat.Its really not that hard,it was simple to me. I never worked with a 77-79 harness though I know those are a bit differant,with differnat plugs.

 

Yes. That was done for the ease of putting on optional equipment at the dealership.

The main harness should have plugs for every conceivable option. But, you may need the harness extentions that went with the option.

IE: The trucks are wired for Cargo Lamps, clearence lights, etc... but you will need the Harness extention that goes up into the cabs roof.

Some of the plugs on the main harness, can be adapted to later model plugs, without splicing. You remove the wire, and spade connectors (Male or Female) from the plugs, and you configure them to the wiring harness extention you have for the option you are installing.

It's all for the easy of installing options at the dealership.

IE: They have a 1977 of the lot, and the customer wants an option, but they have a bunch of that option in the 1976 style... or 1978 style, and the plugs are different..., or the wiring in the plug is different, the dealer swaps plugs, or wires around, without splicing wires, and you have a pro dealer install without much headache for the employees, and the customer is happy, and drives off the lot with his brand new truck, with the option he wanted, in the least amount of time.

hope this explains it, and why...

 

The big difference we are talking here is Circuits and options.

The Pre 75 system was awful

The 75 76 was better.
The 77 is better yet
The 78/79 is the best.

There is nothing wrong with putting an upgraded harness on an old truck.

The only problem with the 78-79 is the NSS location moves OFF the steering column

and the Hazard light switch moves TO the steering column.

 

The harnesses changed constantly. I'm a bumpside owner, but I've owned atleast 20 67-72 trucks and know the wiring inside and out on these trucks. The two trucks I drive are both 1970 model year, both built in mid 69 and both have completely different wiring harnesses. I've parted 5 1970 Ford trucks and only one of them, an F-100 2wd custom 360/T-18 truck, had the exact same harness as my 1970 F-250 4x4. If you're not caring about originality though who cares, just get all the wiring from the same truck and you're golden.