Howdy folks,
I'm currently in the process of building a "Mostly" 1976-7 F-250 4X4 and have switched cabs and clip. What I think is my problem is that the cab that I switched is off a F150 automatic and I think that there is a switch in the former tranny that is closed when the selector is in Park or Neutral and now that I am hooking up a 4 speed I can't start the engine with the key. I can jump it all right but when I turn the key to on I get dash lights and when I turn to start, everything cuts out. Help!!
Pat Patrick

 

Pat, I believe that it's a netural safty switch. This switch is located near the bottom of the stearing column. You may have a wire crossed. I use a 76 column, and auto transmission in my 66. If this safty switch, and when working properly, will cause the engine to start only in park or netural, or if disenguaged the truck will start in any gear. My truck will start regardless where the gear selector is. The newer straight drives have to have the clutch fully engaged before they start.

I hope that this will give you some sence of the function of the switch and its location.

John

 

Me thinks you have another problem, if the switch was the problem you wouldn't be able to start it at all.

John

 

If the truck previously started with the key prior to your "work" then you have to back track to find out what you "changed." John is right on the mark in regard to the park/neutral safety switch. That switch completes the start circuit. However, you now have a manual transmission and hence no longer any need for the column shifter. Did you change columns or are you still using the auto shift column? If so, what did you do with the safety switch?

Im' figuring you left it there. If that is the case, you will have to hard wire that switch to make it think it's in "park" or "neutral" to complete the start circuit. There may be a way to retro-fit a neutral safety switch to your manual trans. so that it will only start in neutral. Please clarify what you did in regard to the original auto-shift column. Hope this helps.


Stock Man
1967 Galaxie 500 Convertible (HELP!---I need 15 x5 factory rims)
1967 F-250 FE 390 4wd
1966 F-250 I6 240 2wd LWB Flare Side
<a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee">http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee</a>

 

If you have an automatic column,twist the shift bowl with the lever installed to the park position and retry.If not, find the harness connector that used to go to the auto tranny{4 wires}and with a test light find the wire that lights when you turn the key to start only.That will be the wire from the ign. switch. Now look at the color of the wire at the solenoid and match it to the wire at the connector.Then just mate these two wires and BINGO!I forgot to warn about the clutch pedal switch under the dash.If the harness under the dash is from a manual trans,then the safety switch is on the pedal support bracket.Check it out first before you go too far.
Phillip

 

>
If the truck previously started with the
>key prior to your "work" then
>you have to back track to
>find out what you "changed."
>John is right on the mark
>in regard to the park/neutral safety
>switch. That switch completes the
>start circuit. However, you now
>have a manual transmission and hence
>no longer any need for the
>column shifter. Did you change
>columns or are you still using
>the auto shift column? If so,
>what did you do with the
>safety switch?
> Im' figuring you left it
>there. If that is the
>case, you will have to hard
>wire that switch to make it
>think it's in "park" or "neutral"
>to complete the start circuit.
>There may be a way to
>retro-fit a neutral safety switch to
>your manual trans. so that it
>will only start in neutral.
>Please clarify what you did in
>regard to the original auto-shift column.
> Hope this helps.
> Stock Man 1967 Galaxie 500 Convertible
>(HELP!---I need 15 x5 factory rims)
>1967 F-250 FE 390 4wd 1966
>F-250 I6 240 2wd
>LWB Flare Side <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee">http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee</a>

Thanks for the help, Gotta love this site! Living in a somewhat isolated area on the BC Coast, this site is a real asset in Ford-Land. I'll check out what I have been told and will get back with the results early next week. Commitments for the weekend take me away from playing in the back yard.
Pat Patrick

 

I changed the column when I changed cabs. I took the old column out of the original cab and installed it in this cab. The odd thing is that it did start by the key a couple of times and then this problem became dominant. It will start if you turn the key on and then jump it. Wiring!! Proof that the brain dead can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Thanks
Pat

 

I found the problem! There is a four pin (3 male, 1 female plug that connects the column mounted back up and safety switch wiring. The two red W/trace are the two that govern the safety switch function and when they are connected, all is well in Fordland. Thanks a million to the guys that replied to my plea for help. Why it turned over even once without this wiring change, I have no idea, maybe the plug was grounding the two terminals or maybe a gremlin had it's tongue across the terminals. Anyway, onwards and upwards.
Pat Patrick

 

Patrick:

Glad to hear everyhing is working again at Pat's Place. So long for now.


Stock Man
1967 Galaxie 500 Convertible (HELP!---I need 15 x5 factory rims)
1967 F-250 FE 390 4wd
1966 F-250 I6 240 2wd LWB Flare Side
<a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee">http://www.hometown.aol.com/tbeeee</a>