Buying '78 Lil Red Express Truck

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Gotta love Amazon delivering on Sunday, got my fuse panel a couple of hours ago. I can install it where the factory one was by shortening height 1/2". As you can see by pic, very easy to do. Nice product.

Now, I'm working on transferring circuits. Dodge liked combining a bunch, so looking for splices and connection points where I can break them up. Even with new fuse panel, I'm still going to make control circuits for AC compressor, blower motor, and headlights using my Painless Wiring Aux Panel. All these circuits helped keep this truck WARM. Theres a Canadian sticker on the door jam I may research when I'm done fix'n this thang.

Anyhoo, might be a couple days before I post more progress as I use wiring diagrams to search for factory splices where I can break up circuits.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Can't go too long silent...

First, I REALLY like the new fangled crimping tool. Nice results. I didn't get the Cadillac or the Yugo, it feels like I got the DODGE of crimping tools.

I decided the best approach to wiring the panel is to make 2 foot tails for most of the truck side wiring. Then I'll take the factory panel and verify match with wiring diagram and remove each one until it has no more connections. Then I'll splice the tails on the new panel to the truck wiring. After completing the wiring, going to double check wiring, connections, and fuses. I have an RV battery cutoff switch I'm thinking about installing along with a 40 amp auto resetting breaker. Get all that done and do a SMOKE test of the system.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

Can't go too long silent...

I decided the best approach to wiring the panel is to make 2 foot tails for most of the truck side wiring. Then I'll take the factory panel and verify match with wiring diagram and remove each one until it has no more connections. Then I'll slice the tails on the new panel to the truck wiring. After completing the wiring, going to double check wiring, connections, and fuses. I have an RV battery cutoff switch I'm thinking about installing along with a 40 amp auto resetting breaker. Get all that done and do a SMOKE test of the system.

Cheers, Ron

Ron,

Bingo, that's a good plan keep the smoke IN the insulation don't let it escape.

I got a feeling your training and skills puts mine in the electrical rumble seat but I did something almost identical on my 1985 Caravan 2.2L CARB to FI transformation but with one additional keep the smoke in twist.

Master fuse yup. But I would make ONE connection at a time with a wire nut then turn on power and smoke proof the connection. One wire at a time but it IMHO really helped me get 'er done.

Save the smoke for BBQ.

Gary

 

[HPSimpson]

Great plan follow the factory wiring diagram then verify, yes a master switch will keep truck at your place not gone somewhere else!

 

[Wiredawg]

WAR STORY:

in 1977, I installed a "new" electro-mechanical key telephone system (KTS). After wiring the power supply and the key telephone units (KTUs), installer then performs a "SMOKE" test on the system. My crew chief had me do something to distract me, then as I plugged the system in, smoke started rolling up from the power supply; I freaked and quickly unplugged the system. Still smoke coming out, my crew chief started laughing. He had placed a lit cigarette on a small ledge under the power supply.

Anyhoo, smoke no good with wiring.

Cheers, Ron the phone mon

 

[TFucili]

Things stop working when you let the smoke out.

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Got most of the circuit tails wired and color labeled on the new fuse panel. And, yesterday i successfully removed about 1/2" of height on the fuse panel. Still got to cut the bolt down so it will clear the dash AC duct just below it.

Part of the longer amount of time is splitting circuits Dodge had combined and to correspond with labeling on the new fuse panel. The Painless instructions call for cutting a factory ignition circuit in half and running through the new fuse panel. Might add a concealed switch to function as a kill switch to deter theft.

Hope do be done wiring and labeling tails on the fuse panel Friday and Saturday start transferring circuits off the old panel to the new panel. I figure that'll take 2 or 3 days.

As I get burned out each day, I'll take a pic and provide a status.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

I don't see no smoke leaking out, good.

 

[HPSimpson]

Great work you are doing! Don't forget your ankle it needs some rest Wiredawg.

 

[Wiredawg]

Great work you are doing! Don't forget your ankle it needs some rest Wiredawg.

Thanks, only working about 3 hours a day, and mama let me work on it in the kitchen. Shes my sweetheart.

I see the surgeon Monday to evaluate my ankle. Hope it's a good report.

Thanks, Ron

 

[TFucili]

Ron, I just caught the tail end of an episode of Garage Squad, and they were doing a LRE. When they went to fire it up they tracked a no-start to corrosion in the bulkhead connector. Imagine that.

 

[Wayne M.]

Hey Ron, this should make you feel better!
Probably my last “summer maintenance” winter equipment truck this year.
This was probably a MASH style repair during last winter caused by tire chains. I’ll get this all rewired, sealed and fixed up as part of my list on this truck.

Have a great day!

 

[Wiredawg]

Ron, I just caught the tail end of an episode of Garage Squad, and they were doing a LRE. When they went to fire it up they tracked a no-start to corrosion in the bulkhead connector. Imagine that.

Tom,
Thanks for mentioning. The LRE episode plays again Monday, so I'll definitely be recording it. Every little bit helps.

Thanks again, Ron

 

[GCroyle]

Ron,

The LRE is pretty special, no doubt we're all watching and armchair rewiring it with you but I gotta admit, lots of us are concerned about this smoke issue, real bad when you loose the smoke.

But the WWW is here to rescue you if you need it, I'm sure the TDR family can chip in on a go fund Ron thing and get you some new smoke.

One day I'll post how I spend some of my bench hours on my hobby. Pretty far off topic.

Gary

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,
Dr told me to back off full weight on my ankle as he had concerns about healing on the left side from the xray. I have CT scan Wed, and will find out prognosis. He ordered a brace to replace my air cast also. Put my back out yesterday, likely from cast being higher than my right foot, causing some torquing.

Found a really good resource the Dodge Connection. Had several pages addressing wiring issues, particularly with the factory ammeter overheating and actually melting the dash. Although there weren't any signs of overheating, makes sense to not run the entire electrical current (60 to 70 amps) of the truck through the plastic instrument panel. And it showed where the hot wire feeding through the firewall and where the factory wiring splices are in the wiring loom. So, when my back gets better, I'm going to split up the hot circuit to three separate ones, then drill out the hot individual slots in the firewall connector, and solder/ heat shrink about a foot of slack to allow the firewall connector to be unplugged in the future. I hate having a gauge non functional in the dash, so I may wire just wire one of the legs of the the new fuse panel through it. Or, maybe I'll run the new audio amp through it.

And, I finished wiring the tails onto the new fuse panel, so all I need to do is get over my back issue and get approved for full weight on the ankle.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

That's pretty good news except for back issued sure hope everthings works out.

 

[DavidC]

I don't know if you ever mentioned it or not or I just forgot. What happened to your OEM ankle ?

 

[Wiredawg]

I don't know if you ever mentioned it or not or I just forgot. What happened to your OEM ankle ?

Dave,
I broke my ankle in 1978, 1987, and 2003. Had it scoped, steroid injections, and finally, almost no cartilage left, had it removed and prosthetic titanium and plastic placed in 2013, and a repair in 2014. I sheared the plastic joint in Apr 1, 2019 and had it fused Apr 19th. And here I am about 20 weeks later.

Cheers, Ron

 

[DavidC]

3 Times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I shattered the left a few years ago and have a steel plate and 6 screws, nothing like you tho. Cindy did a whopper on hers last year (have to outdo me) and has 16 screws.

 

[GCroyle]

I don't know if you ever mentioned it or not or I just forgot. What happened to your OEM ankle ?

There was a TSB issued for additional service something about adding a grease fitting, but his computer was on the fritz and never saw it on his Radio Shack home made rig and then a recall was created but his VIN was obscured and they lost his new address so, here he is.

Yeah ammeter rings a bell too now that it got mentioned. BEEEEGGGGGGGEEE smoke reservoir.

OK take it easy big guy.