cruise control for conversion

[jayhawktrailers.com]

I'm swapping a 12v from a 98 into a 73 IH crew cab. I have the cruise control unit from the 98. I'd like to make it work. Do I need vaccuum to make it work? I was going to hydra boost the brakes and ditch the vaccuum pump. what find of switching could a person use to operate the unit? I see the four flat conectors on the unit but what needs to be hooked to them. Can I use a simple on off switch? My other question is what to do with the alternator. For simplicity i'd just use the one that's on the motor, but can I used any voltage regulator with it. Weren't the first gen dodge's externaly regulated without going all the way to the electronic brain box? If so could I get a regulator from one of these trucks? thanks in advance for any help. Gotta go to the store and get a new throw out bearing for the 5600 :-laf

 

[KRoberts]

I just finished swapping a 96 Cummins engine into an 85 Dodge chassis and I got the original 96 cruise to work OK. The problem, though, is that the cruise control requires the PCM computer to work, and it also needs the electronic speedometer signal from the rear of the transmission, the original brake lite switch, the push button control panel , and the original wiring harness. In short, it's doable but it's much easier to buy an aftermarket cruise control for $100 and install it. I've done 3 or 4 of those in the last few years, and they come with good instructions. I got mine from J. C. Whitney. Oh, and you do have to have a working vacuum pump since the cruise won't work without it.



Ken

 

[KRoberts]

Oops...

The aftermarket cruise controls I've worked with were installed on gas, NOT diesel, vehicles. They had an inductive pickup going to a plug wire to sense engine speed and a pair of magnets and an inductive pickup coil on the driveshaft for road speed. I don't know if they offer a kit for a diesel.



Ken

 

[DogDiesel]

DIESEL CRUISE CONTROl

Sure you can get diesel kits.

Go to J. C. Whitney site and find cruise control, they have the manf. URL for the kits.

I called the company in TX, and they said they can put a digital kit together. I was looking for a kit for my old '81 VW pickup. Also a kit for my '68 Bronco with a 4BT in it. Could do. I have yet to order, but the Bronco will likely have cruise.



Cost was over $200 for each vehicle, but they could put a kit together.



Wayne

 

[KRoberts]

I've also got a '56 GMC bus conversion with a 6-71 Detroit engine and 4 spd std trans, and I was thinking of adding cruise to it at one time. King makes a system that uses an electric servo that doesn't require vacuum to work, but it's pricey, around $500 if I remember correctly. A friend of mine who repairs imported cars told me that some AUDI or VW cars used a 12V vacuum pump to operate the door locks or some other accessory, I wonder if that pump could be used to adapt the vacuum-operated cruise to a vehicle that doesn't have the vacuum pump...



Thanks



Ken

 

[Scot]

I am running a Rostra "Ultracruise?" on my '55 F100. It is electrically operated so it needs no vacuum source. It senses speed off of the VSS (either cable or transmission mounted. ) I *do not think* it requires a tach signal but I can see it pulling the throttle up against the governor if you mash the clutch without tapping the brake.



I am going to try and find out more this week.



This is available in the streetrod market.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

If you want to go with the cheaper cruise control models that use vaccuum to work, why don't you just pick up an electric vacuum pump from a '99 ford powerjoke? It is about the cheapest way equip your truck with vacuum without screwing around with a pulley driven unit or the gear driven factory pumps that cummins and dodge use. I have used them in several vehicles, both gas and diesel for accessories like cruise and heater box functions.

I bought a p-30 step van with a 4bt in it a few years back, it had a GM cruise control assembly on it that was identical to the ones on the early 5. 7 diesel pickup and oldsmobile units. I don't remember a lot of electrical control for these, it was an inline speedometer box on the fenderwell that read the speed etc. These worked okay with very few parts. They are readily found in junkyards and still supported for parts though shops like Napa.

 

[michigandon]

I know of another repowered Travco like mine where the guy used an aftermarket cruise control that was made by Audiovox. Don't know any of the particualrs on it though.

 

[michigandon]

Oh yeah, the cruise control on da House is actually TWO different systems spliced together. We wired in the engine harness and PCM from the 1993 D250 donor truck. This controls the grid heat and cruise. It picks its signal up from the D250s orignal VSS which also sends a signal to a VDO electronic speedometer. The accel/set/coast/on/off commands are done via the original turn signal lever mounted controls that used to control the old Perfect Circle cruise control unit that came with this coach when it was new!



Don

 

[jayhawktrailers.com]

Thanks I Think That Will Help Alot