Wiring Harness Install - Remove Dash?

[B-man]

And,

This is mine in my 73.. WIth the old wiring.

Different from yours. You don't have the "regulator" in question..

Thanks.

 

[B-man]

Sounds like you don't. Otherwise you would have that extra harness that they mention connected to all the gauges.
Maybe they left it out by mistake? If so they should be able to send you a new one, or you could make one yourself, as it's pretty basic.

Your harness should have one wire clearly marked for it's function like the instructions say to connect to your existing regulator. The separate harness is just some wires with the proper push-on connector for the output of the regulator and little ring terminals to attach to the gauges themselves.
The second post on each gauge is where the sending unit wires go for each particular gauge function.




Nope. Don't assume anything. It states in the second sentence of the instructions regarding the gauges that it "includes a special wire assembly to provide power to each of your gauges..." Additionally it talks about the voltage regulator and says nothing about eliminating it.
So if you don't have the special wiring section, as Centech about it.
But look carefully in your pile-o-parts too, because it's not very big and can hide among the loose parts you're not using.



No splicing needed. It's all in the harness usually. Just sounds like your gauge section is missing and just have not found your gauge power wire yet. Look again for the aforementioned Red wire marked "I Post" and/or "INST PWR" in the dash section.

By the way, your IVR, or "instrument voltage regulator" (also known as the "constant power supply") is not an original type for a Bronco. Ours would have had the single tab in the middle and mounted to the screw in the housing in the middle lower section.
You might even see a hint that the old one was mounted to a certain spot by the clean, then rusty shapes on the housing.

Doesn't matter though, as long as the function is the same and the connectors are what are correct for the harness. Otherwise you either need to make the changes to the connectors, or swap yours out for a correct one like this: http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/category/s?keyword=instrument+voltage+regulator which will bolt to your cluster in the correct location.
Someone should have a pic of exactly where they go, but again, the location and exact part number are not critical to the function as long as they work the same and the location doesn't cause any trouble.

Paul

I have the the extra harness connected. And, even in the instructions from Centech, they do not mention or show this other regulator in their instructions. Maybe I have explained my situation incorrectly.

The piece on my cluster in question isn't one of the regulators you posted in that link.

Every wire that is for the "cluster" part of the wiring, has a home. I have the secondary fuel brown wire left and a yellow tachometer wire. Centech possibly left out a section of the wiring.

Thanks for the information. You are correct. Never assume. I will get with Centech.

Thanks.

 

[DirtDonk]

Just noticed the other one in the pic when reading the other thread. Didn't notice the old one mounted there until then.
What are the colors of the wires again? Seems a bit unusual. I think you said one was a Blue w/red? That's usually for instrument cluster and dash lights, but maybe that's just what they had in '73 for yours. I've noticed lots of discrepancies in wiring on '73's only.
I'll pop back over to your other thread and read it again, but basically you only need one for power to the gauges.

If you don't have a reason for a second one that nobody has mentioned, then you don't use it with your new wiring.
It's likely just a "PO mod" like most of us have run into now and then. But even if it was a Ford thing, unless you find a reason for it, don't let it confuzzle the issue of gaugle power.
Whichever one works properly, use it to power the gauges.

Paul

 

[B-man]

Thanks for the help dirtdonk. I apologize for two threads.

I started that one after I saw this thread again. I will work mostly in the other thread.

Yes, the blue/red wire is for the indicator on that side of the cluster. I have a black/white wire coming off the second regulator with a molded plug that feeds the gauges. The other wire is black, but, I can't make out the second color from the pic. It has a usual Ford plastic plug on it.

But, I did notice that before removing any wiring on the cluster. That original regulator doesn't seem to have any wiring going to it. I have my new harness connected to the original regulator. I will try it that way, although, I am still going to grab my manuals and see if I can find a wiring scheme that shows the wires connected to the second regulator circled in red in my last pic.

 

[ryan97]

I agree. I don't think I'd use it. I have redone the gauges on a 72 and 73 and have never seen that regulator.

 

[bronco t]

Dash out! All the folks here talked me into taking dash out, and glad I did. I had a front cage to deal with, so I had to remove steering column to get the dash out. Cage was in the way otherwise. At the time, I thought it was a monster job, but looking back on it, not too bad. I sure as heck don't want to do it again, however. No way in hell would I try it with the dash in the truck. It can be done, apparently, but it would really bring on the suck in my opinion.

Are you saying that you left the cage in and removed the dash?

 

[ryan97]

In my case I left the dash in primarily because I did have a cage. No big issues but helped to remove console, seats and steering wheel. Topwas also off.

 

[bronco t]

I don't know why I have cage removal phobia other than it takes more than one person to remove it, and it is held in using the six rearmost body bolts. The cage crosses over each set with plate steel and the bolts go through the body bolts.
Additionally, I have a soft top so removal is a snap.
Call me lazy, I guess.