Wiring Question - Flaming river steering column

[904Bronco]

I'm installing a flaming River column for my buddy Justin's 68 EB. Its in and I am into the wiring.
I think the last time I installed one of these it was in a Landcruiser, maybe 30 years ago. It seems in reading the limited directions they make no comment on what to do with the factory dash Hazard light switch. This new GM based column has one of it's own.

Anyone have an answer? Leave it alone, unplug it... I called Tom's, the counter guy couldn't find anything, so he forwarded me to a Tech... That went to voicemail with no response and they shut down at 4pm.

Just discovered in reading their online directions that I need to install a horn rely too... I won't even talk about the PO's wiring mods that the Bronco already has, which need sorted through.

I appreciate the replies... Doug

 

[Oldtimer]

Just work your way through it one wire at a time.

 

[904Bronco]

Using my own words on me.... Between the Flaming river site and Tom's I "think" I have the wiring figured out.

But waiting on the 4 way flashers Question...

 

[toddz69]

I left my emergency flasher in the dash - didn't mess with the one in the column.

Todd Z.

 

[Jdgephar]

I left my emergency flasher in the dash - didn't mess with the one in the column.

Todd Z.

And I did the opposite, my '72 has the switch on the dash, but when I put in the '86 F150 tilt column, I used the switch on the column.

 

[904Bronco]

Not much was accomplished today, due to a medical visit...
I called Flaming River, but too late in the day,
Called Tom's again but both their Tech guys were in a meeting.
Will try again tomorrow.

For anyone else, here is TBP wiring diagram sheet and FR install instructions with a wiring diagram...

 

[ba123]

If it were me, I'd use the column switch and delete the dash one and use the space for something else. Well, that is what I did cause I made a new dash, but my wiring is all new anyway, so maybe it was easier because of that.

I mean, I would think you could keep both if you want to by splicing into the Hazard wires on the Bronco stock switch and leaving it but that might be more work than it's worth, right? Doesn't the switch work the same way?

That Hazard switch has a wire for Left Turn, Right Turn, Brake, Hazard power, right? It works the exact same way the steering column switch works. Those would all need to be spliced to the steering column wires so that either one could give power to those wires and activate them. If the stock setup is already like that, then maybe you don't need to do anything and it's already spliced.

And you don't "have to" install a horn relay, but you can. If the ground of the horn button just connects the ground to the horn, then you're all good. Maybe better to have one, and I do, but not absolutely necessary.

 

[ba123]

Just thinking some more...if it is already spliced in and the factory just put the switch on the dash then you could keep it or eliminate it as desired and both would work.

 

[ba123]

Sorry for the multiple...

According to this wiring diagram, it is already spliced together and both should work:

 

[904Bronco]

Thanks Ben. As Oldtimer has suggested, I will be going through each wire and confirm that everything is going where it is supposed to and it functions. (Burned out bulbs comes to mind)

I called FR and their Tech really couldn't answer the question... He gave suggestions. Waiting on a call back from Tom's
I don't see a reason to have both switches, but then it is not my Rig. My thought was getting the definitive answer, Yes you can or No you can't. The second one works well with Bronco owners who are looking to keep a certain look of their Rig, by saying it can't be done...

Given he has already changed the column, I don't think that will be an issue, but...

I will say that I have installed more Ididit columns... and without naming Vendors, it just seems that those installs went easier as the kits were more complete.

 

[DirtDonk]

With the differing wiring combinations just from Ford, it's hard for anyone to come up with a 100% for certain conversion chart.
I think I've said before, that in spite of the wiring diagrams all showing the same thing, I've recorded no fewer than four completely different steering column (turn signal switch) harness wire colors. And that was ONLY for the '73 model year!
I haven't spent any extra time tracing wires on other years, and just happened to work on consecutive '73's when I noted the discrepancies. But with no way of knowing if they were original switches, or had been changed in the past by the PO's, I can't say that Ford was always at fault.
So, testing it must be, it sounds like.

From stories that I vaguely remember from here and on the other old forums, I'm pretty sure it's been done all three ways. Some report changing from a dash switch to a column switch. Some report keeping the dash switch in spite of having a new column switch with integrated flasher. Some others (well, I think it was just one member in all these years) reported utilizing both. Successfully even!

I've ended up testing each one even when colors matched. I think we spent a lot of time on Tim's doing just that. Which just happened to be another '73.
It was working on the one just prior to Tim's that I started cutting off the wires and taping them to a piece of paper with descriptions of their function next to each. Wish I'd done that for all of the ones I worked on over the years.
Heck, wish I could put my hands on one of them right now! But I'll dig and see what I can come up with.

This is for the '68, but with a new column. Correct? What year is Clifford again?

Paul

 

[904Bronco]

It's not for Clifford Paul, he has an Ididit.

Tested each circuit, confirmed power/grounds/bulb at each turn signal. They and the instrument cluster, all worked.
Went through each wire on the steering column and confirmed that the corresponding wires where in the correct location.
Finally spoke with Matt at Tom's (Thx Matt!), the easiest thing to do is to keep the factory Haz-switch on the dash. They do not play well together and rewiring would need to be done to use the Haz-switch on the column. Called the Owner, who said stay with the dash switch. So that wire was placed in an unused position in the plug. Did a test...

Everything worked except the turn signals, more conferring with the wiring diagrams, I had one power wire for the signals out of place. All is good now.

On to the steering wheel mount adapter, that I have no directions for... Thanks for everyone comments and suggestions.

 

[ba123]

It's not for Clifford Paul, he has an Ididit.

Tested each circuit, confirmed power/grounds/bulb at each turn signal. They and the instrument cluster, all worked.
Went through each wire on the steering column and confirmed that the corresponding wires where in the correct location.
Finally spoke with Matt at Tom's (Thx Matt!), the easiest thing to do is to keep the factory Haz-switch on the dash. They do not play well together and rewiring would need to be done to use the Haz-switch on the column. Called the Owner, who said stay with the dash switch. So that wire was placed in an unused position in the plug. Did a test...

Everything worked except the turn signals, more conferring with the wiring diagrams, I had one power wire for the signals out of place. All is good now.

On to the steering wheel mount adapter, that I have no directions for... Thanks for everyone comments and suggestions.

Yeah, I found the instructions leaving much to be desired as well but got it done and I’m sure you will too, but post any questions on that one. Can try to remember. But yeah, totally strange how there are multiple parts from different suppliers and zero instructions.

 

[904Bronco]

I used the Lokar #1808 shifting linkage between the trans and column.

Usually with the Ididit, I need to add a little length to the solid rod.
But for the Flaming River, I needed more "Throw" on the arm on the transmission. Trying to get the spacing on the column indicator to cover the full range.
So I made an extension bracket and shortened the solid shaft by 1".
The steering wheel that the owner wanted from Tom's is on backorder, so he ordered a like unit from WH's, which doesn't fit the hub he bought from Tom's. .
Nothing has been simple...

 

[toddz69]

I used the Lokar #1808 shifting linkage between the trans and column.

Usually with the Ididit, I need to add a little length to the solid rod.
But for the Flaming River, I needed more "Throw" on the arm on the transmission. Trying to get the spacing on the column indicator to cover the full range.
So I made an extension bracket and shortened the solid shaft by 1".
The steering wheel that the owner wanted from Tom's is on backorder, so he ordered a like unit from WH's, which doesn't fit the hub he bought from Tom's. .
Nothing has been simple...

That smells like a product that other folks might be interested in purchasing....nice work!

Todd Z.