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1979 LTD II wiring

Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=17287
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 5:43PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: 1979 LTD II wiring
Posted By: stevewarden0
Subject: 1979 LTD II wiring
Date Posted: 16-July-2018 at 2:14PM
Hi,

Back again....

So wiring - the original alternator/regulator was changed at some point to a 1 wire alternator the old regulator is still on the inner wing and so is the old cable. what can I do with the old cables - trace back and remove them from the loom? 

There is an issue with the instrument cluster - never managed to get the dash lights to come on or the gen (single wire so I get that now) the oil light never comes on either (indicator warnings work as does the fuel gauge), upon further investigation I found  the cables that should go the the temp sender and oil pressure are disconnected. So just to test I shorted them (individually) to ground and checked the dash (with ignition on) just to see if they would work. no luck...

I am guessing I am missing a live feed on the cluster side, could this be anything to do with the swap to single wire alternator? I have a couple of pictures added - the dust on the car was right after a dust storm!!!


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Steve



Replies:
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 16-July-2018 at 5:40PM
changing the alternator shouldn't have affected the power to the gauges BUT who knows what some idiot did???
 there should be a common positive power wire to those gauges yes shorting the sender end of the wire should have made each gauge go to the max


-------------
JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE
74 VETTE CUSTOM
90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED
77 CELICA CUSTOM
75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED
79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED
75 VEGA V6 5 SPD
70 CHEV C10 P/U
68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION


Posted By: aquartlow
Date Posted: 17-July-2018 at 1:12AM
I wonder if the previous owner installed the correct sending units for what is in the cluster, makes a difference. The printed circuit plug can be a bear sometimes and can easily be broken or printed circuit "legs" get screwed up with it's removal if not careful. Good luck and hope you get it "figgered" out.

-------------
www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires.

No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t.

Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone.


Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 17-July-2018 at 6:42AM
Is there some place on here explaining how to wire single wire alt. in our cars.


Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 17-July-2018 at 10:43AM
if you are referring to the GM style 1 wire alternators... just use the large main wire from the ford alt. and put it on the stud on the back of the 1 wire alt.


-------------
JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE
74 VETTE CUSTOM
90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED
77 CELICA CUSTOM
75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED
79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED
75 VEGA V6 5 SPD
70 CHEV C10 P/U
68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION


Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 17-July-2018 at 12:56PM
I think your best bet may be to get a wiring diagram and go through the wiring from top to bottom to see what has been hacked and changed.  I am not sure if someone one here has a later model wiring diagram but there is a '73 Torino one on this website.  It might be worthwhile to purchase.
This thread has a bunch of information on the gauge clusters.
 
http://forum.grantorinosport.org/info-72-79-gauge-clusters-and-wiring_topic2933_page1.html" rel="nofollow - http://forum.grantorinosport.org/info-72-79-gauge-clusters-and-wiring_topic2933_page1.html
  
As for the alternator, I'd ditch the one wire myself and either got back to a stock 1G unit or upgrade to a 3G unit. 
 
Here is some information for a 1G alternator wiring.  It's not too hard to do, and it works reasonably well if you have stock electrical loads.
 
http://forum.grantorinosport.org/1973-torino-voltage-regulator-wiring_topic16693_post177240.html?KW=voltage+regulator+wiring#177240" rel="nofollow - http://forum.grantorinosport.org/1973-torino-voltage-regulator-wiring_topic16693_post177240.html?KW=voltage+regulator+wiring#177240
 
 
This is the 3G setup, which will allow you to run a much higher electrical load.  Best of all the alternators are cheap and plentiful.
 
http://forum.grantorinosport.org/3g-alternator_topic14315_post175156.html?KW=3g+alternator" rel="nofollow -


Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 17-July-2018 at 1:50PM
yes the GM 10SI is the alternator i use on most all of my vehicles, simple and reliable Big smile yes i have one on my torino too Wink simple to wire!! also very easy to work on and rebuild as well!

the 3 wire i'm referring to.....


-------------
JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE
74 VETTE CUSTOM
90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED
77 CELICA CUSTOM
75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED
79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED
75 VEGA V6 5 SPD
70 CHEV C10 P/U
68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION


Posted By: rancheromac
Date Posted: 08-May-2019 at 3:43AM
aquartlow has the best write up on this using a Taurus alt,



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