The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay What wires where?

First things first! Electrical is my WEAK point, and I thought this was going to be a somewhat simple and easy fix. The wireing on my 55 2nd series was cobbled at best when I got it. With some more splicing I got light and some of the gauges working. Near as I can figure the cab is a 59 as it has electric wipers, and turn signals (factory on column). I picked up a 59 parts truck and the wiring harness was in really good shape so I figured I would install it in my 55 as a poor mans upgrade.

Now the problem. The 59 parts truck was generater with a 3 terminal voltage regulater. My 55 was a alternater with a 4 terminal voltage regulater. Options are go back to generater, or find a 1 wire alternater, or ...... is there any way to combine the 4 terminal alt and regulater into the 3 terminal gen and regulater harness? I have not found any wiring diagrams showing this set up. Can it be done? I also do not under stand the DA plug the say I need for the gauge. Can / will any body help? Thanks!

a bit confused .... any TF model from 55.2 onwards could have had electric wipers and factory signals, so the year of the cab doesn't really matter, except if you're going to use a '59 cab with a 55.2 front clip, you'll have a bit of fiddling to get the hood hinges correct, the firewall stamping changed some in 58 and the hinge mount holes in the firewall are slightly different

but to the generator/alternator - the wiring harness on the 59 should be the same as the one on the 55.2 ... it doesn't require any major wiring change to go from a generator/regulator to the old style [60's] externally regulated alternator, it's what I have in my 58 .... see here - you may need to add one of the wires to the ignition switch, but you could also just jumper those 2 terminals at the regulator

Bill

Thank you, red58!!! The explaination and picture really cleared things up! Did you keep the ballast resistor on the firewall or bypass? Any modification to the gauge or will it work properly with this set up?

Sorry with confusion on the cab. I will post a question in the General Truck Talk Forum and see if I can find out what I have!

Thanks again,

the stock gauge works fine, gen or alt .... I still use the resistor, although you can use an internally resisted coil instead if you want, but you need one or the other

Bill

red58,

Thank you for the information! This complete wiring thing just got a whole lot easier!

Thanks again,