I have an 81 2wd 1l series diesel,cab and drive train that was put on an 87 2wd frame. The 81 cab is now all rusted out and needs to be replaced. I purchased an 85 2wd EFI 1ton cab to replace the 81 cab. I want to keep the motor frame and drive train all on the same chase and just swap cabs. My Main problem is the wiring issue. I'm confident that everything will fit but i am unsure of what i need to do for wiring the diesel motor into the EFI cab. Has anyone done something like this if so i need your Help!!!!

 

yota1824

can not help you with the electrical.thats going to be a nightmare.you would need the 81 fuse box plus the instrument panel that has the glow plug light and such. it would be easier just to get another 79-83 cab and install all wiring in it.or 84-86 diesel cab.the only way i see you making this work is gut 87 cab and install all wiring from 81. and get 84-86 diesel instrument panel. my take.

 

There is really not much electrical on a Diesel engine

 

So far the project has been going well. the old cab is off and i've pulled out what electrical i think i need. Basically i've traced back whatever is from the engine and got ride of everything else. The new 85 cab fits like a dream and bolting things in new places hasnt been an issue because of the available room. My problem is now the electrical, The 85 cab came with a intact wiring harness what was missing was the motor EFI computer and things that ran the EFI system.
Now my initial thought was to hook up wires to the same system from the old to the new. It will turn over but i'm having trouble with the glow plug timer. I used the avalible check engine light as a glow plug indicator light. and i've hooked up other sensors that went to the old cluster to the new 85 one. but the glow plug light wont come on and so far the only light that has is the charge light which i've hooked up from the old system to the new.

Any ideas on why the check engine light wont come on with the glow plug light hooked up to it? is the cluster not getting power it needs for the light to go on , is the cluster the power and the glow plug system the ground in that little circuit?