Small update time. The truck has been having trouble charging on and off. Earlier on I realized that I had missed wiring up the alt signal wire into the truck (wired to indicator light on the oem gauge panel). After figuring that out, I wired up switched 12v on the other side of the signal wire to get it to excite the alternator... but the truck had very inconsistent voltage while running (12-14v...or sometimes nothing at all and just drain the battery). After better research (and after a face palm or two) I found out the 12v switched wire needs resistance to properly signal the alt. So I put in a dummy light in the gauge panel. Basically the indicator light is lit when ignition is hot, as the alt acts as the ground side of the light. Then once its running the light goes out, as both sides are positive, letting you know its charging.
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The damage was done at that point though, and the alt could not properly regulate voltage anymore (must have hurt it somehow without having resisted power signal). So I picked up a 145 amp replacement, and now the truck has plenty of juice running (14.2v cold, and 13.8v warm) and the battery stays above 12v charged.
Also since I had to take the gauge panel apart to install the dummy light, I took some time to figure out why the fuel level wasn’t working. The volts gauge has a digital stepper motor, so it has settings for most oem's ohm range. The only problem was the sender wouldn't talk to the gauge on the appropriate 1/8 tank Ford '89 to present setting (16-158 ohm). I tried the Empty level setting also, which is supposed to be '89 Ford and earlier (also Chrysler) setting of 73-10 ohms and still nothing. So I opted to pull the sender out of the tank and verify it was even working. Surprisingly I can get the sender out of the tank in place without any trouble...dumb luck there. With the sender out, you can opt to do custom calibration to the gauge. I calibrated it, stabbed it back in, and we were off to the races...or not. The level wanted to read, but is cutting out like signal is being interrupted. I ordered a new sending unit, and hopefully that's the fix. For now the weather has been awesome, and so I’ve had it out a few more times trying to enjoy it.
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All good times must come to an end though...with tough times landing on the oil and gas industry up here, it looks as though my employment may be in jeopardy by the new year. So after all that work, unfortunately the truck is up for sale. I'm not sure that I will find a buyer that appreciates the vision I had for the truck, let alone the price. I am also incredibly critical of having people over to the house...I hate the tire kicking game. My expectations are pretty low, but who knows...maybe she will find a new home. Better to be a little more prepared encase the worst happens.
