dash wiring change over

[easyrider]

with the help of 70shortfleet I have been transferring the wires plug to back of dash from idiot light to gauges. I have everything changed except for #8 brown wire. also, #1 and #12 black wires I don't have. I've read posted articles but no one addresses what to do with the brown wire. They do say to do away with blue #1 wire from idiot harness; not needed, but no one says anything about #8 Brown. Can someone tell me what to do with #8 brown and explain what to do with #'s 1 and 12 empty pins? You will have to explain it like you are talking to a 4th grader so I can comprehend exactly what to do..lol !
Thanks for all the help I have received from this forum, invaluable source of help from some very smart people...

[HO455]

Originally Posted by easyrider

with the help of 70shortfleet I have been transferring the wires plug to back of dash from idiot light to gauges. I have everything changed except for #8 brown wire. also, #1 and #12 black wires I don't have. I've read posted articles but no one addresses what to do with the brown wire. They do say to do away with blue #1 wire from idiot harness; not needed, but no one says anything about #8 Brown. Can someone tell me what to do with #8 brown and explain what to do with #'s 1 and 12 empty pins? You will have to explain it like you are talking to a 4th grader so I can comprehend exactly what to do..lol !
Thanks for all the help I have received from this forum, invaluable source of help from some very smart people...

What year truck?

[Andy4639]

Here are the 2 schematics that you should be using.
The brown wire should be the alternator wire that goes to the voltage regulator I think, not 100% on this but it looks like you swap pins. #8 is for the dash lights and AC/heater lights on a gauge cluster. #12 should be the brown wire as I said I think. Not sure.

What do you have so far?

[easyrider]

my truck is a 1968. Do I just leave the brown wire unattached? If the black #1 & #12 are going to the amp gauge, could I not run wire directly to the amp gauge and not use the printed circuit wires?

[MattyBs71]

I just converted from idiot light cluster to full gauge cluster. Brown #8 wire was the generator idiot light so you will not use it. I just taped it off. Been running the truck a month or two now with no issues. You could run wires to the amp gauge directly by passing the circuit board if you want it's just cleaner to run to the cluster plug. (You could always use the pins off the blue wire and brown wire you aren't using anymore)

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by easyrider

my truck is a 1968. Do I just leave the brown wire unattached? If the black #1 & #12 are going to the amp gauge, could I not run wire directly to the amp gauge and not use the printed circuit wires?

Either way would work but as stated it would be better to wire it like factory.

[easyrider]

thanks for the information. If I run it through the printed circuit, which I agree will look cleaner, which wire would go to #1 and which to #12 ? Oh, and, running the wires with the discarded #4 blue and #8 brown terminals is brilliant, because I was wondering how I would connect them to wiring plug.
I'm not much with the electrical, so I need a "from point A to point B" lead by the hand approach to wire the amp gauge.

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by easyrider

If I run it through the printed circuit, which I agree will look cleaner, which wire would go to #1 and which to #12 ?

#1 should be connected to the factory multi-wire splice that is located on the driver side of the core support near the voltage regulator.

#12 should be connected to the junction block that's near the battery on the right fender.

Both connections should have 4 amp inline fuses (like GM did from the factory). Locate the fuses in the engine compartment near where the ammeter wires tie in with the existing wiring.

Note, if you accidentally get the connections to the ammeter reversed, it won't cause any damage. It will simply cause the meter to read backwards. It'll show charging instead of discharging and vice versa. A quick way to check is to turn the headlights (or other load) on with the engine off and watch for the meter to show discharge.

[TBONE1964]

If you prefer to skip the amp gauge and wiring it, I can sell you a volt gauge conversion kit. Very simple to install and wire. Replaces amp gauge with volt gauge and looks fairly stock.

Are you running stock alternator and external voltage regulator and wiring?

[TBONE1964]

If you prefer to skip the amp gauge and wiring it, I can sell you a volt gauge conversion kit. Very simple to install and wire. Replaces amp gauge with volt gauge and looks fairly stock.

Are you running stock alternator and external voltage regulator and wiring?