Using a 71 style system with a 69-style instrument cluster

[hillcountryflt]

Has anyone here ever tried to create pigtail or something similar to connect a 1971 (printed circuit board) style plug with an instrument cluster used in a 1969 style vehicle?
I am looking for an approach to use an f600 cluster from a 1973 vehicle (it uses the 1969 style connections) with my 1971 F100.

[Calfdemon]

All you need to do is change the plug on your wiring harness to the older style (69). The wires all coincide and can be easily swapped over to the other connector. If I remember correctly, there is only one wire from each side that are different colors and those 2 wires, when left over, connect to each other. All of the other wires are the same colors. Many of us have run F600 dashes on 70-72 trucks. Its easy to do...

[hillcountryflt]

Cool. Thanks for the assistance. The quest for a 68/69 style harness continues, then.

[hillcountryflt]

Had forgotten about a harness I had acquired no ebay about a year ago for my 71. I just needed the tail light section so I wasn't concerned as long as it was 68 or newer of the bumps. So I do have a pretty good shape 68/69 under dash harness in my trailer of parts. May swap out the hole thing. Not sure if the wiper/lights/etc will wire up the same or not.

[Calfdemon]

It will mostly wire up, but that is a lot of work to do just to change the plug style. Unless you have the older ignition with that harness, more than likely, you are going to have a different ignition plug between the 2 harnesses. It is a lot easier to just swap out the plug. If you don't want to pop out the metal ends, you could even just cut the wires and then splice the new plug on to the old harness. Or you can replace the entire under dash harness if you want to. Your truck and your time!

[fordman]

I would changr the plug. Not thr whole harness. Ignition switch for one reason. And os it for full guages or half dummy lights.

[hillcountryflt]

Initial thoughts are to simply change the plug - cutting and splicing wires. I am surmising my existing 1971 ignition switch will not work with the 69 harness. I am planning on pulling all of the wiring out from under the dash - not much as this truck doesn't have a radio and a/c. I would like to use the plugs up on on the new f600 panel for windshield wipers and lights, I think. Not sure yet. Still going to need to figure out a replacement for the vacuum gauge on the f600 cluster.