This is that.... Or that is this? UPDATE Fixed

[FreakysFords]

69 Ranger.
Lights only pwr with key on (all external as well as cab light) somehow it's on a switched circuit instead of constant pwr.
Starts and runs fine, but will not shut off with key. It has a one wire alt (actual 1 wire, not a botched attempt like was on mine) and he has to either disconnect the + batt terminal or unplug the engine harness from the dash harness to shut it down.
When you turn the key off, EVERYTHING goes off except the IGN circuit. Lights and all.

The story below in case background might mean anything.

Went in with a friend on a 69 Ranger parts truck. Actually, he just talked me into riding with him to check it out and then go back and haul it home. Had a perfect (I mean not a cut made in it) wiring harness front to back. I know, I know. That's my luck, he wanted the harness, column and IC.

Anyway, He put the complete wiring system from the 69 Ranger in his 68, along with the IC, column and IGN sw (his IC and IGN sw were both bad). He's a good wrench (actually my best employee by far) and got it done sometime after lunch today.

He's bringing it to work 2maro for me to check out and I thought I'd ask if anyone else had already run into this before I start digging.
The IGN sw that cam with his 'new' harness was bad and I'm pretty sure that's the reason the truck was left forlorn. The sw that he already had was literally broken so I told him to go get the sw and pigtail from my 76 (I already had it out as it was once running my 69). Rather than butcher his harness, he put terminal ends on the pigtail and plugged it into the original sw connector (made adapter from pin to spade so he didn't have to cut his). This way he could drive on my sw till he got a new one.

Other than connecting the various harnesses together ( as they were from the donor, he thought), The ign adapter's the only change. He's already eliminated that possibility by borrowing another sw that was pin type. Problem remained.

I'm thinking he's just got a simple issue of two connectors being cross connected, but I haven't yet got to check it. Sound like a spot you have in mind? Or better yet, something you've already dealt with?

Thanks again all!
Freaky.

PS. as of the repair of this problem, I will own a partial cab on a rolling chassis complete with engine and trans (which I don't currently need, but I'm certain I will sooner or later) that actually function as intended (yes, I hot wired it. Had to see if it ran). I 'may' have a side tank as well (rather will if it's any good) and a few other goodies I need. Sadly the cab has had several patch panels cut out of it.

[kaptnkaos]

Yeah Freaky... That's wot it sounds like 2 me, but I'm no sparky...
I'd run it by Thunderfoot, our electrical guru ...

PS: I sent ya a couple of pics of that cluster.

KaptnKA S

[Thunderfoot]

Check the connectors on the right front fender, be sure the Wire Colors of the wires match up on each side of the connectors (engine side - cab side). Also, how did you remove the stock wiring (Voltage Regulator wiring) when doing the 1 wire alternator? Double check there...

Couple of other things to check to help guide you were to look at for the problems:
Does the coil have power all the time (key on or off)
Is there power to the light switch with the key off (Black/orange stripe wire)

This could be more then one problem.

Do let us know what you find out.

[FreakysFords]

Does the coil have power all the time (key on or off)
Is there power to the light switch with the key off (Black/orange stripe wire)

That's the issue. Coil powered all the time and light switch powered ONLY when key on.

Haven't had a chance to dig into it yet, but hopefully here in a few.

Not sure how he handled the regulator wiring on his yet.
Mine was that way from the PO (chevy alt in both cases, but his is an actual 1 wire and mine was a mangled mess). I didn't even bother. Just popped a used alt / reg on mine and hooked it all back up for now (soon to be G3).

Thanks,
Freaky

[FreakysFords]

Didn't really get a chance to check it out. Business was wide open today.
Did take a gander under the hood and found out how he had the alt and regulator harness connected...... it's in the bed.
He's got the black and yellow connected to the constant side of the solenoid via another terminal. Otherwise, there's nothing there.
He's bringing it to the house 2maro so I can check it out. Taking the day off, call it "Bump Day".

[FreakysFords]

OK, got Jason's sorted out. Was actually pretty simple. He'd connected the Blk / Yel from the Right side under hood harness (aka solenoid harness) to batt + at the batt terminal of the solenoid. Well, rather he thought he had. In fact he'd tried to look at the back of the connector to determine which terminal was for blk / yel....... long story short, eye balling it dun do it sometimes. Ohm meter showed he had the wrong terminal. He was backfeeding the sys through what would have been the regulator. Swapped to right terminal and all's well.

Bad thing is that after finding this out, it occurred to me that I could have just looked at mine as it's done similarly. Ah well, ohm meter took all of a minute anyway.


Now I gotta get back on mine. Still don't have my turn signals sorted fully and still gotta put the new MC on / flush / bleed the brake sys.

Thanks for the input all!
Frank