Few questions about my '98...
 

Just picked up a little '98 Reg Cab 2wd 4cyl 5spd XLT and got a few questions...

First...oil pressure gauge bounces at idle, sometimes drops to zero and stays. When driving, guage reads perfect, no change in engine sound when gauge drops, so I think it's just an oil pressure gauge sending unit problem...is this common?

Second...this truck doesn't have Cruise Control. Anyone ever convert their non-cruise truck over to cruise using factory parts? A Ford Tech friend of mine said it could be done, but hasn't gotten back to me about the details or parts needed.

Third... Anyone have a factory wiring diagram or wire color chart for the stereo system. When I bought this truck the previous owner had just installed a new stereo because someone broke into the truck and stole the old one and clipped all the wires on the factory harness. He wired it in good , but the fade/balance controls are all jacked up and the only way I can get decent sound without distortion is by having the fade/balance to the front left, which makes most of the sound come from the rear left. He said he thinks he got it wired up wrong on the speakers.

Any help is appreciated...thanks!

Search is your friend! 99.9% of the oil pressure gauges are just for looks on rangers, some ppl have converted theirs to be fully functional. Do a search for something like "oil pressure gauge mod" or something of that nature.

I cant remember who, but someone just added the cruise control feature to their standard tranny, 4 bang her and its really easy to do, just plug and play kinda stuff....as long as you consider taking your steering wheel apart plug and play.... Search for something like "cruise control mod" or IIRC the latest thread about this was called "My new interior mod" or something to that nature.

For your third problem, either try a search for "H/U wiring install" or check out the Audio/Video thread area. GL!

its for looks till its loses oil pressure then goes to zero... i personally would be highly concerned, run a oil pressure test on your oil pump sounds like its darn near about to go...

D installed CC on his truck, i think your best bet would be to find a wrecked 98 with CC and borrow the parts from it.

it could easily be a loose wire at the same time.

^+1

very true but idk about you i wouldnt want to have a oil pump about to fail in my truck doesnt hurt to check

for the radio I think this is what your talking about

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...adiowiring.jpg

I got the 98, just look at the sticky in the Audio forum for the wire colors. Those are all correct.

Thanks for the replies guys.

After work today I plumbed in a temporary mechanical oil pressure gauges I swiped from one of my hot rods just to check the pressure. Seems everything is fine even when the stock Oil Pressure gauge reads zero, so it's probably just the sending unit.

I'll be doing a junkyard run this weekend so I'll search for the Cruise Control conversion on here and hopefully can snatch up the needed parts for the conversion on my truck.

Thanks for the wiring diagram. I'm considering re-wiring the entire system as well as adding some components I have laying around for more powerful sound, but not 100% sure if I'm going that route or not. I might just pull the head unit and make sure the wires are hooked up right for now.

Again, thanks guys...seems to be a good forum here, looking forward to being a part of it.

sweet that you're jumping into the mods fast man.

yeah, I don't think I'll be modifying this truck too much. Really just want it to be a good little truck with all the right creature comforts. Afterall, thats what I bought it for, just to drive while my hot rods are being wrenched on. I do enough modifying on everything else, so I'm going to try to kick the habit and just do what needs to b done. Although I'm considering building a pre-runner style tubular bumper up front, and adding some EDGE tires/wheels since it already sits up pretty high for a 2wd.

Who knows...maybe I'll go balls out with it, like I seem to do with everything. I just keep telling myself not to, but I never listen!

just go balls out...better that way