Was going to wait until I installed these, but I need some tech help...

[qurtrn10]

I have a small list of upgrades to the Lightning that Ford should have put in it from the begining. Here's what I've got going on, and what I need to figure out before I go any further:

1) Power pedals - Done

2) Power rear slider - Done

3) Power tailgate - Almost done - sending parts back to manufacture to be recalibrated.

4) Rear facing camera - Purchased an electric flip down license plate frame. Will mount the camera behind the plate so it will only be seen when I am using the camera.

5) Automatic folding side mirrors - Need to purchase mirrors

6) Climate Control from a Navigator - Done.

7) Factory navigation from Blackwood/Navigator - Looking for parts now.
Thanks!

 

[bamaRed]

man, that sure is alot of mods you got going there. i cant help ya with any of them, but you need to make a video when your done!!!

 

[BT2001SVT]

Cool ideas you got there, I'd like to see it in action too when you get it all buttoned up; keep us posted!

BTW - I think I've seen a rearview camera installed before, but I believe the guy placed the camera around the tag or on the rear bumper somewhere, i like the idea of the old key lock position though

BT

 

[qurtrn10]

Tonight's update

Making slight headway on #2. I traced the wires from the factory plug across the dash, and down under the passenger side door sill plate. It splits off from the passenger rear speaker wires, and shoots off to the center of the floor, behind the seats. I would pull up the back of the carpet to find the plug where it ends, but it's almost 1am, and I don't have a Torx bit bigger than a 50. Time to take a nap, and hit the parts store in the morning.

Getting there, slowly but surely.

 

[Z7What]

Spare tire crank down rod hole.

Wayne

 

[BT2001SVT]

Spare tire crank down rod hole.

Wayne

Exactly, that was it!! looks good brother:rockon::rockon:

BT

 

[qurtrn10]

Wayne, that looks great! I'll have to keep that idea in mind when I get to that point soon.

Made a little more headway on the slider. I found where the wires from the factory switch plug ends. It actually ends inside the passenger side kickplate, and does not run under the passenger side sill plate like i initially thought. The wires end in a factory female plug, and on the male side, the wires for the slider are not there, so in essence, it dead ends there.

I know I could use a splice connector here, but I really want to take the extra time to make this look factory. How can I run new wires into the male end of the plug to continue the wires the way Ford would have originally?

Here's a few pics to show what I'm working with:

(Where the wires start - at the switch):

(Where the wires dead end - in the passenger side kick panel):

(The female side of said connector with wires going into the plug):

(The male side without the wires, where I'd like to run my wires into):

(The inside of the male side of the plug):

I know that the red insert comes out, and that the wires can be pulled out afterward. I've never added wires to a connectionj like this though. Where would I find the blade part to mate to the female connector?

Thanks so much for any help!

 

[SID297]

Looks like you got a few answers for that in your threads in pics and vids. These mods should be pretty interesting, be sure to keep us updated.

 

[qurtrn10]

Well, I goofed up the electrical for sure. Not only does the slider not operate, but I cranked up the truck to pull it out of the garage. When I turned it off, and took the key out, the trunk was still running until I opened the door.



HHHEEEEELLLLPPPPPPP!!!!!!!

 

[qurtrn10]

Here's what I did:

and it's messed up. Since the truck runs when I pull the key out until I open a door, I'm assuming the Lt Blu / Blk wire is where I goofed up, but I don't know which side I goofed up on it with. Should I change to a different wire at the switch, or a different fuse in the fuse panel?

Argh!

(P.S. - while I'm waiting to figure that part out, I did physically install the window):

I'm not going to secure the interior panels in until I know the wiring is done. I'm also picking up a Lightning storage box so the motor will be hidden inside that. When finished, it ought to look like Ford put it there in the first place.

:rockon:

 

[qurtrn10]

Slider is done!

Got everything done! The problem (for anyone else who wants to try this later using a factory switch) was that the switch already had power and ground from the factory, so I didn't need to use two of the wires that came in the kit. It's working perfectly, and I'll try to get pics up tomorrow. I'll also have to make a How To for it.

Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[SID297]

That's awesome. Def get us a how-to.

 

[qurtrn10]

I've planned for about a week to do the power tailgate install today, and paid extra for express shipping to get it here today, but it looks so far that it's not going to arrive today. Just wanted to vent. ARGH!

For the wiring, I'm going to setup an extra window switch in my factory door panel toraise the tailgate up and lower it down. The guys that designed the tailgate think it's almost impossible to have it hardwired and run a wireless remote too. I want to prove them wrong. I'll keep posting updates as I go.

Keep your fingers' crossed that it somehow makes it in today.

Update - Wow, those fingers' crossed work pretty quickly. It got here about 10 minutes after posting this. Off to the garage!

 

[qurtrn10]

Working on the power tailgate now...

Here's the kit as it comes from JSC Engineering:

I've got my control module secured inside my storage bin:

Running the power and ground wires shouldn't be an issue - it'll just be a matter of taking out the interior trim, hidding the wires beneath, and then securing the wires under the kickpanel and dash.

I have a question about the wires going back to the tailgate. Where does the factory wiring harness crossover from the cab to the bed? I'd like to ziptie the wires with that factory wiring if possible.

Thanks!

 

[qurtrn10]

Power tailgate done! (Until I decide to add a hardwired switch at least). The droptail works great. If it wasn't for me running out to the hardware store to get some extra wire to lengthen some wires, and then again later to buy a 1/4 drill bit (how did Inot already have one?), it truly would have been a few hour project.

Tailgate up:

Tailgate down (this was before I hid the wiring):

All works by the push of a button on a key fob.

I was wondering how tight the tailgate would close, and it's just about as perfect as it could get:

Driver's side (perfect):

:
Passenger's side (within a millimeter or two of perfect):

 

[1sweetSVT]

geese bud, youve def got some patience!! i woulda said **** THIS a long time ago...keep up the good work..

 

[SID297]

Looking good.

 

[allgo90]

looks great so far...im very interested in Automatic folding side mirrors, let me know if you get more info on that.

 

[IEatGt's]

Nicely done!

 

[honda hunter]

I like. I want a power slide rear window so bad.