[rodskies]

I have a 1991 BASE Ramcharger (318, no AC, 4sp Manual, etc.)

Can I add factory cruise control if I can get the right parts from a donor? I have a 1992 B250 van that looks like it has the correct steering wheel controls and possibly servo motor/brake switch that I could swap in.

I see that the harness on my RC has the plugs for the factory cruise control.

So far the only tips/info I've found has been for 1st gen manual diesel trucks, nothing for manual gassers yet. The FSM does not really mention anything about cruise control for manual trucks. I read that only diesel trucks require an additional cruise control module under the dash?

Has anyone done this on a manual RC?

 

[SuperBurban]

I do not know about 91 specific. But you likely need the clock spring assembly inside the steering column, they make different ones for cruise, and non cruise equipped vehicles. The van one should work, just do not rotate it after you remove it.

IIRC, the brake switch is different on the van, then the pickup, you can check by comparing the part numbers on Rock auto.

Third, you will need a switch for the clutch, and the wiring. The switch may be available from a parts store, the wires may be harder. If you cannot locate one, a switch for the cruise from almost any vehicle can be used. (breaks contact when the pedal is pushed, and makes contact when the pedal is released, opposite of a brake light switch). The brake and clutch switch are just wired in series, so pushing either pedal disengages the cruise.

Last that I can think of right off, the cruise is controlled by the PCM. Did they program all, or is there a difference?

 

[rodskies]

Ok, thanks for the feedback!

I will post some updates when I'm able to pull the parts.

My truck does not seem to have a clutch interlock switch installed, so I will need to find one of those.

 

[SuperBurban]

Not the interlock, unless it has a multi function to it like the brake/cruise switches. An interlock will close the contacts, when the pedal is pushed, the cruise switch works the other way, opening the switch when the pedal is pushed. I have not looked, but it might be easy to adapt the bracket for the brake switch from the van, to fit the clutch pedal, and use a van or truck brake switch.

 

[RedneckInTraining]

Unless something changed my 94 ram 2500 doesnt use a switch on the clutch for the cruise control.I have switched gears gear with cruise control on, but then maybe someone tampered with my truck because it doesnt have a clutch interlock switch either...

 

[rodskies]

Update on this one;

I ended up finding a standard tilt steering column from a '92 cummins. Everything looked like it would plug right in!

I was excited because i'd get intermittent wipers too

However, it looks like the harness on my RC does not have the wires run up the steering column harness to support cruise control! It has the exact same plugs, but only one wire for the horn on the clock spring plug. darn!

I need to do some more digging, I should have known it would not have been so easy...

 

[SuperBurban]

Thats interesting that they did away with the extra wires. Both my 85, and89 had the wires in place (I know, different then the 91 to 93 cols). I had to add the wires for the brake switch, but the rest from the column to the the module under the hood, were there.

Edit: My 97 van also had all the wiring, except for the clock spring, and switches. But the cruise still does not work, I think the computer for it needs to have the cruise programed in. I have not looked into it enough yet.

 

[rodskies]

I think 1991-1993 may be different, as you said? Maybe my RC was just too low of a trim level to have the upgrade-able harness.

VS

I think the base cab harness part number is different depending on the option group for each truck... I noticed also that my harness does not have the plug available for the intermittent wipe controller.

I suppose I could swap the entire harness behind the dash if I found a donor? I may be able to pull the harness from the cummins cab that I got the steering column from. Although that may be a lot of work, I'm not sure how hard it is to pull that.

I'm going to look at the wiring diagram in the FSM to see where exactly wires need to be added. Ultimately, it would be great to run wires for Cruise and Pulse type wipers as well. If they all just are terminated at the square bulkhead in the firewall, that may not be too bad to build a seperate harness to piggyback into the right terminals there. The plugs for the cruise control ARE present inside the engine bay.

I'll keep posting updates to this thread.

 

[Elwenil]

Wiring harnesses are specific to the Ramcharger, mainly due to the liftgate switch and the lack of a cargo lamp.  Diesel models will be different due to the different Message Center.

WIRING, Instrument Panel
5601 6945 w/Intermittent Wipe, 1991
5601 6941 Standard, w/2 Speed Wipe, 1991
5601 6942 Diesel, w/2-Speed Wipe, 1991
5601 6943 Sport, w/2-Speed Wipe, 1991
5601 6946 D4-8 1991
5601 7454 w/Intermittent Wiper, Light Pkg.
5601 6944 Diesel, 1991
5601 8500 Diesel, w/Intercooler, 1991

 

[rodskies]

OK, got it. Thanks for the codes!

So basically, either run my own wires, or swap harnesses with a 91-93 Ramcharger.