Cruise Control Help!

[Hissing Cobra]

Help! I've got a great Grant steering wheel, without cruise control. As everyone knows, Grant does not make a cruise control kit for the '79-'82 Mustangs. These cars came equipped with a splined steering shaft and the '83-up cars have the "D" shaped steering shaft.

After close to two years of driving and thinking, I've come to the conclusion that I want it to work and for it to work, I'll have to do it myself. Has anyone devised their own way to make it work without buttons on the steering wheel? I've heard about people who put buttons in their ash trays or center consoles but have never seen something like that. Is it easy?

Underneath my steering wheel, there was a screw in switch that contained 3 prongs on it. I'm assuming that these control the cruise control. Is this correct? If it is, can I remove this and cut/splice the three wires to individual switches? What switches could I use? Would amp ratings matter?

Please help!

 

[Daggar]

Amp rating won't matter. You need mometary push button switches or toggles. Refer to your wiring diagram to get the correct wires as I do not know what the colors are off the top of my head.

 

[PuterAmI]

You can route buttons/switches anywhere you want.
If I had the wiring diagram for your year, I could figure it out.

I think the biggest issue (as you already know) is where to put them. You want them easily reachable while doing highway speeds. I've seen the JC Whitney junk... er, stuff where they put them on the turning signal stalk. Would you care for that?

How about some custom work on your wheel and insert the switches. Is there room?

 

[Hissing Cobra]

You can route buttons/switches anywhere you want.
If I had the wiring diagram for your year, I could figure it out.

I think the biggest issue (as you already know) is where to put them. You want them easily reachable while doing highway speeds. I've seen the JC Whitney junk... er, stuff where they put them on the turning signal stalk. Would you care for that?

How about some custom work on your wheel and insert the switches. Is there room?

I would definitely be interested in the cruise control stalk that would mount to my turn signal lever. Can you buy just that? If not, I could put switches in my ash tray or something. I'd like to conceal them if they're not on the turn signal lever. I think it would be tough to mount them to the steering wheel because it turns 360 degrees and if I have wires attached to it, they'll get tangled up. I'm open for all suggestions.

 

[HISSIN50]

This thread may or may not be helpful or provide ideas. I think the pics are gone now, but PP could probably repost them if asked.

Good luck.

 

[PuterAmI]

I don't think that you can buy just the stalk from JC Whitney.
Here's the webpage listing all kinds of them.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/...01/showCustom-0/N-111+600000566+10201/c-10101

Perhaps junkyard hunting looking mostly in MomAndPop's station wagons and LTDs and such.

It would take a lot of work, but placing buttons in the steering wheel would not use switches. One idea would be contact rings like is used in other wheels.

 

[Michael Yount]

I have wired a number of cars using factory cruise switches (so the interior looks stock) with aftermarket fully electronic cruise control modules. My Volvo is currently set up that way -- I bought an aftermarket contemporary electronic cruise control unit, and wired it into the stock Volvo cruise control switch. I mounted the control module under the dash behind the glove box -- so nothing shows under the hood. Works BETTER than any factory unit that is vacuum powered. And it's adjustable for sensitivity, speed lag, etc. Most contain magnets for the driveshaft (speed source) OR they'll read the factory vehicle speed sensor (VSS on the Stang).

You'll just need to do some research to figure out how to wire things up. I mention all this because you should also be able to wire up the factory cruise guts to a different control mechanism.

 

[Hissing Cobra]

Thanks guys, everything helps. I just checked that J.C. Whitney catalog and it looks like I'd have to buy a whole kit. I really only need the buttons. I'll be junkyard hunting!

 

[PuterAmI]

If you find one, I have a factory wiring diagram for an 87 (used for my 88 and 89). It may not help, but it's always worth a look.

 

[Hissing Cobra]

Thanks Puter. I'll keep it in mind. I'm definitely getting it working, it's just a matter of time. I'm a man on a mission.