Need ford 360 help!

[Maverick]

Have a new rebuilt ford 360 fe in a 1972 highboy and it won't charge! New battery, alternator, and voltage regulator. I'm thinking the problem would be a grounded wire but new idea where to start looking for that. Put the motor in in November and wanna drive it!

[Ridgeratt]

see if this helps"

http://www.fordification.com/tech/wiring/wiring-diagram-72_quick.jpg

Print it and buy some colored pencils and follow the lines!!!
Coloring for adults.

[rtspring]

New alternator could be bad! Most are rebuilt, I would test the alternator first.

[dannysdaddy]

check your ground  for the battery, starter and alternator.  had the same problem in my chevy and it was corroded.  you can check your alternator by starting the truck and unhooking the battery terminals.  if it runs it should be ok if it dies its definately bad.

[Maverick]

We can jump start the truck and It'll run for 5-10 minutes and then die.

[Fishaholic]

check your starter relay? had the same problem with my 76 and my 84

[Fishaholic]

well start it up and remove the neg battery cable if it dies you need a new alternator

[Maverick]

If it dies right off the bat then it's the alternator? I haven't checked the starter relay. How could that affect it not charging?

[rtspring]

When you jump it and it starts, your giving the battery a little charge.  So it sounds like the alternator is not charging the battery

[Maverick]

yeah I know. ive been told it could be the battery, so I changed all 3 because it wouldn't hurt having new stuff with a new motor and didn't fix it. someone then told me it sounds like I have a grounded wire somewhere.

[Fishaholic]

If it dies right off the bat then it's the alternator? I haven't checked the starter relay. How could that affect it not charging?

ya it could be. 1499 At cut rate 16 ar napa easy fix man. had it happen to me in all the fords I have owned and fixed them off 3 other fords.

[Fishaholic]

yeah I know. ive been told it could be the battery, so I changed all 3 because it wouldn't hurt having new stuff with a new motor and didn't fix it. someone then told me it sounds like I have a grounded wire somewhere.

do you have a manual with the wiring maps? if so start chaising wires. there are not that many.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Check all your ground wires, and clean the battery terminals.  Most automotive electrical problems are just a bad ground.  Alternator might be bad, or the voltage regulator could be bad.  Some vehicles have the voltage regulator right in/on the alternator.  That's where it is on my '90 Bronco II, so Ford might have put them all there....

[Maverick]

regulator is by the radiator. battery is on the charger and we'll check the alternator in a little while. I call this truck the blue devil. anytime we fix something else goes wrong!

[Bofire]

  Does your ground wire on the Batt go to the frame or the motor? if it goes to the motor you might need another from the motor to the frame.
Carl