Howdy.

Again a long pause between blog entries. Things have been going very slow with the race truck. Let me explain why.

When i last worked on the electrical components and finally understood how the tail lamp fault signal generation worked, i began to realize that this is not the way to go for this project.

This thought got clearer and more palpable when i took apart the headlight and found an even more complicated circuit i would have to recreate.

Custom electronics are a chore. I want to be able to use off the shelf OEM parts if possible.

Break it, order a new one, install, race. Minimal downtime is key. Which is why i am going through the hassle of integrating OEM suspension parts from other vehicles after all...

Sometimes, that's harder than custom building every single part.

So it's just 400 bucks down the gutter to realize that the Challengers wiring harness is not the future wiring harness for this truck.

If i don't put in its light circuits, there is no need for a modified head light switch, no need for a modified steering column, etc.

I came to the point where i did not see that much need for the BCM and if that's gone, there is no need for the RF Hub, electric door locks, etc.

SEMA started a few days ago and just yesterday i learned that Mother Mopar loves me.

At least i want to interpret it that way. "It" is the release of a standalone wiring harness for 6.4 Apache engines, just like mine.

https://www.mopar.com/etc/designs/mopar/pdf/PerformanceEngineCatalog.pdf

See for yourself.

It's a 1800$ kit containing an accelerator pedal, engine wiring charness, chassis harness, PDC, ground jumper, O2 sensors, the PCM and a charge air temp sensor. It comes with more stuff than i need but spare parts are good.

Mopar also released retrofit kits containing rear-sump oil pans, hydraulic power steering setups, etc.

It's not cheap but reasonable. I paid about as much for the ultra crappy EZ-EFI V1.

Just at the right time to keep this project rolling.

It's a good thing i did not sell or throw away or destroy any of the wiring i pulled from the truck. It will get repairs and modifications where necessary and the steering column will be returned to stock.