Pos/Neg Ground Gauges

[swanny681]

What if any problems might I have switching from a pos to neg ground? The 88 wiring is very bad and the gas engine was replaced with a chrysler/nisson diesel, so it also has been altered, so much so that I am not sure if the original was pos or neg ground.

I plan to make it neg ground with a delco 1 wire alt and fuse block but don't want to mess up the stock gauges in the process.

All help is wonderful

thanks Swanny

[thixon]

are the guages original?

[swanny681]

Yes they are orig.

[pisten-bully]

Two wiper motors (versus the later single wiper motor) originally indicated that it was manufactured as a positive ground. But with your rig anything sounds possible considering the engine swap for exaample. It's easy to check how your battery is grounded so that can tell what your set up is now. Your electrics (e.g. guages) can still work if you change polarity, but I believe you've got change the leads feeding the guages, wipers, and heater motor or they'll run "backwards".

[thixon]

Sorry for the late reply.

Can't speak for the rest of your truck since its not original, but as for the gauges, you're fine.

Here's a useful link.

http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/FAQ.S.elec_positive_ground.html

Theres also a good writeup on TA's site, http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/polarityConversion.htm