Powering dash with no steering column

[4spdragtop]

Hi all, dash is pretty much done and with all electrical hooked up(battery disconnected). While dash is tipped down I would like to power up the dash and chk for "issues". The steering column is out tho and cant be hooked up with dash laying down. I realize I won't have tail/brake, signals, but can I hook up battery to get an idea of dash functionality?
Thanks
Steve

 

[Oldmanmopar]

I'll be doing exactly that when we install the dash in the 67 Barracuda.

 

[67Dart273]

Of course. You have the under dash harness in it? Jumper power in where the red ammeter wire goes out through the bulkhead. This will give you power to everything that is in the dash and harness connected.

I would do initial power up with a large wattage bulb such as a stoplamp, dome lamp, or headlamp hooked in series with battery ground. "YOU" remember the shorted alternator!!! LOL

 

[4spdragtop]

Yeah I remember that damned alternator! Ok so before I power up, I have done the MAD bypass so both the red and black from ammeter are spliced together that joins a 16 ga fusible link which connectors to starter relay. Just like the pic. Can I power up(+ve) the fusible link if I remix it from starter relay? -ve connects to a good ground?
Thanks.

Of course. You have the under dash harness in it? Jumper power in where the red ammeter wire goes out through the bulkhead. This will give you power to everything that is in the dash and harness connected.

I would do initial power up with a large wattage bulb such as a stoplamp, dome lamp, or headlamp hooked in series with battery ground. "YOU" remember the shorted alternator!!! LOL

 

[4spdragtop]

Ok success, NO SMOKE!! I have all interior lights(dash, trunk, courtesy) forgot to chk map light. No headlights, but I'm banking on it being low.
Soooooo, next step is to start it with column out? Is this possible?

 

[67Dart273]

Confused..........is this a pre 70 car or what? If switch is on dash, all you need is to bypass neutral switch if auto. If it's column mounted ign sw, then you'll have to "alligator clip" the correct terminals for ignition and start function, or just jumper starter relay under the hood

 

[4spdragtop]

My bad, sorry Del. 67 barracuda, BUT MAD bypass, as well as upgraded to 70 and up charging system. Switch is in dash.

Confused..........is this a pre 70 car or what? If switch is on dash, all you need is to bypass neutral switch if auto. If it's column mounted ign sw, then you'll have to "alligator clip" the correct terminals for ignition and start function, or just jumper starter relay under the hood

 

[Joey4speed]

Q for @67Dart273, couldn't you use a "power probe" to bench test dash components?

 

[67Dart273]

My bad, sorry Del. 67 barracuda, BUT MAD bypass, as well as upgraded to 70 and up charging system. Switch is in dash.

Then you should be able to ground the neutral safety switch (make sure trans is actually in park) and you may not need to if firewall/ transmission is all connected. Just get the trans in park