red wire hanging down below dashboard near clock also no dash lights

Can you post a picture of the wire? I'm thinking it's for the radio, heater, cigarette lighter, or maybe a map light, if equipped. The clock wire would have power all the time. With the ignition on or off. As would the dash lights. Hope that helps! Jim

right , see if it has juice . red is hot . With a car that old there's no telling what someone has done to it .

my guess is that it's NOT a ford wire I could be chasing a silly idea. what perhaps needs to know is where are/is the wire that feeds the dash. Js08016 says that there should be power all the time to the dash so where can i check this live wire that should be attached to the dash ( behind the light switch, or the ignition switch both are difficult to get to unless you can tell me a better way

I'd think the ignition switch is H.A.T. (hot at all times ) but not anything that would use power , obviously . Cig lighter , headlights , horn , brake lights are H.A.T. . I'm more familiar with older G.M. I'll admit . Dash icon lights may have a wire to the batt. and then a wire to the alternator . to make the circuit , other things may confuse you if you start probing around with your multi meter