Newbie with automotive electronics question

[Wagon Master]

Hey folks,

I'm building a custom rod and want to do some electronics in it, but I know nothing about electronics. I'm NOT asking you guys to design anything for me, but simply to tell me what words I should be using to describe the project to local techs who will design it.

Here's what I would like to do:

Instead of running a bundle of wires from the dash to the front lights and all the way back to the rear lights, I'd like to run a single power and ground, and have the light switches connected to some sort of sender board that will "pulse" a signal down a single wire to reciever boards at the front and rear of the truck. The reciever boards will be connected to the power wires via a series of relays and the "pulse" would tell the reciever boards which lights to turn on.

Thank you for your time

 

[btbass]

The CAN bus is normally used for control in automotive.
It is well supported.

 

[Wagon Master]

Unfortunately, I won't be using a CAN sysytem. In fact, my system pre-dates OBD I. I pretty much need a stand alone.

 

[Audioguru]

Oh goody, a Model T Ford.
I think the wiring its simple.

 

[cesare]

You can use a LIN interface. it is very simple and is supported form several small microprocessors (freescal)