Just swapped a 350 carb engine into our '89 bird that once was a 2.8. Almost everything is working as I have done most of the electronic mods mentioned on the site. (rewired the fuel pump, put in manual start switch, etc.) It does have vats. Here's my problem, I don't have any electrical going to acc components, like wipers, radio. Does the vat control that or just the ignition? I have gutted the computer, but I need to get the rest of the electrical on line. Can I easily bypass the vats? Is there a leg of the 12 volt system that I need to hook up to make it live again? We are soooooooooooo close!

 

Just the ignition switch controls the accessories. If nothing works that usually should when the key is in the the ACC position (turn signals, radio, heater blower, wipers) the likely culprit is one of the fusible links coming off the starter terminal. One of them powers all the 'switched' accessories, and the other provides full-time power for stuff like the head, marker, and brake lights, interior lights, hazards, and horn.
Goos luck!

Pete

 

yes my wipres dont work either after my swap. i have the wires connected to the starter. i dont know if the wires that controll the wipers were removed my accident or what and i have no idea if the radio is working because i dont have one in there yet any way to rig up something aftermarket?

you realize when you swapped to 350 carb from a v6 you must change the fuel pump correct? same goes for v8fi to carb. did you get an MSD box? that made my swap a whole lot easier

 

can you post a pic of the links please? my brake lights work and i dont have my headlights installed yet but im guessing they are going to work. also, the little push/pull lever to turn the lights on doent go back down all the way. i dont know whats behind there but when i push the lights to turn them off, the whole piece moves back. i think i broke what holds them off when i ran my manual choke line. what is the part called and how easy is it to replace? i have taken the whole dash assembly off a TA but never a camaro and if it comes off like the TAs did, i think i might just take the car to GM when its completed and let them deal with that. i dont want to have to remove the whole dash to change the backing piece for the lights....

 

We are getting closer. Pete, that is exactly what I have going on. I have horn, hazard, etc, but no heater or wiper. I changed all of the wiring from the starter, so I probably did not bring the 12v back to the correct source. Can you tell me where I can measure 12v inside the car, like at the fuse panel, that would tell me if I don't have it coming in from the engine compartment.

 

With the key in the 'RUN' or 'ACC' position, you can use either a test light or a voltmeter to check for power at both sides of some fuses - both sides in case the fuse is blown.
ECM, TURN B/U, WIPER, and RADIO

It all sounds like one of the fusible links has either blown, or has not been connected at the starter. The battery cable and two (or three) red fusible links all connect to the same large terminal, and the purple wire connects to the terminal marked 'S'.

 

I will measure at the box. I definately do have 12v on both of the leads from the starter. Fusible links are ok. Is there anything in the path between the switch and the incoming 12v? I am fairly certain that I will not find voltage at the supply side of the fuses you mentioned. I think I have an open circuit before it gets to the box. I have removed all of the ecm harnass and computer. Anyway that it routes through there first? 89 wiring diagrams are nonexistent, plenty of 85s though! Thanks

 

I think I got it now. Found a missing ground connection to the wipers. Yes, I had 12v at the fuse box, so I realized something else was wrong. Hopefully, radio, heater share same ground connection as wipers.

 

anyways to rig up an aftermarket dealie? i think i might have tossed the wires out with the old harness.....

 

I am HEALED! Just had a missing ground that was common to all of the acc.....duh, should have checked that first. I am looking for a speed control module....probably not the correct name....the buffer that the signal from the tranny sends to, before it goes to the electronic speedo. Anybody got one they wanna get rid of?