I have a 305 TPI from a 91 Z28 that is going to be made available to me in the future. Engine, Transmission, harness, everything I need, practically everything off a car that isn't needed for a LS swap

I was planning on dropping it into my 89 v6 RS, which I know isn't the easiest thing in the world because of a few differences in the 89 and the 91 Camaro

Had another thought today. My wife has wanted a 3rd gen bird for a while now, preferably with T-tops. If I got a V6 firebird or a roller bird, I could put that engine and tranny in that car and it would be hers. I know the later birds have electronic Speedometers in them, but is there any particular year I should be looking for? I'd rather have front end of the 90 and earlier, but if a 91-92 bird makes the swap easier, then I could change the front end

Is there anything different with the wiring harness between the two? the headlights are obviously different, but is that even on the same harness I'll be getting out of the z28?

 

Approximately 95% of the non-engine related stuff in the front end is in a separate harness... Horns, lights, air bag sensor. 91 to 91 should just plug in but that would be something to double check especially between Camaro and Bird. Specifically the C100 and C207 (Austin Thirdgen has the info).

92 through 90 would be the easiest swap due to speedometer differences. 91 to earlier you would need to know if your 89 has the electric speedo head or not. At least you would have the VATS (I would think) so you won't have too much fuss installing the 730 in your car.

As for buying a Bird, if you're intent on doing the swap, you're interested in pretty much everything after 86 with the full gauge cluster. The idiot light cluster still has a cable speedo head. Just keep in mind you might need to do some harness repinning and get one of those star-shaped Lisle tools. Almost everything will be the same colors. One exception I can think of off the top of my head is the later fuel pump wire is gray while earlier has tan/white. And keep in mind that the pre-88 wiper motors are completely different and will require rewiring (and possibly replacement of the washer bottle if the early pump can't pull washer fluid through the later pump).

 

so the 89 wipers are the same as the 91? even on the camaro?

 

Same wiper motor on all F-bodies 88-92 with the large connector on the pulse cover and the remote washer pump in the bottle. Older style has smaller connector on pulse board and washer pump in pulse cover...

 

Pocket told me they removed the wiper controls from the harness after 89. That's what I meant

 

Yes. The wiper wiring was moved from the engine controls/power supply harness to the front end harness. Make sure your donor and recipient are set up appropriately or you will need to fight with the crud in the C100. Also the fuel pump wire, which runs through the dash harness from the ECM area to the C208 junction (dash harness to body harness under driver's side kick panel), in pre-90 cars moves as well.

 

Yeah, it's that one of thing that bothers me. Do firebirds have the same changes from 89 to 90

 

Best to check here:

http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=19

I'm not too familiar with the 89s. AFAIK they were in the same situation the 85s were with a 1-year only ECM due to the VATS fuel cut. Not sure about the harness. On that site above, look for the 89s C100 and C207. C208 is pretty standard. Hopefully the Bird won't have the C221 (6-pin gray near the C207 and NOT for the cruise controls) connector that provides power for the fuel injectors and everything will be in the C207. I know that on the 91 I pulled the engine harness out of the wiring was all in the C207. But then, that was Bird to Bird. Camaro to Bird I might need to look in service manuals...

 

Thanks again