88 camaro carb swap with no ECM. About ready to install my freshly built 350 and 700r4.

I have the original key but without the ECM installed would I need to disable VATS?
With a battery hooked up to the harness running 12 volts into the car (through the 2 red wires into the C100) I'm getting 12v back through to the purple starter wire (when in crank position) and 12v at the pink ignition wire (when in the run & crank position).


Also. Does anybody know what this circled in red plug might be? Looks like a purple, grey or tan and black wire. Up under dash near fuse block. Wasnt plugged into anything.

 

The Camaro and Firebird didn't get VATS until 1989 except for some 1988 Trans Am GTAs.

If you have a 1988 Camaro it doesn't have VATS.

 

I thought it started on late 88 cars? My key has a chip in it.

Either way. My understanding now is the ECM has nothing to do with VATS. so as long as I have the original key it'll crank without the ECM in the car . I was under the impression the ECM had something to do with the ECM .

 

VATS does two things when it gets the correct resistance from the key; it sends 12v to the start enable relay, and a square wave to the ecm.

Since you're not using the ecm, you can bypass the start enable relay and then VATS won't be controlling anything. I highly recommend the factory service manual for identifying mystery wires.

 

Since you have power to the purple when in crank, and power to the pink in crank & run, your all set and don't need to worry about VATS, finish your install & have fun....