Here is the thing... I am removing my entire wiring harness from a 1984 Trans Am, LG4 5 speed. I have the computer wiring harness out, doesn't seem to be any problems so far, it came out seperately from the main wiring harness, which surprised me.
Anyway, Now that I basically have almost everything unplugged the engine will not start. I am jumping to the purple wire through the piece that is unplugged from the firewall.
I am thinking it had no spark, because I doubt the distrubitor has any power.
I want to run the motor w/o any of the normal wiring harness... how can I do that? Can I just wire in a momentary switch that replaces the purple wire on the starter and then another just switch for the power to the rest of the car, that always has to be on for the car to run? Or am I WAYYYY off and have no clue (don't be afraid to tell me that, because you probably are right)
Thanks for the help!
Douglas

 

If you jump a wire from the main Positive Batt. cable to the small screw where the purple wire hooks up, the starter should crank.
If you had all the other wires hooked up and you had dash lights, I'd say that you could start your engine this way (non CC- carb eng.). So if you can get your eng. to turn over - pull a spark plug, take a short wire, loop it around the threads, & wire it to a good ground. (or hold it with your fingers, your choice) Turn the eng. over - do you get any spark ? If not, you've got to get some juice to the coil. The Chilton's Manual has a good wiring diagram.
I just took my 84 off the computer and my starter switch crapped out - Have you had that problem?

 

I have none of the stock wiring, so there is no dash wiring to light up or anything. Do you know where the power from the distrubutor comes from?
Thanks,
Douglas

 

Just for giggles, I went out and opened the hood. I ran a wire directly from the Positive Bat. post to the terminal where the PINK wire connects on the coil. Then I jumped a wire from the big positive cable on the starter to the small screw with the purple wire hook up. (ONLY FOR A SECOND - becouse this engages the starter. My car started and ran. I have a V6 - w/ carburetor. But if you have a carb. your wiring should be simular. (I assume that you want to start it so that you can get it somewhere and swap that four for a V6 or a V8 - large car + small engine = poor gas milage, poor performance.)
If the motor has been sitting for a long time, the compression may be down - you may need to squirt some oil in the cylinders and let it sit over night to get the compression up.
I hope you are not stealing this car. (I hope U' ve got better taste than to steal a four cylinder)and AS ALWAYS any advice is AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I'm sitting here looking at the wiring digram for the 84 2.5 L engine and this is basicly what I see.

 

LOL, no, I am not stealing the car, it is sitting in my gargage w/ the title in it :-)
You are correct, however it is a V-8 already, but I am going to a 383 w/ FI, but I need it to run just to take it up and get the engine put in. Also, I may drive it for a bit like that for kicks.
Thanks!
Douglas
P.S. my starter appears to be fine, but I am not the one who swapped it to carb (can't stand carbs) so I don't know.

 

Oops! I made a mistake - you said an LG4. I was thinking, well never mind. Anyway the wiring should work, if Firebird kept the same color code and I think that they did.
The pink wire from the firewall should come off the key - that should be U're Pos. juice. Hope you've got it cranking already.
Hey, Give that carb a chance, its a great place to start out tinkering - I mean tuning for performance.
Happy Landings