I pulled the old 2.8 V6 out of my '89 Camaro and dropped in a 4bbl 305. Everything has gone smoothly so far and I am about to tackle the wiring changes. I was wondering if anyone had any help or suggestions to get me started on this part of my project. I have never tried anything this extensive and though I am sure I will finish it I would sure like some guidance as far as what needs to be done to finish this swap. I basically have the wiring and hoses to finish and then I should be about ready to fire her up!

 

Sorry, my swaps were to TPI so I can't help you. Also, I think you need to post some more info so hopefully someone will be able to help. ie: what wiring harnesses do you have to work with.

 

get a chilton book (or better yet a factory service manual if you can afford)

answered all my ??? when i did my swap

 

if your going non- computer controled your goign to need to get the lock up in the trans to work, speed do, and some small **** here and there..

 

I did the swap with the bare minimum.No p/s swapped in a s10
steering box,one wire alternator,mechanical guages,v8 radiator with aftermarket dual electric fans.Aservice manual will give you the wiring setup.I pulled the computer wire harness ,just have
the main wire harness .You need one 12 volt keyed power source for your HEI Distributor .There is alot of other little stuff,but if you do a search you will find most of what you need to know.

 

You could throw a tarp over it and park it under a tree, OR maybe buy a minivan..oops, you already have one!! LOL

 

i have a freind who did something similar. because you went to a carb you're gonna run into problems with basicaly all you're wiring. i'm talking even the wires to you're brake lights and everything. you basicaly need a new wiring harness....unless you can splice that stuff you're self.
but because everything was computer controlled before and now its not gonna be you'll find it a little harder to get all you're gauges and stuff hooked up too.

 

sooooooooooooooo much misiformation right there

 

LoL look at home many Post he has... what more do i need to say LoL don't be on the motor swap board unless you have done the swap your self... the ECM doesn't run the brake lights LoL

 

You will need a power wire to the distributor, a tach wire from the coil, oil pressure gage, coolant temp gage (driver's side head), alternator wiring, and switched power to the electric choke, assuming you have one. Not sure if your radiator fan(s?) is ECM controlled or not - if so, you'll need to rig up a temp switch (passenger side head) and relay.

Most if not all of the wiring you need is already in the harness. Most if not all of what you don't need can be easily separated and removed without cutting any wires.

 

Thank you all for your advice. I was already heading down the same lane, it just helps to have some people that are experienced back up what I was thinking.

 

ok, so i havn't posted that much any more, guess that means i don't know what i'm talking 'bout then...
you're telling me that you did a swap from a fuel injected to a carb and you didn't have to swap out wirring for you're lights...

 

yes.

the ONLY time you have to worry about the wireing for your lights when you ditch the FI is when you have the digi. dash

 

even when swaping in an older engine...don't think so. the tail lights are different from different years (but you already knew that). the wiring isn't the same.

 

in all 3rd gens what do not have the digi dash you will never have to worry about your tail lights when you deleted the computer they are all ran off relays and switches not from the ECM

 

oops, double post. :lala:

 

We already know you are clueless, isn't that enough.

As far as i know, the brake lights work off a switch under the dash.

There is a metal plate holding the switch, when the pedal is not being pressed, it is holding the switch closed.

When you press the pedal down(or away from the metal plate, it activates the switch, and holy hell, its a mircale, the brake lights work.

 

9D1BURD has seen my swap in person and knows how clean the swap was so i kinda knwo what i'm talkign about.

we don't like it when people give BS info on this board.

 

opps sorry

 

did he have to change his muffler bearings too?

 

Just thought I would post an update. I finished the wiring. I tore out the ECm and all the wiring harness that was attatched to it. I then connected the half dozen wires remaining and fired her up. The first thing I noticed when I reattatched the battery was that the hood light came on. That was a good sign. Then, when I opened the door, the interior lights came on. Guess what happened when I tried a turn signal and the brakes? They all came on. Big suprise. Sorry to start such a big argument here but thanks to those of you who responded with the usefull information. I had the diagrams out of the books and posted here, it just helps to get a little advice from those who know first hand. Thanks!

 

Im glad the swap worked out for you!

The wiring for my swap went easy, just a little common sense, and a diagram or two, and everything works out just fine.

Goodjob on the swap, you wont be disappointed

 

why would you even touch the wiring goin to the lighting? i'm really stumped about that..........like someone else stated tach, dist., starter and alt. is all that you need to mess with...........the old computer harness is now obsolete in a carb conversion so you can discard that..........

 

On my 91 RS 305 TBI the hood light wire runs with the computer harness into the fender. I cut most of those wires. Also there was a center harness coming out of the firewall and a harness coming out of the driverside firewall. THey were all connected. The only thing I regret is having to track down what the tranny and fuel pump wires were. OOPS

 

Originally posted by vipess
even when swaping in an older engine...don't think so. the tail lights are different from different years (but you already knew that). the wiring isn't the same. I think we need an idiot test for new people before they post to keep the wrong information from being posted just from this last week i counted four new people posting wrong information.