I'm taking the motor out of my 86' z28, it has the electronicly controled dist. and carb. The engine doesn't, and was wondering if i had to switch it all over to the new one or could i hook the new one straight up. If i hooked it straight up how would i wire it so that the check engine light doesn't come on? Would it just bolt in, hook up the ignition and throttle and call it good?

 

jds_06,

Your taking the engine out of the '86. OK... You've apparently got a "New one". And it is apparently also a 305? What do you mean by "Hooking it straight up"? WHY? Do you mean get rid of the computer?

My son and I are putting an engine in his Z-28 and using the wiring harness from an '86. We might be able to answer some of your questions but you really haven't explained what your're trying to do. Whoever tries to help you is going to need a little more info. about what you are doing and what you are trying to accomplish?

Another question.... Do you have smog inspection to deal with in your area? If you do that could change some of the answers you receive. Let us know.

Sincerely,
Kurt

 

Best bet would be to transfer the computer control equipment over to the new engine.

 

by hooking straight up i mean just so the motor runs, the tach works, and the car moves. I want to bypass the computer stuff and let the car run like the cars of old. I do not have to deal with emissions, i don't think my car would pass anyway. (im taking the motor out of my 86' and putting in a 305 out of a 85' IROC)

 

You can't bypass the computer without some new hardware. The carb and distributor have to be changed to older or aftermarket parts. You'll also need some means of locking the torque converter under cruise conditions.

A properly running computer controlled system will make as much power as the non-computer controlled stuff, and will get better fuel economy. It won't cost any more to get it running right than it will to go with the older stuff.

 

jds_06,

I agree 110% with Five7Kid! IMPO (in my personal opinion) your better off WITH the computer than without it . I'm trying to fix my sons car the best we can and with a limited budget We're GOING BACK TO THE COMPUTER! and ditching the Vacuum Advance Dist. and Old-Style Carb.

Aside from the Carb & Dist. you'll also probably need New temp & Oil Pressure guages as I believe those in the dash need the computer or you'll need to wire them directly (I don't know how to do that). Our car had no computer and the guages didn't work. I don't think your cruise will work either on a '85 or '86 (earlier models '82/83 would definately still work). The computer compensates for bad gas with the Knock sensor and an Old-Style Vacuum Advance Set-up cannot. The biggie is the Tranny lock-up. There is a work-around for it, but it'll cost about $80 (+ shipping & handling) to buy it from an aftermarket company, might as well call it $100.

You can probably fix any wiring or computer problem with J.Yard parts for 1/2 of the cost of the aftermarket tranny lock-up kit! The computer and what it does (and does not do) are not that complicated to understand. Grab a Haynes manual and read the Emissions Control Section. You'll see it's not too big a deal to understand the system and fix little problems.

If you are really dead set on "trash the computer".... I have the OLD-Style Q-Jet you'll need but the Distributor was given to another TGO friend a couple days ago.

Sincerely,
Kurt