murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Hi Thirdgen community,
So I have had the same problem for 10 plus years now I have an 86 camaro z28 iroc and I swapped the 305 block with a 350 instead! While it's a beefed up motor and new I haven't been able to get it running so I'll break this up into 3 parts so everyone can get the gist.

After installation of the 350, instead of buying a ECM from GM we took one out from my 86 corvette figured that would work, and it did! Only problem was as far as we could guess the VATS kicked in from the corvette ECM so after running for 30 seconds or so it stopped and we couldn't get it to run ever since.

We pulled the 86 corvette ECM out and put the old one in and everything worked, it would turn over we had everything except for injector pulse, nothing we would do would get those suckers to fire unless we shorted them and we did to all 8 to check so they work but not from the computer! We called the wiring he found out that our ground wasn't perfect so one problem solved but still nothing!

So after that we took the 86 camaro to somebody who had us buy a new ECM before he would start working on it, he determined that there is a wire somewhere that is probably fried and that's what stopping the injectors from pulsing but after going through and checking the injector wires as well the one that runs to the ignition and ECM they are fine

So my question to you guys is where do I go from I bought a new painless system but it seems some connectors are in the wrong place,

Also besides that point maybe someone can point me in the direction of the wires I should be testing or which ones might be bad that I should check any help would be appreciated me and my dad put it together when I was 20 i am 30 now and only want my 86 back up and running!

3rdgenzroc

Since no one has chastised you yet for looking up the info or whatever, I'll try to help point you in the right direction. You have a few options to figure on how you want to go about this. I only assume this 350 is reinstalled with everything as it was factory now. Wiring, sensors, intake and all. You can buy a FSM (factory service manual) off of the internet, lots on fleabay. Learn how to use it and read it (such as how the wiring prints are, how to look up certain areas of your car and use there diagnostic procedures. It will show you everything about that car [in it]. You will still have to learn how to preform procedures though, its not a step by step, per se. You can search on here and read thread after thread about any question you have. (put in the search area asking about VATS, or injectors, you should get the point). Most of the old threads will spoon feed you how, where, what, if you just take the time to read over and over and learn it, but it does take some time. Buy a good matched KNOWN working ECM with its harness preferably to your year of engine or different if your willing to change some of the things (either on harness or engine). If you can do that, you should be able to make your painless harness work then. Or buy a complete aftermarket system like a holly HP and its harness for TPI, but then again, you may still need to change some things. The basic point is figure out what is wrong as step 1, (no injector pulse). Step 2 learn everything you can about that so that you can diagnose the problem. Then just go from there. If you honestly can't find it on here, then that's when you ask the Camaro gods on here, cause they will know...

ironwill

Looked at your post history. In all seriousness, it's probably time to either have the car towed to a professional repair shop, or else sell it as-is.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

SbFormula

3rdgenzroc just nailed it. Here's a starting point:

Chevy TPI Fuel Injection Swapper's Guide

Amazon

Amazon

If you get your hand on that book. It's quite helpful. You need also to be able to datalog to see what the ECM is doing. Questions is: Does the ECM fires the injectors but they actually don't fire, or does the ECM not fire the injectors and why?

Injectors have their own fuses BTW.

Cheers!

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

So I'm in simi valley CA and I brought it to a professional but he just had it sit in his shop for 2 years and never got to it believe me I tried, there isn't anyone out here that can work on it because they don't have anything to read the computer, also most of the shops closed down here I'm obviously but i know my car pretty well, but I have one question,

Has anyone installed a painless wiring harness in an 86 and if so what did you do about the wiring harness being about a foot shorter from where it connects to the ECM cut and splice or am I missing something?

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

The painless 60102 maf harness is designed to cut a hole in the bulkhead. Might be room over by the blower housing or by distributor.
to be emissions compliant get there add on egr and air pump wiring. Easier f body swap to use a correct f body tpi harness.

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Ok great thanks for the advice that makes sense and I figured after I replace the harness that would fix if not eliminate a good amount of troubleshooting thanks for that!

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Also I looked on there website for my year it didn't come up with any matches by any chance can someone help woth part numbers for those painless add ons? Or a link for both of them

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Or are they just single connectors?

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

60312 the part numbers are in your install instructions. Will need to add on your egr temp sensor and solenoid control wiring. Look
at a 1227165 harness schematic

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Oh and one more question do you have to splice in the other connectors that are in the cab?

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Ok do you mean to splice them in?

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

C207 ? or the wires marked that come from the ecm that are relatively short ?

http://www.austinthirdgen.org/mkport..._1987_C207.gif

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

Yes splice

brian p

I have installed that Painless harness. It works fine, everything hooks up. You can route the Painless harness thru the hole in the passenger foot well where the existing harness goes from the cabin into the engine compartment.There is a big mass of hardened sealer to deal with, enjoy. Here's the big but...It's a lot of tedious work, you need a wiring diagram for your car, and a bunch of hours to do it. And I don't mean a night or a weekend.

You will have to separate out all wires that the Painless harness is going to replace. You will have to trace all those wire from the ECM to their final location at the respective sensor to make sure you have the right wire. You will have to (lengthen/splice/whatever word you want to use) a number of wires including the MAF sensor wires, the O2 sensor wire, the two MAF relays and the fuel relay (or relocate those three closer) and probably a few I've forgotten. You should use the same gauge wire and the same or similar colour wire when splicing so you stand a chance of tracing it if something effs up. Alternatively I suppose you could drill a hole thru the firewall instead to get you closer but you'll still have to do most of the above.

Hope that helps. As for what's wrong with your car or the California smog stuff, sorry, can't help.

murphymckenna

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the help Brian that was exactly what I was looking for! I'll hopefully in the next couple weeks be able to.come back and post that I have got it running after a 12 year long sleep so thanks everybody!

jharrison5

If my memory serves me correctly I believe the Painless harness is setup for a speed density intake.

brian p

https://www.painlessperformance.com/wc/60102. I installed it on a '86 that was originally a 305 TPI car, no problems other than what I mentioned above.

Brian