I am having problems wiring up this TBI454. I just need to get her running even if its in the worst way.

What wires go to the plastic connector at the firewall(instument cluster?) that must be connected for the motor to run? Any Ideas what color they should be for an 89?

Should this be in the motor swap forum?


Charlo

 

I would suggest getting a Chilton's manual since it has the wiring diagrams for all 3rd gens. I will try to walk you thru it but I am going from memory.

First let me begin by stating the obvious.

The instrument cluster won't make the engine run. The ingintion switch will and also 89's and up have VATS. (vehicle anti-theft system) make sure you disable it. Shoot me a PM if you need help with this, it is pretty straight forward.

Assuming you have disables the VATS start at the ignition switch Look for a heavy gauge "pink" or "red" wire near the steering column it should come off of the ignition switch.

This heavy wire should go to the fuse block to a fuse labeled IGN.

then, in a harness, it goes out fire wall on the driver's side, near the master cylinder.

it then goes to the ignition coil, from there the circuit splits with a lead going to the starter solenoid.

Make sure the ignition circuit is intact. If this is OK then make sure that VATS is disabled. I assume you have deleted the ECM and are running a carb...

 

LOL. Maybe thats what my problem is. I deleted the carb and am trying to run TBI. Thats what smogs requires for my 454.

I dont think the vehicle had a VATS. The motor/harness/ecm is from a 1ton pickup, from what I have read they did not have VATS.

So Is the ignition switch the only wire from that connector required for the engine to run? That would make wiring very easy.

I read through my haynes, it only shows 6 wires going to the "instrument cluster". The harness has 15 wires attached to that connector which I thought was the "instrument cluster".
Thanks for the help so far.


Charlo

 

With a carb and mechanincal fuel pump yes... with a ECM not exactly.

What happpens when you turn the key forward (without cranking the engine) can you hear the fuel pump priming?

I am guessing you used the ECM harness from the truck to connect all the sensors, are you getting power to the ECM?

You might need to make yourself a checklist:

ECM power, ground, and all sensors connected.

ignition circuit: power and ground (ignition switch, coil, starter, battery)

fuel pump: relay, power and ground

VATS started being used on 89 f-bodies the relay for it is in the drivers side kick panel it's a small black box you'll see the wiring from the ignition circuit going to it. just delete the box and reconnect the wires.

The instrument cluster plugs into only ONE connector so match the female pin connecter from the back side of the cluster to the male connector, it should be right over the streering column.

How badly hacked is this car's harness??

 

HITHERE think my computer is tripping, all words that are solo vowels have been replaced with "HITHERE". Anyways


The wiring harness is in fairly good condition but HITHERE broke down and bought HITHERE painless harness for it. The painless harness looks very easy to install except that they moved the MAP and ESC sensors to inside the vehicle. HITHERE dont know how well the MAP would work running through 5 feet of vacuum tube.

All HITHERE have to hook up now is HITHERE
park nuetral switch
brake switch
ignition wire
ground
fuel pump
oil switch

BTW, wiring is HITHERE crapload more difficult when your partially coorblind
Thanks for the help so far FORMULA

Charlo

 

and you expected the engine to start without these items hooked up???

I know you are anxious to hear the big block rumble to life but calm down and make sure it's all connected first...

I'm not quite understanding the Hithere, maybe it's a left coast thing...


If you're worried about the MAP sensor mount it in the stock location and (on the firewall) extend the length of the wiring harness...

 

No not at all. But eveything is labeled and I am left with much fewer wires to deal with. To hook all those up can be done in an hour, sorting through the factory harness trying to figure out what goes where was going much slower.

I have 2 questions now. There is a large metal tube coming off the back of the throttla body. What is that for?

2nd where is the heater core hookup? I have what looks like a heater hose going from water pump to the base area of the thermostat/water neck. There is another hose from the othe side of thermostat that goes to the throttle body.

Charlo