Alright, so the story goes:
I have an '89 Firebird. 5.0L V8/305 and someone decided last fall that it would be really funny to try and steal the 'Chicken (4 days after my storage insurance expired) Whoever broke into the car decided to take vice-grips to my ignition and cut the two white wires coiled in orange tape. They literally ripped them right out of the ignition. They then proceeded to absolutely destroy my ignition-switch. Long story short; I had to replace the entire steering-column. Unfortunately, 1989 was a bit of an odd year when the VATS was introduced.

So I also own an '84 Firebird, (cute lil carb. Eng.) I bought it mainly for the leather seats, but the steering-column just so happened to come in handy. I've already done the steering column swap itself, but of course, the '84 being an older vehicle has less technological-luxuries. AKA: I need to bypass my VATS system to get the 'Chicken running again. Is it just best for me to buy a bypass system and solder it in? From what I understand, 82-92 is compatible, but I still have my doubts as to if the 84's column is even going to work?..

 

If everything worked fine beforehand you should be able to measure resistance of the key pellet and connect a resistor of the same value to those wires at the base of the column.

 

In this photo it shows the connection. The wires coming from the column are in the orange casing. You do not use those.
The wires coming out of the column connect to two wires that come from the nest of wires in that area. You put the resister/resisters between those wires.
I do not know if your wires are the same color as what you see here.
If you still have the stock connecter you can make a loop with the resister and plug the ends into the connecter.

 

Follow Ron U.S.M.C.'s directions, but I don't think that last picture with the resistor is labelled correctly, so follow what he says:

"If you still have the stock connector you can make a loop with the resister and plug the ends into the connector."

not what that last picture shows. The resistor should connect together the two pins in the IP harness side connector, it should not connect to both the ignition lock cylinder connector and the VATS module connector, it wouldn't work that way.

 

I can understand the confusion.
Let me rephrase......


The wire labeled "ignition" is just a continuous line to vats with the resister placed in the middle.

Ignition and "key cylinder" are two different things.

Its to give you an idea as to what we are trying to accomplish.

The second photo is just for reference.

= "If you still have the stock connecter you can make a loop with the resister and plug the ends into the connecter."=

I hope that cleared things up a little.

 

Yes, I read it wrong then. Thanks for the clarification.

 

That's cool.
I should be more specific.
You should be able to get the resisters from Radio Shack for a buck or two.
You might need to put more than one in line to get the value you need. You might only be able to get close to the value needed.
If so, give it a try. There is a small amount of leeway.

 

Unfortunately the '84 steering column doesn't have those white wires on the steering-column at all because it didn't have vats like my '89 does. I ordered in a bypass kit, it should be here in about a week or two. I'm weary about whether or not it's going to work. I've had such bad luck with this car.

 

Lysh, we understand that part of it, but you don't need to buy anymore than a $3 pack of resistors.

Determine the key resistance, buy the right resistor, and connect the two wires together using the resistor. Install the resistor where the dash harness plugs into the steering column harness. It won't matter what steering column you have, because you didn't change the dash harness. The resistor replaces everything VATS related that was in your original column. You had to have unplugged this connector when you took the original column out. That's where the resistor goes. Just like in Ron U.S.M.C.'s picture. The two white wires come from the column, the violet/white, and white/black wires are part of the dash harness.

I'll try to show you, using Ron's pictures, that this is all you have to do and is so much simpler and much much much much cheaper to do.

 

If I'm seeing this correctly you could take the 2 white wires where the circle with line thru it, cut it a the end of the orange wire loom. solder 1 wire to 1 end of resister the other wire to other end of resister
then you would have a antitheft device cause you could unclip the connector when parked them plug in when ready to leave correct?

 

Yes, that is correct. Because the key used to do the same thing; when you took your key you took the resistor as well.

 

or just find the VATS box, throw it in the dumpster, and tie the two biggest wires going into it together..

 

There is a guy on eBay that sells plug in play VATS modules. I bought one a while ago works great!

Look for seller: http://www.ebay.com/usr/override_motorsports

Just be aware when I click on any of his items to sell, I get a block threat detection from AVAST. Not sure why, but he is legit otherwise. Make sure your antivirus is up to date.