Ok, ill make this as quick as possible. My plans for a 350 TPI 5 speed swap into my 88 iroc convert has gone the way of the dinosaurs, BUT Ive decided to swap it into my 87 Monte Carlo SS. I have the TPI unit, 730 ecm, (getting 350 memcal), VSS, Stock 92 Camaro TPI Speed density 5 spd engine wiring harness. I need to know how I would rewire the stock SD harness to work as a stand alone system. I know Painless wiring sells a harness for 300 so I may just do that, but I figure since I sorta have one already, I should give it a shot. Anyone have a list of wire colors and functions for the firewall connector? I figure I could work off that. The only additional thing I think id have to do is get a chip burned to run without VATS and emssions junk. any help would be appreciated.

oh and yes, i know i have to mess around with fuel lines and pump. Motor will be stock except for full exhaust and k&N....

 

I recently pulled the TPI out of an '86 T/A. I don't know if there are any differences between '86 and '88. I swapped it into a '78 T/A. The system is pretty much a stand alone system. I have yet to go through the part of the harness that goes into the interior, but I'm assuming that part is for the gauges and power. I can get the wire colors when I get home in the morning, and get a better description of what the connectors do.

 

http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-1.jpg
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-2.jpg
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-3.jpg
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-4.jpg
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-5.jpg
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-6.jpg
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28...730v8tpi-7.jpg

http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28/ecm_swap_730/

 

All those wiring diagrams mean nothing to me, They are for the ECM connectors. I need the connector at the firewall on the driver side, right before where it goes to the fuse block. I have the SD harness and ecm already, thats not the problem. My task is to make the SD harness function in a 87 monte carlo, i need to know which wires in the firewall connector are Batt, ground, acc, etc.. Once i know that i can wire it up to work as a stand alone unit.

 

If I am understanding you correctly, the firewall connector is sort of "scrambling" your ability to know which wires are which. I had this same problem when I modded my MAF harness I used a continuity tester. They are a couple bucks at the most at your local hardware store. I notched a very small portion out of the insulation on the wire I was trying to follow, and then did the same on the other side. If it lit up, I had my wire. To cover up the notches, I bought some "brush on" electrical tape.....intersting stuff. Maybe there is a better way?

 

I put a 92 TPI motor in my Jeep which had no existing wiring...I used the painless kit for $300 and it literally took me 15 minutes to wire the motor. It was such a breeze, very cool product and very easy to use. Sounds like it is just what you need since you ditched the 2nd gen.

CJ

 

ok, painless wiring harness it is, thanks CJ, i never used any of their harnesses so i didnt know how easy it'd be, (i once bought their harness for an lt1 but i had a 96 lt1 and they only make 93-95 lt1 harnesses, go figure) I'll order the SD tpi harness tonight. I have the motor on a stand now putting the TPI system on it, and hopefully itll be ready to go in the car next weekend.

 

talk to the guys at montecarloss.com a few of them have done this they will tell you just what you need to do.

 

Those diagrams were useful!

 

wow, eleven years worth of water under the bridge but somebody still getting good out of this old thread.