I have just bought a 1987 Trans Am GTA with a 350 TPI. The problem is it had an engine fire and it destroyed all of the underhood wiring. Would the painless get my car running? I know I would have to get the headlight harness from somewhere else but as far as the tpi setup is any good or should I find a factory harness? I was told that the painless kit doe's not have alt., air conditioning, cruse, wires. Anybody run in to this problem?

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89 Iroc 350 TPI,
Forged pistions
Comp roller Cam .510 lift 230dur
Flowmaster exhaust
Dart Iron Eagle heads 200cc runners 64cc chambers
MINI RAM SOON!!!!!
stock TPI for now 24# inj

 

I would try my best to find a factory replacement. Just for the simple fact that EVERYTHING will be there and have the correct length of all of the wires.

Brendan

 

I would hold out for a stock harness. I used a painless when I swapped and basically it's a stand alone unit. Straight from the computer, to the engine. I think you would do better with a stock harness.

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Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI
Edelbrock Hi-Flow Intake
SLP Dual Cold Air Intake
1 5/8" Headers
Semi-Siamesed Runners
MSD6AL/AdjFPR/IROC frnt@rear swaybar/wonderbar/steeringbox/alum drvshaft/ Alston SFC/3:23posi disc rear/MAC LCA/H.Adams Panhard Rod/KYB struts/ shocks/
92Z28convt5spd
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

I would have to disagree. I would go with the Painless Harness, it's not hard to install like most people think. Go to Painlessperformance.com and read there instruction booklet that is on line and you will get an idea of what's involved.

Your year may be different but the only other place you are going to find a wiring harness for your car is in the yards. Good luck on finding one with the TPI harness still in and not all hacked up. As for the wiring for the ALt, headlights, wipers, and etc.... you will be able to get that from just about any camaro.

HTH

 

I've heard bad stories about painful wiring, try fuel injection specialties. They seem to have a good rep.

 

Most people have only heard stories, never had an actual experience with them. no offense, 86zm6, i have just heard alot of people say what a PITA they are to install. I used a painless for mine and didnt run into any problems. their tech support is great and they have a high quality affordable harness. good luck with what ever you choose, but any wiring harness is going to be a PITA.

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*1989 RS
*Red, Daytona Turbo fiberglass hood, chrome 16x8 IROC wheels
*355 CID
*TPI ported plenum, SLp siamesed runners, Edelbrock high flow intake
*Edelbrock TES Headers (getting SLP 1 3/4 this summer)
*Richmond 3.73
Modded 700-R4, 2800 stall converter
NO recent time slips.

 

I used it, and didnt like it... at all.

I too think you would be much better off with a stock harness, I pirated a bunch of stuff off a factory harness to make the painless work properly.

 

I used a pain-in-the-*** wiring harness in my IROC. Rather, tried to.

Here is what I have to say. If you are replacing a factory harness, you will drive yourself nuts. The plugs just do not match under the dash panel for VSS, tach, fuel pump signal and a dozen other wires that run to places from 2 pigtail connectors under the dash.

If you are installing TPI on something and do not wish to use those pigtails, and have good enough knowledge to hook everything else up than its a great product. Everything is labelled and in most cases, long enough.

I DID have one. I did not like it. I was lucky and found a used harness.

 

IIRC there are not connectors for the distributor, I know there arent any for the smog system (EGR, charcoal can, diverter valve) and other stuff I have probably forgetten about.

 

Go on Ebay, there is currently a few MAF factory harnesses on there. I just bought one. They are cheaper there than painless.

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82' Z-28. 327" w/ flat tops. 216/228/112LS. Pocket ported 041 heads 1.94/1.50 SS valves. World Class T-5 from a 91'. Best run? Runs with 2001 vette to 150mph! Soon to be converted over to TPI w/ supercharger.