Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

hey 68tt what is this power distribution block in the 89 . and why do i need to take the pedals out of the 89, and when you say im going to have to plum new fuel lines why is that wont the fuel lines work that i take out of the 89 ? They work in the 89. IM gonna go for it the whole tbi build ? Does any1 know if the steering column for the 89 will work in my 78? am i gonna have to do something with my drive shaft when i put the tranny from the 89 in my 78? what kind of tranny will that 89 have is it a 400th? thanks steve

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

There was a relay and breaker center on many cars with EFI and I figured the 89 might have one. It will give you someplace to connect all the power through other than the old truck fuse panel. A series of relays and a simple power strip can work too.

The frame widths are different on the two trucks so I figured you would have to plumb new fuel lines to and from the TBI unit. You never know maybe the 89 lines will fit right up.

You might be able to use your stock pedal assembly with a new dual output brake switch to control the converter lock up function. It does both the brake light and TCC functions in one switch. They do different things, one is open when the brake is applied and the other is closed when applied. I just don't know if the newer switch will fit the older pedal assembly and brake switch brackets.

The transmission in the 89 depends upon if it was a half ton or a 3/4 ton. It will be a 700R4 / 4L60 if it is a half ton or a T-400 if it is a 3/4 or 1-ton.

I don't know if the wheel bases and engine positions changed between the years so you will have to measure the driveshaft length to make sure.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

The relay and breaker center that 68tt is talking about on the 89 is mounted on the firewall pass side under a big black plastic cover. You do not need a new column you will need a the park neutral switch out of the 89 (it is down by the floor board and the wires that go to it). The reason is to tell the cpu when you are in park and neutral. Look at your 89 trans and see if it has a speedometer cable or wires where the cable is supposed to be. THis will let you know if you need to any thing to your dash. You can also use this and it will look stock on your truck and it is what I am running to lock my 700 trans.http://www.painlessperformance.com/w...rchField=60110

Yes I am VERY pleased with my swap and it gets 16 mpg or better some times so that is a bouns.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

if the tranny has wires instead of a cable them im going to need the instrument cluster and how will that work in my 78. guess it would be a lot of modifing to my dash to make it look right

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

No you can get a dash out of a blazer or suburban 90 or 91 and it will work just fine.(they have the eletric dash) But I am betting that 89 is not electric. If you need to you can leave the trans in the 78.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

the tranny i have now is a 3 speed saganaw. it was on the column but converted to the floor. i was thinking it might be a fun tranny to keep in for a while

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

will the brake booster and master cylinder from the 89 work in my truck

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

Probably if it bolts up you can try it. Someone else probaly can answer that better than me. Why would you want that booster and master cylinder on your 78?

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

If you keep the manual in there you do not have to wory about changing the nuteral sftey swich out. There will be no need. Plus it will make the swap easier on you because you will not have to worry about swaping out and making the auto trans to fit.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

You will have to spend a decent amount of money on a one-piece rear main seal flywheel. While you are in there it would be a crime to not put in a new clutch, throwout bearing and pilot bushing. The cost adds up pretty quickly.

The automatic conversion might cost about the same and you would gain the overdrive. Unless you really like the 3-speed manual I think it is worth it to put in the auto trans. You won't have to mess with the factory tune in the ECM either this way.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

has any1 done this swap withthe same years 89 donor to a 78 shortbed? should i pull the crossmember out of the 89? what about the drive shaft, can i use the 1 from the 89 or do i need to have mine shortened. the 700 looks to be much bigger and longer than the saginaw. thanks steve This site is really great the information is just awesome thanks for all the info so far.....

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

hey 68tt Why do i need the under dash harness and how do i go about hooking that up in the 78. What is that harness going to do? Do i neeed to pull the fuse box out of the 89? What is the tcc lock up function? Will the steering column work in my 78 ? How can i tell if it will work ? You said i could order a new tank where would be a good place to get a tank and sending unit , and pump ? Thanks steve

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

There are a few circuits from the ECM that connect across under the dash to the ALDL connector and to the gauge cluster & brake switch that need to be integrated into the old truck. With the under dash harness out you can separate what is needed from what is not pretty easily.

You may be able to use the 89's fuse box with the blade type fuses and most of the 89's wire harness to control your 77. You will have to take a look at how it passes through the firewall and where relative to the 77 to see if it is realistic to try to do it. It is probably more work than it is worth to rewire the whole truck around the 89 fuse panel.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

Your local auto parts store can get you the new tank, sending unit and fuel pump. You are looking for the parts for an 87 with the 5.7 TBI motor. 20-gallon tank for long bed truck, 16-gallon for short bed.

There are a ton of online places you can get them too but the shipping may make them more expensive than your local auto parts store even with a higher price and sales tax. Check around and do a little comparison shopping.

I like to buy stuff locally just so I can easily return things if they don't work.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

The TCC function is the computer locking the torque converter to completely eliminate slippage above a MPH threshold under certain driving conditions. It gives you a little better MPG and lowers the amount of heat build up in the trans on long drives. It is a good feature to have and worth the effort to make it work.

You will just have to try to bolt the 89 column into the 77 to see if it physically fits. It will have the wiper controls, cruise control and dimmer switch controls on the turn signal control stalk that you will have to rewire the 77 to work with. Again probably more work than it is worth unless you really need delay wipers or cruise control.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

Well I took out most of the under dash harness out of the 89 today. not sure if i got everything that i was suppose to. I took the whole dash out and got it out of my way so i could see everything and got the main part of the harness that ran from the harness thaT came out of the ecm . I took the fuse panel . I also took the brake pedal , steering column and ecm out . I am going to need some lessons on what to do with all those wires ....... there is some relays and more wires that run across the top and down the sides, not sure what thats for or if i need that . thanks 68tt if you got some more info / help that would be great thanks steve

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

As long as you got everything connected to the ECM you probably don't need to worry about figuring out what the rest of the stuff under the dash of the 89 is for. It could be power window relays, A/C related, heater controls etc... that won't be retrofit to the 77.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

Steve

You need to get yourself a notebook. To make this swap work you have address multitude of questions (issues):
fuel
drive line
suspension
engine / trany
EFI - ECM
induction
etc.

There is just too much information floating in this thread at once. By starting a notebook you will bring order and reduce error factor by getting wrong parts or doing work twice.

//RF

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

^x2

It is really easy to forget what was done and where parts came from especially when you are mixing parts from multiple vintages..

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

well first i am going to get everything out of the 89 truck. Then i plan on putting all that aside , engine , tranny , wires, and you had said ^68tt^ to take the pedals , fuel lines , I just want to make sure i get everything out of the 89 before it goes to sale.. Then im going to get back to work on the body , paint , suspension pulling out the inline 6 . so it all ready for the swap. Im tring to gather all the info i can , so i can see if i can handle doing the tbi swap . So far it looks like ill probably have a 700r and all the tbi stuff for sale. I think for me it might be best to put an intake and carb with a th350. thats something i can handle. Thanks for all the replies , Steve

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

Steve

Do not forget that '78 still has to pass bi-annual smog inspections. This requires that you maintain your straight 6 in a mint operating condition.

//RF

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

what do you mean? rfmaster

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

In Commy state of Kalifornia all gasoline powered passenger vehicles and trucks under 8501lbs GVWR model(1) year 1976 and newer must pass bi-annual state smog check.

(1) There are few exceptions to this rule (alternative fuel, several California counties do not particulate in this program, few other exceptions and loop holes)

//RF

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

When I lived in CA you could do a complete engine swap into a vehicle with an engine from the same or newer body style of vehicle and be smog legal. Car to car, truck to truck, but not truck to car or car to truck.

You have to maintain all smog equipment from the other configuration including the catalytic converter(s).

I put a TPI 350 & 700R4 from a friends wrecked 87 IROC into my 86 Monte Carlo in place of the carbed 305 and 200-4R trans when I lived in LA county.

It has to be taken to a referee station and evaluated to make sure it meets all the swap guidelines and all the smog equipment is present and functional. It also has to pass the smog requirements for the model year of the transplanted engine.

It was a bit of a pain to get legal but it can be done.

I did this back in 1990 but I would be willing to bet the rules still apply.

See if you can locate a referee station and pick their brain. They are very happy to see a carbureted vehicle become fuel injected and computer controlled and were very helpful with my swap.

Re: 89 1500 parts ????
 

Agree - 68 TT - you are absolutely correct!!
You can put a EFI truck engine into older non EFI truck provided that you transfer all of the EFI emission into older truck. It is not really that bad with our trucks and there are definite long term maintenance advantages going with EFI.

For one of my conversions efforts (my friend in Bay Area) we gave up on trying to get Q-Jet powered 79 camaro (305) to pass smog. Engine was worn, (valve guides), rebuilding Q-jet and replacing all thermal vacuum switches was getting too expensive (and there was no guaranty that it would pass either). After numerous attempts to get it to pass (high HC) we almost gave up, but by a chance we found a wrecked 89 Camaro with TBI 305/700R4. It was weekend swap - engine - trany (shortening driveshaft took few days), we had to add a new 3/8" supply line and inline fuel filter with a fuel reservoir - filter combo, and punch a hole in the firewall for harness. We made sure that all EFI smog equipment was connected and functional (engine was a stocker). A trip to a referee station - no issues as both visual and tail pipe checks were in order. Camaro went from 15mpg slug to 23 mpg hwy cruiser!

You can not put truck EFI into a carbed car, but you can put car EFI engine into older truck. Like you said devil is in details and planning.

//RF