fuel injection swap from 88 to 83

[wild wille]

I pulled the 350 and complete wiring harness with computer out of 88 burb and installing into 83 pickup and it look like the harness should just plug in where the old harness is . I have already run the computer harness in the cab and installed the computer and have installed a after market electric fuel pump and dont want to plug the harness in to the fire wall and burn it up soi was woundering if one else has done this swap and if so was the harness wired correctly. i have looked at a wiring diagram and looks ok? Need just some insight. thanks

[spudz]

I wish someone would do a write up on this swap...

[pos86]

you say you used the aftermarket inline fuel pumps? they wouldnt pump enough pressure to my throttlebody, so i put the actual pumps in the tank, this is how i did mine i plugged the burban harness in to my firewall ran everything. the only extra wires i had to run was from my left and right tank fuel pumps to a toggle under my dash. my fuel tank switch stayed and worked the same but i had to get hot to the fuel pump

[impalamark]

I'm in the middle of the same swap 88 burb stuff into a
84 short bed . on inspecting the two harnesses there were enogh differences I swapped the whole thong start to finish and put in the steering column as well. look at the two harnesses closely
don't know what the differences mean but they are different
Mark

[pos86]

the first swap i did i put every wire bumper to bumper off a 87 in a 84, that was alot of work then i did it just using the burban harness and it has not failed yet

[wild wille]

Thanks for the info. I had my local parts guy look up the pressure and volume for the tbi which was 9-13 lbs and 35 gpm so i got one that runs 10-16 psi and 44 gpm the book said it was a replacement for tbi engines. I am going to plug the harness in this weekend and cross my fingers. And also I ran the wires from the burb harness to the aftermarket fuel pump so it should run with the key I hope anyway I will post what happens after i try it.

[nico]

I'm confused... I want to do a similar swap to my newest 84, and am about to buy a nice-running 88 burb.

Is everyone just plugging the TBI engine compartment harness into the bulkhead under the master cylinder and then adding the computer harness under the dash? Or is it better to swap the entire harness (dash, interior, engine, fuel pump, etc.)?

Anyone know of a step-by-step for this conversion?

[pos86]

i had to run wires to mine because i have two tanks and two fuel pumps. anyway im sure you will get it going.

[wild wille]

NICO thats my question also .And from what I can tell all i have to do is plug in the harness from the engine into the wiring bulk head under the master cylinder. And I ran the computer wiring and installed the computer behind the glove box and the only otherthing is fuel to the tb . I plan on having mine done sat. night so ill let you know what happens.

[nico]

Keep us posted on your progress...

The 84 SWB I just got looks like all the engine compartment wires were removed with a claw hammer so I was hoping I could just unplug from the bulkhead and re-connect with a TBI harness. Do all the gauges work when you do this?

[gchemist]

Originally Posted by spudz

I wish someone would do a write up on this swap...

Here ya go.

http://users.sfo.com/~eagle/howell.html

[impalamark]

Nico
there are two wiring harness' we are dealing with.

wiring for the engine management goes in though a hole to the left of the
distributor viewed standing in front of truck this goes straight thought
to the ECM.mounted behind and above the glove compartment in the cab

the second plug under the brake MC is the genral wire harness for starter
sending units lights horn and so on
the ECM harness is almost stand alone but does draw power from the fuse block

the main under hood harnes is different between the model years if you
look at it closely . I've not take the time to see how different but they are different in my 88 burb to 84 truck
I swapped the entire wiring in and out to help me pick up power windows
lock column mounted wipers and such
MArk

[rfmaster]

There are several subtle differences between CCC and TBI harnesses. The best and the most sure way to make a successful trouble free EFI conversion is to transfer TBI harness and all sensors from '88 into your 83.

Take a close look at '83 distributor - it should a large size HEI as apposed to a small HEI with external coil used in 88. Open 83 distributor and count number of pins on the ICM - if 7 you are in good shape. Otherwise you'll have to transfer small size dizzy from '88 onto your '83 engine. Let us know what you got. BTW no two EFI swaps are the same as there are differences.

//RF

[wild wille]

The whole thing went smooth the harness pluged into the fire wall ran the plumbing for the after market fuel pump and wiring turned the key and made sure the tbi had fuel and it stated like a dream. Only real problem i had was the y pipe was different and had to use the one from the donner and weld it back in.no need to write a book its that simple the computer holder is already their and the wiring was like it came in that year model. So hopefully it get some what better gas milage than the 4.5 the 305 carb engine gets.

[spudz]

cool beans....

[wild wille]

Spudz I did come up one more problem the wiring harness off the burb on had two plugs on wiper motr where my moter had three plugs and didnt realize till we tried to use them so we removed the motor off the burb and installed on the truck an d all is well. Thought i would let you know.