How To Video, LSx Wiring Swap Harness, 99-02 Truck Harness: 4 Wire Hookup

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by CamaroChris

Where do you think the suppliers get their harnesses? you send them your factory harness and they do what these guys did in the video. the only difference is that you save 500$ only harness that new is from painless and IMO way too expensive. or you can get a bran new harness from GM for 2700$ the wires in my 2000 harness with 200k on it look and feel bran new.

Negative. I send Howell Engine Development $500 and they build me a new harness with new wire, new terminals, new J1 and J2 connectors, new weather pack connectors, new relays, new split loom, ECM tuned to whatever requirements are, etc. And they do it all with new OEM Delphi components. The difference is the small custom harness suppliers like Howell take care in building the harnesses unlike the underpaid 13 year old kid in Mexico that built the production vehicle harness plus you don't need to clutter up your engine bay with the UBEC.

I work with new vehicles every day. These days hard part failures are pretty rare. Where the problems are always found is in the wiring where some lazy assembler at Delphi did a pizz poor crimp or splice. Factory wiring harnesses are terrible. The components are good….the assembly process is terrible.

There is no way a 10 year old – 200K harness looks and feels brand new after that many engine bay hot soaks. I am not buying that one. Heck, you can’t hardly pull a weather pack connector off of a 5 year old vehicle without breaking off the locking tang.

Somebody is going to be able to whittle this…


To this? ..... I don't think so.



This is not to blow holes in Matt's work. They did a great job. I just would not use a factory take out harness if it were me. If you can spare another $500-$700 get a new harness. You won't regret it!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Somebody is going to be able to whittle this…


To this? ..... I don't think so.



If you can spare another $500-$700 get a new harness. You won't regret it!

Thanks for the extra incentive Larry. I will do my best to emulate the pros at Howell. BTW I don't have a spare $50 let alone $500

[matthew20061]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Negative. I send Howell Engine Development $500 and they build me a new harness with new wire, new terminals, new J1 and J2 connectors, new weather pack connectors, new relays, new split loom, ECM tuned to whatever requirements are, etc. And they do it all with new OEM Delphi components. The difference is the small custom harness suppliers like Howell take care in building the harnesses unlike the underpaid 13 year old kid in Mexico that built the production vehicle harness plus you don't need to clutter up your engine bay with the UBEC.

I work with new vehicles every day. These days hard part failures are pretty rare. Where the problems are always found is in the wiring where some lazy assembler at Delphi did a pizz poor crimp or splice. Factory wiring harnesses are terrible. The components are good….the assembly process is terrible.

There is no way a 10 year old – 200K harness looks and feels brand new after that many engine bay hot soaks. I am not buying that one. Heck, you can’t hardly pull a weather pack connector off of a 5 year old vehicle without breaking off the locking tang.

Somebody is going to be able to whittle this…


To this? ..... I don't think so.



This is not to blow holes in Matt's work. They did a great job. I just would not use a factory take out harness if it were me. If you can spare another $500-$700 get a new harness. You won't regret it!

Yeah I see what your saying if you've got the cash for the nice harness by all means go for it! Its much easier and will look very clean and new. The harness I did in that video was pretty old but from an alaska truck and things are pretty wet and cold up here so the wires and connectors and everything seemed to me to be very usable but not perfect to say the least.

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Somebody is going to be able to whittle this…


To this? ..... I don't think so.



This is not to blow holes in Matt's work. They did a great job. I just would not use a factory take out harness if it were me. If you can spare another $500-$700 get a new harness. You won't regret it!

Actually, yes. However it takes a little more time and effort than just whipping out your credit card. It's really not difficult, and I've yet to have any problems with any of my swaps that have been done with rust belt harnesses.

[71chevystep4x4]

I figured he had got all of his information from LT1swap.com, which is where I got mine. The gentleman who created that site surely knows what he is doing, is easy to contact for any questions, and not to mention will re-flash your pcm for $75. As for me, I have a extremly tight budget I am working with, and cannot dish out $500 to $700 for a custom harness. Great videos man!!!! Nice to see someone on here helping out the broke diy's on here like myself.

[OneOffStroker]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Somebody is going to be able to whittle this…


To this? ..... I don't think so.

I did. It took me about 2 days, but certainly not continuous. I did it in my off time between work, school, and family. If you have the will power to do well, you can take junkyard stuff and turn it around into useable awesomeness...while saving $500+ in the meantime.

If your budget allows a new/aftermarket harness, then go that route. Either way, just do what you have to in order to get more of these trucks back on the road.