Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

NastyNate32 · 01-07-2014, 12:46 AM

So I'm buying a 96 vortec 5.7/4L60E combo for my 68. Does anyone know a good place to find an ECM and harness fairly reasonably? Would I be able to get ECM from a salvage yard and have it flashed? The wiring harness I found on jets was around $850 for just the harness! Am I stuck paying that to get this working?

MARKDTN · 01-07-2014, 08:21 AM

http://howellefi.com/gm-vortec-produ...n-2-3-4-5.html

Looks like you need a core for the computer. Howell makes very nice stuff.

hugger6933 · 01-07-2014, 08:29 AM

I have used John Spears out of IN. His company is Speartech, he does what he says he will when he says he will do it. I think he has a harness on his website. Jim

Unionwelder · 01-07-2014, 08:52 AM

Go to the junk yard and buy them. If you have a pick a part around you you can get the harness for about 100$ and the ECM for next to nothing. Most times the cashier dont even know what it is at the register. Have it flashed and cut your harness to fit. Depending on the flash you can have it all paid up for around 400-500$. Shade tree redneck point of view but it works.

NastyNate32 · 01-07-2014, 10:12 AM

I've checked out Howell's controllers/harness setup and speartech's. They both look really high class but you pay pretty good for it.

Unionwelder: This is more what I was hoping to do I just wasn't sure if the salvage yards around here would sell them or know what I was trying to buy. I'm trying to build this truck on a budget but after buying a '73 for donor frontend/rearend then rebuilding them, it's already up there in cost.

Has anybody personally done what Union is talking about? How hard is it to get one fully intact from salvage or should I just cut the ends and put new on where they plug in?

Acorn · 01-07-2014, 10:17 AM

I have a 5.7 vortec ECM , harness, intake, etc. I'm gonna get rid of. Make me an offer if you are interested.

Unionwelder · 01-07-2014, 11:02 AM

I've done it but what you need to do is find a yard that has a fully intact truck before they pull the motor. Reason being is they usually just cut off the plug ends, most yards will let you go out and pull it yourself. In my area anyways. However don't buy a harness that some runner has pulled(ripped) out, 9 times out of 10 it will be all jacked up. Trust yourself to do the job when it comes to junkin' not the guy they pay minimum wage who doesn't care about the parts.

MARKDTN · 01-07-2014, 04:50 PM

Ebay has several listed. Looks like the deal would be if you could use a 4.3 Vortec harness. Not sure if the plugs are the same. If so, they are plentiful and cheap.

NastyNate32 · 01-07-2014, 06:04 PM

I was really hoping one of the plug and play harnesses would be closer to the $300 mark but I can't find one for less than $700!

MARKDTN · 01-08-2014, 08:45 AM

The Howell one is $550.

Looks like you can use a 4.3 harness if you add 2 injector wires.
http://lt1swap.com/v6_to_v8_vortec_conversion.htm

Then if you have a '96 PCM for 5.7 you should be in business.

01-07-2014, 12:46 AM	#1
NastyNate32 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Nowata, OK Posts: 29	Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness So I'm buying a 96 vortec 5.7/4L60E combo for my 68. Does anyone know a good place to find an ECM and harness fairly reasonably? Would I be able to get ECM from a salvage yard and have it flashed? The wiring harness I found on jets was around $850 for just the harness! Am I stuck paying that to get this working?

01-07-2014, 08:21 AM	#2
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,144	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness http://howellefi.com/gm-vortec-produ...n-2-3-4-5.html Looks like you need a core for the computer. Howell makes very nice stuff. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

01-07-2014, 08:29 AM	#3
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,263	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness I have used John Spears out of IN. His company is Speartech, he does what he says he will when he says he will do it. I think he has a harness on his website. Jim

01-07-2014, 08:52 AM	#4
Unionwelder Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central Texas Posts: 83	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness Go to the junk yard and buy them. If you have a pick a part around you you can get the harness for about 100$ and the ECM for next to nothing. Most times the cashier dont even know what it is at the register. Have it flashed and cut your harness to fit. Depending on the flash you can have it all paid up for around 400-500$. Shade tree redneck point of view but it works. __________________ -Sterling GIG EM' AGGIES!!!! WHOOOOOOP!!!!! "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're Right." -Henry Ford 1972 chevy lwb 1934 ford p/u

01-07-2014, 10:12 AM	#5
NastyNate32 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Nowata, OK Posts: 29	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness I've checked out Howell's controllers/harness setup and speartech's. They both look really high class but you pay pretty good for it. Unionwelder: This is more what I was hoping to do I just wasn't sure if the salvage yards around here would sell them or know what I was trying to buy. I'm trying to build this truck on a budget but after buying a '73 for donor frontend/rearend then rebuilding them, it's already up there in cost. Has anybody personally done what Union is talking about? How hard is it to get one fully intact from salvage or should I just cut the ends and put new on where they plug in?

01-07-2014, 10:17 AM	#6
Acorn Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Winnsboro Texas Posts: 367	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness I have a 5.7 vortec ECM , harness, intake, etc. I'm gonna get rid of. Make me an offer if you are interested.

01-07-2014, 11:02 AM	#7
Unionwelder Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central Texas Posts: 83	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness I've done it but what you need to do is find a yard that has a fully intact truck before they pull the motor. Reason being is they usually just cut off the plug ends, most yards will let you go out and pull it yourself. In my area anyways. However don't buy a harness that some runner has pulled(ripped) out, 9 times out of 10 it will be all jacked up. Trust yourself to do the job when it comes to junkin' not the guy they pay minimum wage who doesn't care about the parts. __________________ -Sterling GIG EM' AGGIES!!!! WHOOOOOOP!!!!! "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're Right." -Henry Ford 1972 chevy lwb 1934 ford p/u

01-07-2014, 04:50 PM	#8
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,144	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness Ebay has several listed. Looks like the deal would be if you could use a 4.3 Vortec harness. Not sure if the plugs are the same. If so, they are plentiful and cheap. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

01-07-2014, 06:04 PM	#9
NastyNate32 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Nowata, OK Posts: 29	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness I was really hoping one of the plug and play harnesses would be closer to the $300 mark but I can't find one for less than $700!

01-08-2014, 08:45 AM	#10
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,144	Re: Vortec swap-Where to find 96 vortec ECM and harness The Howell one is $550. Looks like you can use a 4.3 harness if you add 2 injector wires. http://lt1swap.com/v6_to_v8_vortec_conversion.htm Then if you have a '96 PCM for 5.7 you should be in business. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project



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