I'm finishing up a motor pull tonight.....1989 Chevy conversion van with a TBI 350 and 700R tranny. I've got the tranny out and the motor is ready to pull.

A couple things stopped me from finishing it last night (brought it home on Tues after work).

1) Fuse Block - is there any need to salvage this, or can I just cut all the wires at the backside and save me any more agony trying to peel the tar/coating off and remove it completely?? IMO, I'm going to be splicing this into my existing wiring, so why keep it....?

2) Other modules? I've obviously got the computer - the O2 sensor and the VSS wiring will be kept. Are there other modules, controllers, etc. under the hood or under the dash I need to worry about, or just give er a yank and call it done?

3) Does the motor come out the front or thru the tunnel inside? Looks like it could go either way really....

I'm picking up a manual (Haynes or whatever I can find) at lunch today for some quick studying - that'll at least give me something. Got a buddy picking up the carcass and rear axle on Friday, so time is an issue (I'm keeping the rear springs for other ideas)

Plus, the missus wants her MG out this weekend for a Brit car event....:rolleyes:

TIA for any assitance/advice!

Whaz up Woody,

Dont forget the MAP sensor and the fuel pump relay. I have read that there are two types of fuel pump relay, the sealed and the not sealed. If it is not sealed, it is trash. Other than that, everything else should still be in the engine (temp sensors and shit) Aint TBI fun.

RIcko.

I think there is a small bolt in the center of the wiring harness
bulkhead fitting at the fire wall. You will need to peel off some of the tar/coating (just in the center) to get to the bolt head, its small I think maybe 5/16 head?
A few of the GM harneses I have dealt with are like this, I have not done a van before.
If you are going to reuse the harness I would not cut all the wires
there till I was ready to start wiring it up in the new vehicle.
just my .02:D

I am not 100% sure on this vintage of TBI, but check to see if the relays you will need (e.g., fuel pump) are not loacted in the fuse box. If they are, you should plan to use that, as it will save you a lot of hassle.

thanks for all the tips so far....

The MAP sensor is still in the engine, so it's not gonna get lost. The fuel pump relay I'll track down to make sure I get it. Will likely pull as much as I can get to tonight.

Last night it was raining...nothing like doing this in the driveway when it's 50 degrees and raining. I still got wrinkles...

Every connection I've pulled so far has been sealed, so that's good. Plan to get the full harness to the back of the van as well. Wires are easy to hang onto and easy to throw away later, as are sensors and such. Collect whatever I can from under the dash, can always reuse connectors.

BIG writeup pending on this one....target swap weekend is Oct 19th - rollcage-fuel cell install weekend the 26th---I'm down Nov 1-2-3 for minor surgery (frozen peas and beer that weekend), so that's my planning/surfing weekend, then wire and plumb it the 9-10 weekend.

First test drive should be Nov 16th.

I hope...lol

I am doing the same thing right now only that some one else pulled the TBI out of teh van for me. Should be here next week. MMMMMMMM TBI

Woody...I know you have the cell but you may want to pull the gas tank and retrieve the fuel pump and mounting plate...that way you graft it to the cell and have OEM parts doing the work....

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing....and I may be doing a custom cell too, so incorporating it would make sense....

one more thing to do in the rain tonite....anyone need some 4 year old gas?!?

Originally posted by ROCK HUGGER
I think there is a small bolt in the center of the wiring harness
bulkhead fitting at the fire wall. You will need to peel off some of the tar/coating (just in the center) to get to the bolt head, its small I think maybe 5/16 head?
A few of the GM harneses I have dealt with are like this, I have not done a van before.
If you are going to reuse the harness I would not cut all the wires
there till I was ready to start wiring it up in the new vehicle.
just my .02:D

yep thats how my van was--peice of cake!

if i was you i'd just pull the whole damn harness like i did.

oh and i took mine out from the front--just torched the front cross member and motor mounts...but i did have a forklift to stick in there :D that way worked sweet but i dont know if i was u and didnt have a forklift, which you dont, i would pull the windshield, torch the dash steel etc and lift it out.

if you have any more "van specific" questions, let me know! :D

-Max

Hey Woody,
I just finished an install of TBI onto my 327. Wish I had the TH700R4. I pulled everything I could think of off a 1987 Chev V20 4X4 truck. If you are putting the engine/Trans in complete you will be ahead of the game. Some of the threaded sensor holes don't exist in my older block. This is the link to picks of my conversion. If you have any ? I am at 4andress@attbi.com. I'm working grave shift so I can't respond very fast, but I will get back to you. I can tell you what wires I connected and which I removed. Is your VSS in the speedo head or cable or trans? Get the VIN # to get the correct parts later, and save the tune up decal so you know the settings (also has a part # on it if you can't salvage...order new and put on the Toy!)


http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=901

Originally posted by Mr McGee


yep thats how my van was--peice of cake!

if i was you i'd just pull the whole damn harness like i did.

oh and i took mine out from the front--just torched the front cross member and motor mounts...but i did have a forklift to stick in there :D that way worked sweet but i dont know if i was u and didnt have a forklift, which you dont, i would pull the windshield, torch the dash steel etc and lift it out.

if you have any more "van specific" questions, let me know! :D

-Max


megee
you have ur licence now so get over there and help

Jim and I did the motor yank last night....'bought 45 minutes, including sawzall time on the front bumper and the front frame cross stuff. It's officially hanging on the engine hoist!

Started pulling wiring last night, getting all the underdash stuff. Probably gonna have to finish that Sun aft/eve since I've got the rest of the weekend booked.

Thanks for the tips gang!! And yoda, I'm keeping that link handy and will let you now if/when I have issues!!

Woody, didn't you have a 4.3 before or did you never get around to it? Curious how the 350 mounting versus the 4.3....

nope....had a 4.3 and 700r4 anc changed my mind. Sold that to cruiserrg for his minitruck/mog project thingie.

my current 350 refuses to die so I kept pushing off the project...heh heh

So did you evaluate the 4.3 mounts as compared to the 350...it looks real close but if you had them both did you mock it up at all?

never mocked it up, but from what I know the mounts are identical...however, their location on the frame I'm not sure. Didn't keep the 4.3 long enuf to play with it.