LT1 Swap time

[jderry]

HPIM1177.JPGSo I finally decided to take the dive.
Got a totaled 1995 z28 as my donor car.
Just curious as what I should do to it before putting it in.
I am not going to have a ton of cash left over after the swap.
What easy/cheap mods can I do?
I was thinking tune
CAI
and LT's if I can afford them
Also want to remove the smog system and cat.



also a 1995 is OBD1 and my 1996 is OBD2 how do I go about converting all of that?
Switch the dash harnesses?

[meissen]

Do you know what condition the LT1 was/in before you drop it out? Was it running? Have you heard it run? Depends on how much you want to go with. I think it'd be a good idea to make sure the bearings are all in tip top shape, personally.

1995 is OBD1.5 - the dash plug is OBD2 but the sensors are OBD1. You could go either route with the OBD - if you want to "convert" your '95 LT1 to OBD2, then you'll need a 1996-1997 LT1 timing cover with a crankshaft sensor.

[jderry]

So I can leave my dash harness as is?
I heard it run, drove the car into my garage =)
It runs well, fairly low miles.
Took the valve cover off and it was spotless.

[nascarnate326]

I have some shorty headers id sell you CHEAP if LT's are too much.

[jderry]

I have some shorty headers id sell you CHEAP if LT's are too much.

PM me.
Do those bolt up to a stock y?

[jderry]

The under dash wiring looks different.
Also there is a sensor above the washer fluid resevior that is not on my 1996.

[OIF1VET]

Good luck with your swap!!

[nascarnate326]

whatever you need, let us know.

[jderry]

I would like a strait foward answer if I need to swap my dash harness over or not.
I cannot find one anywhere.
They have differences.

[meissen]

You won't find a straight forward answer unfortunately John. Pretty much every year's harness is different slightly than the year before which is a PITA. I will tell you that if you and your dad are the slightest bit inclined with soldering wires and reading wiring schematics, I would 100% recommend making the wiring changes necessary for 1995 engine to 1996 dash than to pull the dash harness.

And here's why: The dash harness is not truly a "dash" harness. The harness runs through your dash, through the grommets into EACH OF THE DOORS (major pain in the ass to swap), and even extends all the way back to your taillights. It is NOT worth it to replace.

Can you take a picture of how the dash harness looks different? Like one picture of yours and one picture of the "different" part. Also can you take a picture of the sensor?

Let me sit down and review the wiring diagrams for 1995 and 1996 and I might be able to give you a somewhat better idea of the wiring differences between the two - then you just have to make the wiring changes to make everything work.

[nascarnate326]

So are you going OBDI.5 or OBDII?

[meissen]

1995 to 1996 wiring differences:

Connector C100 - black 10 wire plug (spaces for 10 wires, not necessarily 10 wires in the plug) on the RH shock tower
Cavity D: 1995 has an orange wire which is the PCM's power wire being fed by PCM fuse #8. In 1996, that wire is not in the harness.
Cavity F: 1995 it's a brown wire from actuator fuse #6, 1996 it's a brown wire from actuator fuse #2. It sounds like it's the same but I'm only pointing it out in case you notice that fuse blowing... I'm not sure on the amp differences between the 1995 fuse #6 and 1996 fuse #2.
Cavity K: 1995 V6s only have a PINK wire "power feed from injector fuse #10" - in 1996 that wire doesn't exist in the harness. Since you're going from v6 to v8, you might have a pink wire on the side that goes from the plug up into the dash but you won't have a pink wire on the engine harness side of the plug which is OK.

C105 - black 8 wire plug on the RH shock tower is the same from 1995 to 1997.

C210 - 4 wire black plug under the passenger kick panel
Cavity C: In 1995 there is no wire present (Shbox.com says "info unknown"), in 1996 they have an orange wire "power feed from PCM BAT Fuse to PCM"
Cavity D: In 1995, the wire is grey and in 1996 they changed it to red but it's EXACTLY the same function so don't worry when you notice it's one color on male side and another color on the female side of the plug.

C220 - 10 wire gray plug under the passenger kick panel
Cavity E: In 1995 it's not used, in 1996 it's the power feed from PCM ignition fuse #13.
Cavity F: In 1995 it's the serial data wire (OBD diagnostic wire), in 1996 it's not present.

C230 - 10 wire blue plug under the passenger kick panel
Cavity A: In 1995 it's the performance switch indicator, in 1996 it's only used for manual transmission vehicles.
Cavity G: Pink wire both in 1995 and 1996, in 1995 it's a power wire from PCM ignition fuse #5 and in 1996 it's a power wire from engine sensor fuse #10
Cavity K: In 1995, v6's used a purple wire for torque converter clutch control. In 1996, it's the output field service enable (sounds like diagnostic wire)



To get you started on actual changes that need to be made - It sounds like in 1994, 1995, and 1996 they flip flopped back and forth on how to power the PCM. In 1994, the interior fuse box powered the PCM. Then in 1995 they moved the power wire to the engine bay fuse box. And it looks like in 1996 they moved it back to the interior. So for your 1996 interior harness you will have an orange PCM power wire in C210 cavity C. You want to take that wire and get it to C100 cavity D.

[jderry]

1995 to 1996 wiring differences:

Connector C100 - black 10 wire plug (spaces for 10 wires, not necessarily 10 wires in the plug) on the RH shock tower
Cavity D: 1995 has an orange wire which is the PCM's power wire being fed by PCM fuse #8. In 1996, that wire is not in the harness.
Cavity F: 1995 it's a brown wire from actuator fuse #6, 1996 it's a brown wire from actuator fuse #2. It sounds like it's the same but I'm only pointing it out in case you notice that fuse blowing... I'm not sure on the amp differences between the 1995 fuse #6 and 1996 fuse #2.
Cavity K: 1995 V6s only have a PINK wire "power feed from injector fuse #10" - in 1996 that wire doesn't exist in the harness. Since you're going from v6 to v8, you might have a pink wire on the side that goes from the plug up into the dash but you won't have a pink wire on the engine harness side of the plug which is OK.

C105 - black 8 wire plug on the RH shock tower is the same from 1995 to 1997.

C210 - 4 wire black plug under the passenger kick panel
Cavity C: In 1995 there is no wire present (Shbox.com says "info unknown"), in 1996 they have an orange wire "power feed from PCM BAT Fuse to PCM"
Cavity D: In 1995, the wire is grey and in 1996 they changed it to red but it's EXACTLY the same function so don't worry when you notice it's one color on male side and another color on the female side of the plug.

C220 - 10 wire gray plug under the passenger kick panel
Cavity E: In 1995 it's not used, in 1996 it's the power feed from PCM ignition fuse #13.
Cavity F: In 1995 it's the serial data wire (OBD diagnostic wire), in 1996 it's not present.

C230 - 10 wire blue plug under the passenger kick panel
Cavity A: In 1995 it's the performance switch indicator, in 1996 it's only used for manual transmission vehicles.
Cavity G: Pink wire both in 1995 and 1996, in 1995 it's a power wire from PCM ignition fuse #5 and in 1996 it's a power wire from engine sensor fuse #10
Cavity K: In 1995, v6's used a purple wire for torque converter clutch control. In 1996, it's the output field service enable (sounds like diagnostic wire)



To get you started on actual changes that need to be made - It sounds like in 1994, 1995, and 1996 they flip flopped back and forth on how to power the PCM. In 1994, the interior fuse box powered the PCM. Then in 1995 they moved the power wire to the engine bay fuse box. And it looks like in 1996 they moved it back to the interior. So for your 1996 interior harness you will have an orange PCM power wire in C210 cavity C. You want to take that wire and get it to C100 cavity D.

Thanks for all of the help.
That was a great write up =)
I actually love soldering.
My dad is a technician for lincoln which has and will be a huge help to all of my projects.