Need help with 85 to 87 conversion

[my85grandnation]

Cool 84 do you know how to get the old harness out? Everything else came apart real smooth and Im hoping that once I get this harness out that I can start the re assembly after some cleanup.

 

[83ttypecooled]

conversion

Hi,
It's too bad you don't have a donor to refer to,and pull stuff from,but your task is substantially easier than the project I undertook when I put an '87 motor in my '83 TType. I'm not familiar with the conversion kit you have, but it is probably ok. I guess I should have read though this post in it's entirety,sorry but it is too long.
Anyway, the thing that stays in my mind about my swap is the trouble I had hooking up the hydroboost.I ended up using a Gates P/S hose catalog,and found two hoses which fit my needs. The return hose was easy, but the pressure side gave me fits.It is not easy anymore to find someone to make these up. Out of frustration,I resorted to the afore mentioned catalog.
Since you will only be modifying the engine harness,life is relatively simple.All the sensors are the same,and an adaptor is available for the ignition module.The intercooled cars use an electro fan,and I am not sure if your kit comes with intercooler or not, but it is no big deal. If not, I'd go with a front mount;have some fun. I guess the kit covers intake stuff. Might as well go with a 3 inch downpipe; I don't know what the kit gives you for turbo mounting position,though.
I could ramble on all day. My project was completed 7 or 8 years ago, so details are beginning to get sketchy. It's coming back some, though,so if you have questions, please ask. Good luck with the project!

 

[my85grandnation]

The kit includes everything I need to convert my car into a stock 87 GN. I will eventually upgrade when time and money allows it, but for now I just want to get the conversion done and get it running. Every thing is going pretty smoothly on dissasembly but just hung up on this wire harness right now. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[imjoesnuffy]

Cool 84 do you know how to get the old harness out? Everything else came apart real smooth and Im hoping that once I get this harness out that I can start the re assembly after some cleanup.

The old harness is just pushed out of the firewall, then pulled up after everything has been disconnected from the engine. Just push the firewall grommet back out of the passenger compartment firewall. Push it out on side, break it thru then just work it out. If it is too tough just cut one side of the grommet. It can still be used. WD-40 may help work it out as well.

 

[my85grandnation]

I had tried pushing it thru last night but couldent get it. I will have to try cutting a little bit off like you said. I will probably attatch a wire on the inside end before pulling it out so I can hook the new harness and pull it back down and tru with it.

 

[DCG]

Hows it going with the harness, did you take the plastic wheel well out yet?

 

[my85grandnation]

Hows it going with the harness, did you take the plastic wheel well out yet?

Not good, I still havent gotten the damn thing out I got the grommet pushed thru and lube it up with WD40 and started trying to pull it up and out but it comes up an inch or two then gets wedged tight and out. I dont see any way of pulling it up between the inner fender and the heater box with that grommet on there. And to answer your second question no I have not gotten the inner fender off as I cant see how to get the bottom two screws out that sit under the heater box? Please help as Im not sure what I am doing wrong.

 

[my85grandnation]

On a second look, it looks like I can remove the metal fender support and the plastic inner fender together by removing some stuff so I think I will try that tomorrow night. I know it will be a PITA to remove all that, but I think thats the only way to go right now.

 

[Project TNX]

Not good, I still havent gotten the damn thing out I got the grommet pushed thru and lube it up with WD40 and started trying to pull it up and out but it comes up an inch or two then gets wedged tight and out. I dont see any way of pulling it up between the inner fender and the heater box with that grommet on there. And to answer your second question no I have not gotten the inner fender off as I cant see how to get the bottom two screws out that sit under the heater box? Please help as Im not sure what I am doing wrong.

I don't recall any hard to get nuts or bolts for the inner fender well, where is catching?

I'll be crawling under mine in about 30 minutes and let you know.

 

[conn84gn]

The inner plastic fender has a couple small screws way down by the bottom of the fender
A PITA, not bad if the engine is out

 

[my85grandnation]

Yeah there are two 10MM bolts that sit under the heater box that I havent figured out how to get to. I havent looked, but there may be a gap beween the heater box and wheel well that I can slide a socket and extension into. It probably would help if my engine was out, but its not coming out for the conversion. I was thinking I could leave the plastic fender attatched to the metal inner fender support and remove its bolts and take it out as one piece. Also I plan on drilling and tapping my block tonight or tomorrow, and I was wanting to know the best way to go about it so I dont get too many shavings into the engine. I know I should use lots of grease, a magnet, and possibly a vacum but Im still affraid some will get in there. Any ideas from those of you that have done this? After I have it drilled and tap should a squirt a whole buch of oil thru the hole to hopefully flush any debris into the pan? Also since it is such a big drill I was figuring I should start smaller and go up to the big bit, but I think that would cause more chances of metal inside since I will have a hole into the block the whole time but I wasnt sure If I could just start off with the big it and drill one hole. Does anyone have a good shot of where I need to drill? The front of my engine is pretty grimmey and I havent seen the boss anywhere that Ive heard peopl talk about. Im starting to wonder if I should just pull the pan and put a bung in it for the return line?

Thanks Dusty

 

[DCG]

Bolts should be easily accessible from the under side of the inner fender (the side the tire and wheel is on). I plan on putting my oil drain in the oil pan, not the block.

 

[my85grandnation]

I will have to try and pull the inner fender down a bit tonight and see if I can get in from the wheel well. Im not sure what I will do for the drain back?

 

[my85grandnation]

Sucess!!!!!!!:biggrin: I finally got the harness out. I left the plastic inner fender attatched to the metal inner fender support then just unbolted bolts holding that on and it came out in one whole piece. I wastalking about drilling my block with my buddy that owns a GN and is also a GM mechanic and he said not to do it unless I was fully dissasembling the block. I guess I will pull the pan and put a bung in it. I know it has to be up at the top so its above the oil level, but where is the best place to put it?

Thanks Dusty

 

[rob350]

I'm still debating if I should do this to my car. I planned on pulling the motor this upcoming winter for a rebuild, but i'm affraid it will just be one big headache

 

[jpratt]

I'm still debating if I should do this to my car. I planned on pulling the motor this upcoming winter for a rebuild, but i'm affraid it will just be one big headache

A big headache, YEP. A huge pay off, OH YEAH. I am starting to collect things to convert my Limited. It will be a PITA and take a while but it sure will be worth it in the end.

 

[imjoesnuffy]

Definitely worth the headache and hassle. Glad to hear you got it out Dusty.

 

[my85grandnation]

Now Ive just got to decide what I am doing with the oil drainback for the turbo. I read last night where a guy ran a line down from the turbo around the front of the water pump, and then drilled and tapped the fuel pump block off plate. That sounds like a great idea and alot easier to do than pulling the pan. I dont seeing any problems with that as it is downhill form the turbo, what do you guys think?

 

[my85grandnation]

Well I got the mechanical fuel pump block off plate drilled and tapped for the oil return. I put a 90 degree fitting on it and am going to run one of gbodyparts.com's flexible return lines from the turbo to it. I got to looking at stuff and hope it isnt going to be in the way of the p/s pump or the belt tensioner? Oh well Ill find out when I get those parts installed.

 

[my85grandnation]

Well Ive gotten everything out and now I am just waiting for my parts to get here, which hopefully will be tomorrow or wed. I was thinking for installation that I should probably put the new trans dipstick tube, detent cable, then hook up the rear wiring harness to head grounds before I install the intake so I have a little more room to work back there. What do you guys think?