Converting to EFI. Finally...A little help
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Oh I'm sure top end on mine would see a huge improvement in comparison, but to be honest, this setup currently has no issue getting up to 90 and it feels like it could go more, but I'm not 100% confident that stuff would not start falling off this old thing past that....LOL
Yeah...that's the way mine was when I decided to rebuild it in 2010. Just really worn out all the way around. I didn't really skimp on anything on it, so that's why I am going to start replacing those old EFI parts that are suspect. It runs fantastic....hardly squeaks or makes a peep...ell other than the loud ass exhaust on it at the time.
My truck cruises at 80 mph quite easily. It's taking some getting used to as 70 was about what it was with the same pedal pressure before the conversion. I don't like to speed, but the truck does apparently.
I did have to pass a douchebag that pulled out it front of me a couple of days ago and decided to drive 30. The extra ommph was nice and she passed him real easy. No doubt!
With the mileage the truck is getting (which is probably close to the 2.8TBI from what I get) and with the 4.3 TBI and the extra power when you need it? Why not I say? It gets about the same mileage as my 91 with the 2.8 got. For sake of comparison, I do have a 2.8 TBI and one of these days I will slap it on there and see what the difference is.
Well, this asshole truck of mine decided it didn't want to start tonight. Code 42 AGAIN. Will almost start but dies immediately. I am guessing it is that distributor that was in it. Going to try my new one again and see if I just forked up the other day...or see if I can find another used one that might just be worth a damn. I suppose that is possible...although unlikely...It was raining outside, and the harness weatherpak is damaged and I have it taped up...probably not helping any.
Hmm...hadn't heard of TPS causing it. I don't think that's the deal though because it won't start. TPS wouldn't keep it from starting I don't think. However, the TPS is only $25 for my truck, so I am going to get one for it too. Just gonna bite the bullet and replace all the junkyard parts on it a couple of pieces at a time till I hit it.
It sure is odd behavior. It runs PERFECT when the code isn't there.
It sure is odd behavior. It runs PERFECT when the code isn't there.
I can hold it to the floor and it will start for a second and then quit. As soon as I get off work I am going to go look at it and see wtf is up. How would the TPS lose ground? Could it be intermittent? Because it runs fine otherwise. Would that make it cut out like that? Throw a 42 code?
Bill, figured you had been busy bro. No worries man. I will get it when you have time. I haven't had time to work on the truck this week anyway.
Well...swapped out the distributor, and it ran fine. Perfect in fact. Picked up the ECM (still laying in the floorboard) and the engine started cutting out...Died. Wouldn't start back. GRR...swapped to the other one and still no start. Swapped back. This time it started. Now this is weird. Started tugging on the wires where they go through the connector and it cuts out....so apparently, this old worn out ass wiring harness of mine has some internal issues. I don't think it's anything on the pigtails or I got something too hot.. Just not seeing that. I tested every damn wire on this harness too...but I guess it has an intermittent open is what I am guessing? I was pretty careful to make sure that nothing contacted the headers...not only that, but I put that heat shield on there as extra precaution....
soooo, I pulled the wiring harness from that 91 the other day that I got the ECM from and other than a couple of things....it is basically the same as the 87 one so I took it in the garage, cut off the bulkhead connector and removed all the wires I don't need (alternator... A/C stuff) and I have to repair a couple of wires i hacked because of time constraints (grounds on the back of the motor) when I got it. Other than that it is ready to go. Yay...I love doing things twice. However, I got REALLY familiar with this harness and pulling it in and out when I converted this, and know what basically every damn wire does....so other than soldering in a few connections it isn't really a big deal. Probably an afternoon at best. This 91 harness is about an 8.5 out of 10 whereas the one it was about a 3 when I got it....and about a 5 when I got done. Just shitty. I should have probably have never used it. Oh well....live and learn I reckon.
soooo, I pulled the wiring harness from that 91 the other day that I got the ECM from and other than a couple of things....it is basically the same as the 87 one so I took it in the garage, cut off the bulkhead connector and removed all the wires I don't need (alternator... A/C stuff) and I have to repair a couple of wires i hacked because of time constraints (grounds on the back of the motor) when I got it. Other than that it is ready to go. Yay...I love doing things twice. However, I got REALLY familiar with this harness and pulling it in and out when I converted this, and know what basically every damn wire does....so other than soldering in a few connections it isn't really a big deal. Probably an afternoon at best. This 91 harness is about an 8.5 out of 10 whereas the one it was about a 3 when I got it....and about a 5 when I got done. Just shitty. I should have probably have never used it. Oh well....live and learn I reckon.
I probably should not have used it. It was a piece of shit for sure. This 91 I got was in really good shape and pretty clean for something that damn old... So tonight I pulled the one that was in it, and sat it beside the old one and compared the two of them. I feel familiar enough with this harness now that I don't think I needed to take it completely down like I did before so I just pulled the wires not related to the ECM out of the harness and set them aside.
Interestingly there are a few differences in them. The 91 does not have a wire coming out of B10 that is for the park/neutral switch....This truck was a 5spd, but I don't believe there should be any differences in whether that wire is the harness...or am I way off? If I need to add a pin to that harness, just how the hell do I do it? Those thing are TINY!! Does it really make any difference? I'm not really concerned with it functioning if I don't have to have it.
Thanks.
Interestingly there are a few differences in them. The 91 does not have a wire coming out of B10 that is for the park/neutral switch....This truck was a 5spd, but I don't believe there should be any differences in whether that wire is the harness...or am I way off? If I need to add a pin to that harness, just how the hell do I do it? Those thing are TINY!! Does it really make any difference? I'm not really concerned with it functioning if I don't have to have it.
Thanks.
Yeah...I kinda figured that....but there is still no pin there for it. Looks like it would still have the pin and the other end would lay loose at the column. They designed the harnesses differently?
Do I really need this pin connected anyway? If I do I think I can pop one out of an old harness.
Do I really need this pin connected anyway? If I do I think I can pop one out of an old harness.
There is an empty slot where that wire should be on this harness. Nothing there. Daylight can be seen through the hole where the wire should be on the ECM connector. Shows a wire on the diagram. Doesn't say crapola about manual or automatic. Anywhere else in the diagram it notes auto/manual so I am assuming that wire should be there....
Since it's a manual harness, the wire will not be there. It may be noted elsewhere on the diagram, such as the Neutral/Park switch being automatic, and therefore wires attached to it would also be for automatic. The exception there would the starter wires (purple and yellow), that should show connections to both types of neutral switches, and note automatic or manual. Remember these diagrams are made for technicians, who would understand (or should) that certain connections are for certain options.
Okay...then that answers my question. I need to add the wire to the harness. Any tips on removing those pins from the harness? I will yank one from the old harness so that it will be there. Question too...I was running it with the ASSB chip which is a 5spd chip from the factory. Did it ignore this connection with that chip anyway? Is the chip programmed that way? If so it wasn't doing anything anyway.
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As far as removing the pin from the ECM connector goes, I found that the easiest way(other than buying the tool) is to use a small flat head precision screwdriver. First remove the plastic pin retainer off the back of the ECM plug, 2 tabs lock it to the connector. If youre looking at the female side of the connector(where it plugs into the ECM) there are 4 rows. 2 rows are the female end that contacts the male pins(middle 2 rows) and 2 outer rows for the locking tab. Orientate the pin that you intend to remove to the top(long side of connector parallel with the floor), now look at the outer(or upper) hole, there you will see what appears to be a flat tab protruding into the space(bottom left pointing to top right). Insert your precision screwdriver so that it pushes the tab to the left, the screwdriver should be inserted about 1/2 inch to fully push the locking tab off the pedestal in the connector. The pin should release and can be pulled out of the back of the connector. HTH
Dude. You always give the best advice! Will give that a shot tonight!
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