mattstead

Hi there, my first posting so be gentle with me.

For those who are interested I'm dropping a 5.7 LS1 into a British kitcar, which bears a distinct similarity with a viper GTS coupe, http://www.thecar2own.com/Images/Car.../vipera_gt.jpg

Anyway, we don't have many LS1's over here, but I got a cut out from a UK 2004 GM vauxhall monaro (holden monaro, or rather pontiac gto to you guys I think?) And got an 8 wire hot rod loom and PCM tune from jesse Bubb at wait4me performance. The problem is I'm struggling to get an answer from Jesse as to how to connect it up (he always seems far too busy wiring to answer emails), and I know that if I ring him I'll soon forget whatever he tells me.

I'm not great at electrics being somewhat more mechanical but it seemed so simple at first until I looked closer.
The loom has come back with multiple relays for fuel pumps etc which aren't a huge problem, but I can't understand the 3 main connections, a thick yellow wire which is permanent 12v battery (I think even I can attach this direct to a battery); Then there are 2 red wires, one thin and one thicker that both say: "12v ignition when key is on". Where do these go to? I'm stumped as there isn't any sort of cranking / start wire, so can only assume that something is lost in translation and when he says when key is on he means when key is being turned?, because over this side of the pond "12v ignition when key is on" is the first click of the key, the Accesory position.

Has anyone used his looms and can offer some guidence?

Many thanks.

Matt.

stealth71

iTrader: (15)

12v Ignition when the key is on means power in any state other than key off. The two red wires are power for the PCM and sensors. You need to find a feed from your ignition switch and use 1 or 2 relays. I ran a wire from the starter through the firewall and to a junction where you would connect the yellow wire directly and also power the relays (for the 2 red wires) from this junction. A wire coming from the ignition switch will turn the relays on when the key is "ON."

Hope that helps.

mattstead

Ah, so, my stand alone wiring loom doesn't actually allow me to start the car, I have to add a cranking wire myself straight to the starter, it always looked like that might be the case but I kind of assumed that a bespoke loom might have included such luxuries as the ability to turn to engine over.

Thanks for the info.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

The wire that would activate the starter solenoid for a GM car/truck is usually a large purple wire, If this is a modfied OEM harness, it might still be in the harness. The wire would be off of the ignition switch's start terminal and goes directly to the Starters Solenoid. If your ignition switch doesn't have a start terminal, you can alway put in a standalone switch (30amp / Momentary), would give your car a more race look !

This wiring setup is pertty standard for a GM car, you should pickup a FSM that will have wiring diagrams.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

BTW.. Jesse did my mail tune.. no problems with that so far..

good luck and keep us posted.

mattstead

Thanks for all the advice, particularly about the purple wire which was still there.
My buddies and I made great progress tonight and got the brakes bled, the shortend propshaft fitted, the driveshafts cut to length and Jesse' new loom in place, we then with our new found information just had to crank her over for the first time, it would have been rude not to
OK, so she was never going to fire as fuel lines are the next thing on the list, but as I've had this engine 18 months whilst I've been moving house, building a garage and waiting to find an affordable unstarted kit to drop it into, so to just hear it cranking over under it's own power was pretty damn exciting

Thanks again, and expect some fuelling questions soon.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Good news.. don't you just love it when you thinks go as planed or make good progress.... so.. how did you wire up the Starter wire ?

Oh.. how about some pictures !

mattstead

Well it wasn't exactly wired up, but rather hot wired up the rest of the engine loom is now in place but we simply flashed the purple wire to the battery, simple when you know how, but couldn't have done it without all the info. if you insist on pictures then look here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dXqECFZx_PA

I'm the guy on the left of screen holding the jump lead.

mattstead

Amazingly I've got the fuel system in place without difficulty and on Sunday we are having a first fire up party, but before the start up I think I should wire up an oil pressure light. Any one got any idea where I need to be looking on the loom or engine for the pressure sensor?

thanks.

RHDV8

Hi, fellow UK LS1 user here.
I've put the same engine into a Mazda RX7 so I might be able to answer some questions for you. The 2004 GTO motor has the oil pressure sensor right at the back of the engine, behind the inlet manifold but it was originally wired directly to the dash gauge rather than being used for any PCM function. If you use this sensor it won’t be matched to your aftermarket gauge. The easiest way to get your oil pressure gauge working is to buy a matched gauge and sensor then if you look at where your oil filter attaches and in my pic where I've arrowed you can drill and tap that section to screw in your sensor.

Just in case, you can do the same for the water temp sensor. You can use a blanked off hole on the opposite side of the engine on the head right at the back towards the bell housing.
Anything else you might need drop me a line to p.cavaciuti@talk21.com

rockytopper

You can purchase the "EQUUS part #6848" this kit has five different adapters in it and will cover the oil sender and temp sender needs. There is no real need to drill anything. The oil sender as stated is at the rear of the intake manifold and the water sending unit can be placed in the rear of the RH head. Altough on some installs it is hard to get to the oil sending unit if the engine is pushed back against the fire wall then one might want to drill and tap the filter housing as stated above for ease of access.

Finlay Macpherson

just read all this and think it will come in very handy for me and my install, LS1 in a MK2 escort, im thinking of going with painless performance loom and ecu or emerald and try and wire it myself, what would you guys recomend i do ?

my LS1 is out a 2004 monaro

cheers

Finlay