The Big Conversion Questions, Once and For All
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Teching In
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The Big Conversion Questions, Once and For All I've been checking out this site for the last week or so and doing plenty of searches. I plan on doing a swap in a first gen or eartly second gen camaro. I'm hoping to have my questions answered as well as future questions w this thread.
1. If planning on keeping things as stock as possible, meaning a/c, power steering, etc., which route is the best and cost effective to take. The S&P adaptors or the BRP adaptors. I want to have all the acc. and have seen that the S&P mat require removal or relocation of the A/C compressor.
2. If wanting to keep everything functional, like stereo, pw, pl, and everything else electrical, which is the best harness to use. Speartech, S&P, or who.
If you can get the complete wiring harness and computer from the donor car would you really need to have it rewired. Couldn't you just replace the computer in the car w/ the one from the donor since everything that you mainly need to run came out of that car anyway.
These should answer the biggest questions I have and probably those of anyone else in the future. I did the searches, but nothing is in one post, everything is spread out over something like 44 pages with a little info here and there.
Thanks for help and I hope this makes everything easier for me and anyone who decides to do this in the future. Great Site
1. If planning on keeping things as stock as possible, meaning a/c, power steering, etc., which route is the best and cost effective to take. The S&P adaptors or the BRP adaptors. I want to have all the acc. and have seen that the S&P mat require removal or relocation of the A/C compressor.
2. If wanting to keep everything functional, like stereo, pw, pl, and everything else electrical, which is the best harness to use. Speartech, S&P, or who.
If you can get the complete wiring harness and computer from the donor car would you really need to have it rewired. Couldn't you just replace the computer in the car w/ the one from the donor since everything that you mainly need to run came out of that car anyway.
These should answer the biggest questions I have and probably those of anyone else in the future. I did the searches, but nothing is in one post, everything is spread out over something like 44 pages with a little info here and there.
Thanks for help and I hope this makes everything easier for me and anyone who decides to do this in the future. Great Site
If you are keeping the stock steering setup, go with the S&P type mounts. They position the engine a little lower and further back. You will need to notch the oil pan to clear that stock steering setup also. The BRP setup is better suited for if you convert to a front mount rack/pinion steering setup. You can buy custom mounting kits to position the A/C compressor, alternator, p-steering pump, etc... if you do not want to notch the K-member for the A/C. There are many options out there for that.
2. Your body/stereo wiring has nothing to do with the engine wiring. The harness you use will basically connect the PCM to the engine, and use your original ignition signal to crank the starter. It uses a key-on + signal to send power to the PCM.
3. Donor car harnesses have alot of extra junk on them (emissions crap, etc..) that you won't need. Places like Speartech can clean those up and relabel the plugs, making it neater and easier to install. You can use any year PCM, as long as you have the harness and sensors that match that year PCM. Certain harnesses, like the Painless one, require you to use a 1998 PCM. Thats what I have.
Here is my completed 1st gen project: www.ExtremeG.net
Tony
2. Your body/stereo wiring has nothing to do with the engine wiring. The harness you use will basically connect the PCM to the engine, and use your original ignition signal to crank the starter. It uses a key-on + signal to send power to the PCM.
3. Donor car harnesses have alot of extra junk on them (emissions crap, etc..) that you won't need. Places like Speartech can clean those up and relabel the plugs, making it neater and easier to install. You can use any year PCM, as long as you have the harness and sensors that match that year PCM. Certain harnesses, like the Painless one, require you to use a 1998 PCM. Thats what I have.
Here is my completed 1st gen project: www.ExtremeG.net
Tony
I had some trouble with the S & P mounts. The bolts holes for the mounts were always a 1/4" off. Plus you have to use all S & P stuff: pulleys, headers, etc.. BRP's mounts put the engine too far forward in my opinion, so I welded the stock pedestals to the back of the crossmember. You will have to make a pocket for the A/C though. It's worth it in my mind to have the correct location for the motor. Also, BRP's T56 crossmember needed a little work to fit if you are going with their mounts. If not you can have one made relatively cheap. for the shifter location you can cut out the metal surrounding the hole and flip it around. it puts the shifter in the perfect location.
