LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Swapping a 96 LT1 in a 95 TA

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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 10:36 PM
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Default Swapping a 96 LT1 in a 95 TA

Hey guys I was recently involved in an accident that damaged my 96 ws6.

I picked up a 95 Trans Am roller with no engine wiring harness and was planning on swapping in the 96 motor/trans and obd2 harness.

I tried searching but can't seem to figure out if I can do this or if I will need to swap all the wiring over including the dash and body harness.

Swapping over the dash and body harness seems like an extremely difficult task. Has this been done before and can someone point me in the right direction?
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 11:30 AM
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If you want to convert to OBDII then the easiest route IMO would be to swap over all the Wiring..yes it's time consuming but you will learn alot about the Car when you get in there and start messing with it.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 11:32 AM
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Why would you want to convert to OBDII anyway?

IMO, pick up an OBDI PCM and engine harness. It'd be much easier in the long run. They should be fairly easy to find.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 11:36 AM
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Search the archives over at camaroz28.com and this has been talked about for the past 10 years. Years ago I remember seeing charts that showed what needed to done per model year to get a different model years stuff to work.

Personally if it was me I'd do one of the following

1. find a 94-95 and buy the engine harness and computer
2. buy a new harness as these things are 15 years old and locate a 94-95 PCM


You don't want to run OBDII if you have the option to run OBDI. 95 was the best year for the LT1s; fixed opti, OBD1, regular anti-freeze, single cat on the exhaust.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by 69camaross
Search the archives over at camaroz28.com and this has been talked about for the past 10 years. Years ago I remember seeing charts that showed what needed to done per model year to get a different model years stuff to work.

Personally if it was me I'd do one of the following

1. find a 94-95 and buy the engine harness and computer
2. buy a new harness as these things are 15 years old and locate a 94-95 PCM


You don't want to run OBDII if you have the option to run OBDI. 95 was the best year for the LT1s; fixed opti, OBD1, regular anti-freeze, single cat on the exhaust.
Exactly. Stay OBDI.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 02:19 PM
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It doesn't look like it will be fun but it looks like I will have to swap over the PCM harness, the engine bay harness, and the body harness.

I agree regarding switching to OBD1, but since I have a complete 96 donor car, I will just swap everything from there, then order an obd1 conversion PCM.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 02:29 PM
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What is preventing you from doing it the easier way?
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
What is preventing you from doing it the easier way?
Just doesn't seem worth it. I have a full wiring harness and PCM temporarily. By the time I locate a PCM and wiring harness, and pay $150 on top of that to retune it, why not just swap the wiring over and pay $250 to get an OBD1 conversion PCM and save on the wiring harness and PCM?

Also, the previous owner started ripping apart the car because had plans for an ls1 swap, so some engine bay wires are damaged and need repair so I might as well swap the good harness from my 96 donor car.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 03:32 PM
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all you need is an obd1 pcm the obd2 harness will work plug and play..
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 1997b4c
all you need is an obd1 pcm the obd2 harness will work plug and play..
Can you elaborate some more on this?

Have you done such a swap and do you have any links that support this?

I was hoping that would be the case but I just need some verification before I decide to go that route.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 03:42 PM
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I think if he's right about the obd2 harness being plug and play with the obd1 pcm all you'de need to do is make sure you are using an obd1 knock sensor.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 04:21 PM
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i have it done in my car right now to swap to obd1 all you have to do is change pcms. so if your gonna put a 96 engine in a 95 use your 96 harness and plug it directly into a 94 or 95 pcm and bingo its done fire it up......i didnt change the knock sensor but it has been recommended to me but i have had no problems
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 05:55 PM
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Interesting.

What year harness did you swap in and into what car?

Did you change the engine harness too or just the PCM harness?

You have a PM btw.
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