Anyone ever transplant the whole electrical system from....

[Guest brandon3781]

Just wondering if anyone has ever taken a donor vehicle's complete wiring and electrical on a V8 conversion and just transplanted it to a Z. What I have is a 91 GMC 2500 with a 350 TBI and 700r4. Im considering ripping all the existing 30 year old wiring out of my 260 and adapting the trucks wiring to control everything from the EFI to the tail lamps. Everything on the truck is mechanically in good shape (the body is trashed) so I think the wiring will work fine. I would like to make a nice aluminum plate with switches to control wipers, ac/heat, lights, nitrous etc so using the stock switches and guages is not a concern. Any input is greatly appreciated!

[TomoHawk]

That's what I was thinking about doing!

 

I thought maybe you could get a wiring harness from another same-year Datsun vehicle (like a pickup) and put it into the Z. I chose the pickup because I think it's a long vehicle and the connectors should be in about the same place, lengthwise. Same year might mean it would have the same connector for certain things and maybe even the same general layout. You might need to slice in a connector here or there, but it would help simplify the wiring meaning you could get a wiring diagram from a reference book.

[DavyZ]

There is no reason why you cannot do this. In fact, due to the shorter length of the Z car, it may work 'as is' just with a little bit of trimming and such. As long as you label everything before removing the donor harness you shold be fine. It would save a ton of money instead of buying a Painless system of something like that. Do you feel confident on wiring the car? Are you good with wiring schematics? If you feel good about it, go for it! The Chevy wiring will be better in every respect and able handle a little more too

 

Davy

[TomoHawk]

Make sure you keep GOOD records!

 

With all the upgrades, like front & rear disks, bigger AFM, springs, maybe even engine and transmission, You gotta either do ALL the servicing yourself, or you gotta remember to tell the service guy what HE needs to get, in terms of replacement parts. Some of those dopes will just see a '77 280Z, and order an oil filter for one, and find out it won't fit (needs a chevy oil filter!) How about shocks, etc.? Then you tell him what he'll need and that's when he tells you, "-I'M- the expert, Bud, and THAT'S a 280Z!"

 

You know what I mean...

 

Don't you just hate "experts?"

[Guest brandon3781]

Thanks guys I'm going to go with it then. I thought it would be pretty easy the only thing im gonna have to do is reprogram the computer and delete the ABS and Emissions. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing something huge that would make it not work. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress and how it works out.

[TomoHawk]

I had thought of this earlier...

 

I think you might want to consider the year/features of the donor vehicle. If it had ABS or EFI, etc., then it might be too difficult or tricky to delete the wires for those things, unless you're going to use them. I think modern cars are way to complicated to mess with- even the radio! I think what I mean is that you'd want to go with an earlier year model that doesn't have ABS or EFI. Like a 70's or 80's model that had only a carbureted engine., then add the harness for the engine separately and splicein only a few wires for gauges & idiot lamps, main power, etc.

 

But you are welcome to use a deluxe model of course. Let us know if it works...

[Guest brandon3781]

I considered using a older engine too but in the past I have had quite a few F-bodies and used LT1 Edit to reflash the PCM for delteing emissions, removing skip shift, changing fuel maps, spark advance, etc. Someday I will post some videos of the Z28 sitting in my driveway with about a 700HP LT1 (20PSI is all im saying). I think it would be a fun challenge since I have never messed with a TBI or TPI ECM. This weekend I will be ripping all the wiring out of the Z and probably start pulling the motor on the truck for a fresh rebuild with some added goodies

[TomoHawk]

Do you think you could save the wiring, or are you going to cut it up? There's a guy on the 240z.org site :

http://240z.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10725

That wants to make new wiring harnesses, and would probably need a donor set. I think you would want to start with the common sections (tail lights, headlights, interior), then do the engine & dash, as I think those changed a few times & had different options for different emmisions (CA. Fed, Canada).

 

It would be a shame to lose a working wiring harnes, if even just to make the wiring jig from it.

[Guest brandon3781]

I'll save the wiring for that guy it shouldnt be too hard to keep it all in tact. It would be easier to just cut it out but im always willing to help someone that improving Z Cars. I'll let you know when I get all the wiring out.