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Thread: 97 vortec into a 86 diesel truck

  1. #1
    Electronic Ignition!
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    97 vortec into a 86 diesel truck

    As title says

    I have an 86 M1028 (basic k30 Chevy) & want to convert to gas.
    I bought a low mileage 97 Chevy 3/4 ton 2wd & plan to install
    vortec 350/4l80 into the 86.

    Im looking for recommendations or tips on the wiring part of it.
    What's the best way to combine the 2 ?
    Mod factory 97 harness ? Go with custom harness ? Other ?


    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator dave w's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by j20m715 View Post
    As title says

    I have an 86 M1028 (basic k30 Chevy) & want to convert to gas.
    I bought a low mileage 97 Chevy 3/4 ton 2wd & plan to install
    vortec 350/4l80 into the 86.

    Im looking for recommendations or tips on the wiring part of it.
    What's the best way to combine the 2 ?
    Mod factory 97 harness ? Go with custom harness ? Other ?


    Thanks in advance.
    I did something similar earlier this year, 1998 1 Ton Diesel / 4L80E to Gas engine keeping the 4L80E. The gas engine donor vehicle was a 1997 1/2 Ton Vortec 5.7 liter / 4L60E Suburban. The complete 1997 black box PCM harness was modified for stand alone service and the 4L60E connector was re-wired for the 4L80E (only two wires). The diesel gas tank was removed and replaced a used fuel tank from a 1998 1 Ton Gas pickup. Several hours were spent looking over the both wiring diagrams from the donor 1997 Suburban and the 1998 1 Ton!! With the Wiring Diagram homework done, the necessary wires for the fuel pump relay, brake switch, ignition on / start, Ignition On only, and battery + / - were located and identified and then solder spliced into the stand alone 1997 black box PCM harness. All total, the hours spent on the wiring was about 30 hours (three full Saturdays), then add about 10 more hours of wiring diagram homework (take good notes when doing the homework). A word of caution, any wiring mistake can be extremely COSTLY!!

    If I had to do this all over again (and had about $1000 in the budget), I would use an aftermarket wiring harness / '0411 computer designed for a 2002 Chevy Express Van 5.7 liter SBC.

    dave w
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    Last edited by dave w; 10-26-2013 at 05:48 AM.

  3. #3
    Electronic Ignition!
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    Thanks for info.
    What aftermarket harness would you go with & why ?
    So far Im into this pretty cheap & don't mind spending a little money to save time on the harness.

  4. #4
    RIP EagleMark's Avatar
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    Your looking at a $600+ harness... and if your going to do that then get one for a 0411 PCM and do away with the Vortec PCM.

    Or spend maybe 10-20 hours and use what you have? The most work is power, fuses, relays and grounds that usually come off a donor vehicle at a bulkhead. You'll find there's not much left of your 86 harness left, like starter, alternator etc... that is the kind of stuff that comes out of your transplant harness along with any un-needed circuts like emmissions that are not applicable to your truck.

    Tackle it with patience and one wire at a time!

    When done you blend the two and use convoluted tubing and it looks like a factory install. And a fatter wallet...

    1990 Chevy Suburban 5.7L Auto ECM 1227747 $42!
    1998 Chevy Silverado 5.7L Vortec 0411 Swap to RoadRunner!
    -= =-

  5. #5
    Electronic Ignition!
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    Thanks EagleMark for your opinion.

    on another note did you get my pm about my other project ?

  6. #6
    RIP EagleMark's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by j20m715 View Post
    Thanks EagleMark for your opinion.

    on another note did you get my pm about my other project ?
    Just saw it but have not answered yet, will do...

    1990 Chevy Suburban 5.7L Auto ECM 1227747 $42!
    1998 Chevy Silverado 5.7L Vortec 0411 Swap to RoadRunner!
    -= =-

  7. #7
    Super Moderator dave w's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by j20m715 View Post
    Thanks for info.
    What aftermarket harness would you go with & why ?
    So far Im into this pretty cheap & don't mind spending a little money to save time on the harness.
    I don't know if there is an off-the-self Express Van 0411 wiring harness. I used the term "aftermarket" but a more correct term would be "custom built" harness from a company like EFI Connections http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/default.aspx The 24x system harness offered by EFI Connections would need a few changes to work for a 2002 Express Van 5.7 liter. It's really a time vs. money vs. skills decision. Someone with expert wiring skill and available time could save hundreds of dollars re-constructing a suitable salvaged harness.

    dave w

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