TBI wagon body, on an LT1 running gear

I have a 92 roady body,. and i'll have a 96 roady running gear,.

what all will be involved wiring wise?

would it be possible/easier,. to just bolt the 96 dash wiring and related parts into the 92?

Idea's?

Nick, TBI to LT1 will have a few issues. You are looking at OBD1 vs OBD2 for starters. I'd say you are on the right track by swapping the dash as well.If you have digital dash, the output from OBD1 and 2 will clash there as well. Baud rates and internal data streams are not compatible.

I'd get hold of FSM for both years if you can. You'll be able to see where systems / circuits have changed. Most sensors will be the same, but the ECM's and harnesses will have some changes, particularly in the distributor (92) vs opti-spark (96) and injector areas.

Keep in mind 92 had 4L60 trannies. By 96 they became 4L60E with more ECM control of the Tranny. Joel can likely help you there.

Best of luck,
Dave

Are you using the frame from the 96? If you are, it will make things a lot easier.

You should take the engine harness for the 96 with the running gear. The harness is totally different.
You have the fuse block under the passenger's side of the hood on the 96, and not on the 92. You must retain the fuse block for the engine and fans. The engine harness plugs into the dash harness, or vice versa at a large block under the dash. The pinout may be different

You have to put the computer were the evap canister, and the evap canister relocates under the battery.

You need the heat shields for the driver's side cat.

The wiring for the dash is different. You have different modules in the dash, and the cluster is a lot different.

If the 92 cross car harness can be plugged into the body harness, keep it, especially if you are using the 92 door panels. The connectors are not compatible with the 96 switches.

The body harness should be the same. If you can plug it into the dash harness (pinout may be a little different) you can keep it.

If you are using the 92 door panels, they will not be compatible with the 96 dash. You need either 94-96 Caprice panels, or the 92 dash.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

Are you using the frame from the 96? If you are, it will make things a lot easier.

You should take the engine harness for the 96 with the running gear. The harness is totally different.
You have the fuse block under the passenger's side of the hood on the 96, and not on the 92. You must retain the fuse block for the engine and fans. The engine harness plugs into the dash harness, or vice versa at a large block under the dash. The pinout may be different

You have to put the computer were the evap canister, and the evap canister relocates under the battery.

You need the heat shields for the driver's side cat.

The wiring for the dash is different. You have different modules in the dash, and the cluster is a lot different.

If the 92 cross car harness can be plugged into the body harness, keep it, especially if you are using the 92 door panels. The connectors are not compatible with the 96 switches.

The body harness should be the same. If you can plug it into the dash harness (pinout may be a little different) you can keep it.

If you are using the 92 door panels, they will not be compatible with the 96 dash. You need either 94-96 Caprice panels, or the 92 dash.

Fred my idea is to use the 96 complete running gear and front clip,. just transfer the wiring into the 92 ?
Not quite sure what you mean by the cross car harness?
I was thinking of seeing if i could fit a 96 cluster and dash stereo heater controls etc,. into a 92 body??
I would prefer to keep the 92 color interior, its a nicer color,. my other option is blue leftover 95 stuff,.(looks the same as 96?)
heat shield is a good call thanks,..

The cross car harness is the one with all of the windows, and seats in it. It runs from the driver's side A pillar back to the B pillar and across the car under the seats. It also has a leg to each door for the windows and seat wiring. The wires to the antenna are also part of the cross car harness. The connectors for the 91-93 windows are different for than the 94-96. The seats are the same except maybe for the Limited version. The cross car harness plugs into the body harness at the bottom of the A pillar.

Reference the 92:
The body harness for the most part starts at the square screw together connector on the passenger's side, and runs across the top of the firewall and down the driver's side, then back the length of the car to the D pillar. The body harness also includes the fuse block on the driver's side of the dash. There are segments of the body harness that go into the engine compartment on each side, and some wiring that goes along the driver's side frame rail, but I have not explored the schematics of those wires. I do know that the passenger's side does have the fuel pump relay, ECM fuse, and AC relay, that I believe are contained in the 96 fuse block, and the driver's side has the cruise control, lighting, and washer wiring. The connectors may be different, but the wiring should be the same, or at least similar on the driver's side at least.

The dash harness is attached to the dash, and plugs into the body harness at a number of points. There are a number of other items that are different for the 92 vs. the 96. The 92 has a VSS module that is not in the 96k and I am not sure if the convenience center is the same.

I would explore rewiring the connector C204 on the passenger's side and leaving the original dash in the 92 body. Almost all of the wires needed to run the interior of the car pass through that connector. You need a pinout of that connector for the 92 and 96. There may be a few wires that are not used in the 96 connector, because a number of functions in the 96 are performed by the engine harness before the wiring enters the body. You will eliminate the ECM from the passenger's side A pillar. Normally the twilight sentinel module would replace it, but the 92 already has one beside the steering column.

The 96 wheelhouses will have the bottom hole where they are bolted to the mount on the firewall in a different place than the 92. It is behind the rear of the tire with the big washer on it. If you use the 96 interior, you will have to modify the door panels to hold the interior panels from the 96. The arm rest supports are not used on the 96 doors. the pull straps are attached at different locations, and the 96 usually has speakers in the inserts that may not have connectors for them on the 92 wiring. To make it look right, you would necessarily have to do the rear doors as well.

Fred,you are a Goggle of B body wagon information and I am genuinely impressed!You are the groups wagon "know it all" and we are lucky to have you.