82 Regal engine wiring harness

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Fernie365

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Apr 8, 2020
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Murrieta,CA
Hey my GBody family,

I am doing an engine swap from my V6 to a 383. Stroker. While I was taking off the old enfine harness the casing on the wires were just breaking off exposing the wire. I could try to fix it but I was wondering you guys new of somewhere that sold them. I’ve checked online and can’t seem to find any. I can find them for an 84 and above, but not an 82. I’m not sure if I could even use that one for an 84 or not. Can you guys help me out?
 

81cutlass

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Feb 16, 2009
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No. 78-83 used one style of firewall plug and 84-88 used another style. An 84 harness will not plug into a 82 firewall plug.
 

ck80

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Feb 18, 2014
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Dang! I figured something would change between them because the car is different. Thanks for the reply I appreciate it.
Depending on your level of electronics savvy you CAN re-pin a 84-up harness to fit the 83-down fuse block.

I've never liked electronics work, but, I've been friends since the 90s with a guy who used to be pretty big into grand nationals and still is a moderator on the turbobuick board.

Point being, back in the late 1990s when you couldn't just buy anything he removed the wire leads from the 1987 gn engine harness plug and re-inserted the leads into the corresponding holes on the 1983 firewall connector.

You'd need the diagram to each the 1983 and 1984 block types, then remove and reinsert the wires one at a time to go where they need to be.

Another alternative is to swap the dash boards, wire harness and all, from a 1984-up into a 1983-down car. Everything fits, just a bunch of work for an aesthetic downgrade to the newer gauges.

Having said all that:

Is it the insulation off the individual wires cracking and making a safety hazard?

Or, is it just the ribbed plastic loom covering that hides the individual wires cracking? They sell rolls of the loom fairly cheap and it comes with a slit down the side to push the wires in though. Easy to swap it off if its age brittle and way cheaper than a new harness.
 
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39F

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Sep 9, 2019
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I know someone will argue this but it may help you, I've used 77-87 chevy truck wiring in these cars everything worked as it should with the exception of some length adjustment and switching plugs for wiper motor but worked for me great, did this in 2 malibu's and 82 cutlass do to the same problem
 
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
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Hey my GBody family,

I am doing an engine swap from my V6 to a 383. Stroker. While I was taking off the old enfine harness the casing on the wires were just breaking off exposing the wire. I could try to fix it but I was wondering you guys new of somewhere that sold them. I’ve checked online and can’t seem to find any. I can find them for an 84 and above, but not an 82. I’m not sure if I could even use that one for an 84 or not. Can you guys help me out?
Here's the engine harness for an 82 Chevrolet (El Camino, Malibu or Monte) with a V-8 and with gauges. This is what I bought for my 82 Grand Prix that was a diesel and now has a Small Block Chevy. It's expensive but I needed a new start as my diesel engine harness was in bad shape (deteriorated, hacked, loaded with extra wiring)......
 
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mikester

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Mar 10, 2010
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Another choice you have would be to make your own harness. Now that youve changed the motor you really dont have much of the original v6 wiring to use. The important wires are probably basically the same. Starter, charging system, some gauges. You can buy the Packard terminals, get some 10' coils of different size wire and pretty much rewire whats needed. I did it for my wagon. It took some time but after I knew where things went it was easy.
Take all the wires in the harness and lay them out on a piece of cardboard. Figure out whats needed. Im thinking there wont be much. Especially if youre using aftermarket gauges.

IMG_0274.jpg
 
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Fernie365

Apprentice
Apr 8, 2020
57
20
8
Murrieta,CA
Depending on your level of electronics savvy you CAN re-pin a 84-up harness to fit the 83-down fuse block.

I've never liked electronics work, but, I've been friends since the 90s with a guy who used to be pretty big into grand nationals and still is a moderator on the turbobuick board.

Point being, back in the late 1990s when you couldn't just buy anything he removed the wire leads from the 1987 gn engine harness plug and re-inserted the leads into the corresponding holes on the 1983 firewall connector.

You'd need the diagram to each the 1983 and 1984 block types, then remove and reinsert the wires one at a time to go where they need to be.

Another alternative is to swap the dash boards, wire harness and all, from a 1984-up into a 1983-down car. Everything fits, just a bunch of work for an aesthetic downgrade to the newer gauges.

Having said all that:

Is it the insulation off the individual wires cracking and making a safety hazard?

Or, is it just the ribbed plastic loom covering that hides the individual wires cracking? They sell rolls of the loom fairly cheap and it comes with a slit down the side to push the wires in though. Easy to swap it off if its age brittle and way cheaper than a new harness.
I was actually considering doing this. I just think it’s a lot of work haha. It’s the actual casing coming off exposing the wire. My buddy told me to just clean up
The wires and put some heat shrink on them then change out the loom. Maybe that’ll be easier, but I’m really hoping to find a new replacement
 

Fernie365

Apprentice
Apr 8, 2020
57
20
8
Murrieta,CA
I know someone will argue this but it may help you, I've used 77-87 chevy truck wiring in these cars everything worked as it should with the exception of some length adjustment and switching plugs for wiper motor but worked for me great, did this in 2 malibu's and 82 cutlass do to the same problem
I’m gonna look into it. Thanks
 
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Fernie365

Apprentice
Apr 8, 2020
57
20
8
Murrieta,CA
Here's the engine harness for an 82 Chevrolet (El Camino, Malibu or Monte) with a V-8 and with gauges. This is what I bought for my 82 Grand Prix that was a diesel and now has a Small Block Chevy. It's expensive but I needed a new start as my diesel engine harness was in bad shape (deteriorated, hacked, loaded with extra wiring)......
I seen this one too, but didn’t purchase it because it indicated it didn’t fit the my Regal.
Another choice you have would be to make your own harness. Now that youve changed the motor you really dont have much of the original v6 wiring to use. The important wires are probably basically the same. Starter, charging system, some gauges. You can buy the Packard terminals, get some 10' coils of different size wire and pretty much rewire whats needed. I did it for my wagon. It took some time but after I knew where things went it was easy.
Take all the wires in the harness and lay them out on a piece of cardboard. Figure out whats needed. Im thinking there wont be much. Especially if youre using aftermarket gauges.

View attachment 166416
Dude this is bad *ss. I never even thought of this. I’m gonna clean up my harness this weekend and cut out the wires that aren’t needed and see what wires I need.
 
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