original motor

[MWA]

Is there a way to tell what origanally came in your car? I have an 83 cutlass. Are they hard to rewire for the engine?

 

[Doober]

The VIN will tell you what originally came in the car.

Far as changing the motor, depends on if you have emissions in your area. If not they're a breeze, replace the computer-controlled distributor and carb with a non-computer-controlled unit. Wiring on these older cars isn't difficult at all.

 

[joe_padavano]

The VIN will tell you what originally came in the car.

Far as changing the motor, depends on if you have emissions in your area. If not they're a breeze, replace the computer-controlled distributor and carb with a non-computer-controlled unit. Wiring on these older cars isn't difficult at all.

The emissions harness is completely separate from the engine harness anyway. The engine harness (starter, alternator, senders for gauges or lights) comes through the firewall on the driver's side through the big plug under the brake booster. The emissions harness comes through the firewall through a grommet under the HVAC box on the passenger side.

 

[Doober]

That makes it even easier 🙂 My statement was only from the standpoint of what could be done if emissions weren't required.

 

[MWA]

Is there an site where I could take the vin and find out what originally came in the car?

 

[Doober]

You could try the free portion of CarFax, it will often give you the original engine size.

 

[Doober]

Also, give this one a try.
http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

 

[Blake442]

http://www.wrath.com/vindecode.html

 

[MWA]

Thanks, I found out what originally came in the car.It came with a 3.8 v-6 It has a 350 rocket it in now. Where should I start by rewiring for the motor?

 

[Blake442]

Why do you need to rewire it?

I used the 3.8 V6 wiring harness when I put a 350 in my Cutlass wagon...

Just need to unwrap it a bit to adjust the length of some of the wires.