does the computer in an 81 el camino control just the emission functions..i made a swap to a different motor..and dont need the computer any longer..before i remove it just want to know what all it controls.

Hi elcamino power i took the whole computer harness and all out of my 83 and the only thing i had to do was change the distributor and carb and pull out the check engine bulb. i also put the smaller kick panel down on the pass side floor and you would never no my car had the computer. and every thing else works fine.i have 350 with a turbo 350 tranny with out a lock up converter.

how do i remove the wire harness ?? does the entire dash need to come off??

I have a similar set-up as does 83Choo-Choo from Nova Scotia -- a 350/350 turbo without lockout. None of the emissions controls were operable when I got the Elky and are not required under Massachusetts inspection rules. All the old wiring looked sloppy in the engine compartment and I removed it. Here's how:

After you take off the right interior kick panel to remove the computer from its housing, you will see a short run of harness that goes out to the engine compartment on the passenger side. You need to unplug the two connectors there to disable the wiring harness itself. To remove the excess wiring, take off the right front tire and remove the wheel well cover (this involves about 8 to 10 bolts, including 2 large ones at the rear going into the firewall). After you remove the well housing, you will see a rubber gasket covering the wire harness where it comes thru from the passenger compartment. There is a small metal cover over this that is fastened by two small bolts (4mm, I believe). Remove this cover and then pull the wiring harness throught the opening into the wheel well area and then discard all the rest of the harness in the engine compartment.

You will need to fill in the hole in the fire wall carefully to avoid fumes and water leakage. You can use the old gasket by cutting off the wires from both sides of it and filling in the large gap in the center before inserting it back into the fire wall. Or you can cut a sheet of metal to fit over the opening and apply some good sealant material before installing it. You might want to then replace the original metal cover for extra protection. Reinstall the wheel well opening (after cleaning and painting it, of course, so it looks good) and put the tire back on. I don't think you need to do anything else behind the dash because everything should have been disconnected by this procedure. If not, you can remove, as mentioned by another responder, any of the bulbs in the dash that correspond to the functions thus eliminated. Lots of luck. John H.