i'm sure this has been discussed, but i cant seam to find it... i have an 81ss and am putting in a 94 lt1 with 700r4....... the engine has the factory wiring harness, and computer..... what do i need to buy to make all this work???? and where is a good source (cheap) to get this... any info or suggestions is greatly appreciated........ and if anyone needs help with your harley....... i'm your guy... lol

Your fuel system will need to be upgraded. Electric fuel pump, fuel return line, gas tank with baffels (if you want to do it right), fuel sender setup for electric fuel pump.

Depending on the tranny that was in it before you will need a new tranny crossmember and a new driveshaft.

The computer will need some reprogramming to eliminate VATS (alarm system) and for your rear end gears and tire size.

That's off the top of my head. You can look at my site if you want. Under the El Camino section is a "Status" section. You can see most of what I did and why.

www.poltergeist.us

BTW welcome to the site.

on the vats issue..... if by chance i can get a key for the ignition, and tape it to the inside of the dash, would that work instead of reprograming the computer?

if by chance i can get a key for the ignition, and tape it to the inside of the dash

Not sure what you mean by that. Vats also is part of the BCM (Body Control Module) that then communicates to the ECM to be able to start the motor. You could get a VATS bypass module, some people have but you still need programming for your rearend gears and tire size.

You said 700R tranny. Is it a 700R or the newer 4L60E?

i was assuming (i know bad thing to do) that vats was the issue with gm cars that have the computer chip in the key and has to be near the column to start....

as far as programing the computer, i am going to be changing rear ends, and tire size, what does the programing do?

this is the tough part as far as the tranny, i bought the motor and tranny off ebay, should be here tomorow or the day after, the guy stated that it is a 700r4 but it is comming out of a 94 pontiac firebird if that means anything...

If the tranny came from the Firebird then it's the new 4L60E (I believe the 4L60 was only in the 93s). Unless the previous owner changed it out for some reason. The case is the same as a 700R. Programming for the gears and tires tells the ECM how fast the car is going and it calculates Air/Fuel ratios accordingly, and when to shift gears, the ECM determines this on 4L60E's.

The Key has to be in the ignition for VATS. The BCM reads the resistance and give a yes/no to the ECM to start up.

Vats for 94 and earlier cars can be easily bypassed if you have the original chip key. Just measure the resistance of the chip in the key by using a volt/ohm meter. Then go to your local Radio Shack or equivalent and buy a resistor that matches the resistance you measured from the key. If you don't have a volt/ohm meter, ask the electronics store to measure the key for you. At Radio Shack you'll get a package of four resistors for $0.97. Then find the two small wires that are molded together coming out of the column, or find the vats box, (usually white and about 3" x 3") cut the two small (smaller than any of the other wires)wires going into the box, and solder the resistor in between them. This will tell the computer that you have the right "key" in the ignition. I have performed this on several cars including two Buicks, a Caprice, and an Olds Aurora. None of these cars have ever given any problems since I fooled the system. Good luck, and please keep us informed on your progress. :)

excelent info on the key....

what wiring harness do i have to buy..... i've been told several things... i have the complete intact engine harness, and my body harness is intact....... i've heard painless makes a harness that just connects them together.... but havent been able to find out about it.... anyone have info?

AS a retired Locksmith,

The name VATS stands for [ Vechicle Anti Thert System"]
Meaning that jsut having a key that will turn the Ing Key Chlinder over, won't start the car unless the VATS code matches the Onboard Computer system end coding.

At last count there are about 50+ VATS codes for GM cars only. The Key cut code has nothing to do with the VATS code with respect to starting the car.

For instence:
Key code 456897 and VATS code #34 will start the car.
KEy code 456897 with vATS code #35 won't start the car.
However Both will turn the Ing Key over, but only one will start the car

Therefor anyone atempting to HOT WIRE the car can't do so unless the
VATS code matchs the onboard computer code.

And, along with that, the fuel system won't work enither.

IT's a pretty good system that only GM has, no other has the VATS name for anti thieft

Correct me if I'm wrong James84Elky, but I believe GM started using the VATS system on Chevys in 1995. ElCamaro is working with a 1994 Caprice.
You are absolutely correct 8-) about not being able to modify the VATS system without reprogramming the PCM. What I was refering to is the older (1994 & earlier) external chip key type system with a separate logic box, which was easily defeated by using an in-line resistor as I stated in the earlier post.

Correct me if I'm wrong James84Elky, but I believe GM started using the VATS system on Chevys in 1995. ElCamaro is working with a 1994 Caprice.
You are absolutely correct 8-) about not being able to modify the VATS system without reprogramming the PCM. What I was refering to is the older (1994 & earlier) external chip key type system with a separate logic box, which was easily defeated by using an in-line resistor as I stated in the earlier post.

The VATS system was first used by GM on Corvettes as a pilot system for antitheft. However successful, it had it’s problems with respect to decoding the chip in the Bow of the Key blank. The original design used a somewhat normal key blank with a little longer blade to house the VATS chip. But there again it has it’s own special kind of problems. The chip would fall out with out you, the owner knowing it. Me ,the locksmith would have to decode the car computer system with a VATS interrogator device that plugged into a wiring harness under the dash near the break paddle. The process went as follows:

1. finding the correct keyway of he lock cylinder. For example Ilco # P1098A. the “P” means primary, and the “A” means the section used for that year. Every four years the letters were changed to the next letter in line form A to B, B to C and so on.

2. The steering was taken apart to get the code from the lock cylinder. Something like N2365 that was called the Primary code, nest you look it up in a book to get the cut code of 235642 or some number like that consisting of six numbers. Once the key was cut to turn the cylinder, the car would not start at that time.

3. now with the key turning, the VATS interrogator was switched to a series of positions on the box with a different resistor value at each point. When the correct value was found the car would start. By reading the number on box it would read something like “5” or “3” or some other number up to at that time 15.

4. next, you would get the correct blank with the resistor impregnated into it and cut the six number already found earlier on that blank and the car would start at that time. And only at that time.

5. It was a time staking process way back them. But for the most part, it was the only way. Today the VATS system has changed to a more complex system consisting of more codes and more antitheft devices with more amd more keyways available consisting of a double sided keys and so on.

That was only one way of making a VATS key for a GM product. There are different way used today by different Locksmiths and dealers to get the same results, but the basic idea still stands.

James84Elky
Retired Locksmith…..