Installing '83 engine in a Cali '85 Questions

[Motorhead]

I am installing a 1983 617-952 engine in a Calif. 1985 car with the electrical hook up on the side of the injection pump. Can I run the '83 inj pump and not hook up the wiring that the '85 pump has and have the car run ok? Will the tach work ok? Thanks for any info as I am waiting to hear back before I put the engine in.

[bricktron]

the rack position wiring is disabled on my '85 pump, supposedly this is fine.

[Motorhead]

Thanks.... I sold the '83 engine to a friend of mine that has a shop. He is putting it in a customers car. Do you know the purpose of that hook up?

[mach4]

The rack position sensor is part of the EGR system. Assuming you've got the EGR system disconnected you can forget about it.

If you want to keep the '85 tach you'll want to swap out the intermediate plate that has the tach VR sensor off the '85 engine. Otherwise you can use the sensor off the front of the engine and use a tach amp from the '83. You'll also need to swap in the tach module in the cluster and possibly the face.

[Motorhead]

Originally Posted by mach4

The rack position sensor is part of the EGR system. Assuming you've got the EGR system disconnected you can forget about it.

If you want to keep the '85 tach you'll want to swap out the intermediate plate that has the tach VR sensor off the '85 engine. Otherwise you can use the sensor off the front of the engine and use a tach amp from the '83. You'll also need to swap in the tach module in the cluster and possibly the face.

Can you clarify the "Intermediate plate" and where it is? Thanks

[mach4]

Originally Posted by Motorhead

Can you clarify the "Intermediate plate" and where it is? Thanks

The intermediate plate is the aluminum plate that bolts to the rear of the engine. Then the transmission bolts to this plate. Here is a picture of the tach pickup on an '85 on the intermediate plate that takes the signal off the flywheel teeth functioning as a trigger wheel.



Here's the intermediate plate itself (also known as the transmission adapter)



It may be possible to drill and tap access for the '85 VR sensor into an earlier plate, I just don't know. (I actually hope it is, because if I ever need to use my spare engine - an 83, I'd rather not pull the flywheel to swap out the intermediate plate)

[Motorhead]

THANKS!!! I'll check the engine tomorrow and see if it can installed. I will have to see if the tech installed the intermediate plate from the '85 or not. AGAIN...THANKS!!

[BillGrissom]

I put an 83 engine (based on a stamp and block code) in my 1985 California 300D after my engine failed. I am sure I didn't swap the intermediate plate since my 85 one is still in the tear-down box. I installed the tach VR sensor, so there was a matching hole. Maybe 83 CA engines are different or maybe somebody installed a later intermediate plate. I bought the engine off craigslist and they got it from Pick'NPull, so who knows, but it runs great w/ no blowby.

I was also confused by the missing injection pump rack sensor, until I read here that it was just needed for the EGR, which I bypassed anyway. BTW, don't remove your EGR processor box since that is where the tach signal is conditioned. My 84 CA 300D has the same sensor. The 83 engine was also missing a temp sensor at the front of the block, but it must also be part of the EGR system since my temp gage works, at least when I wiggle the instrument cluster (grounding clips I think). I expect that works off the similar looking temp sensor near the thermostat.

[vstech]

actually, the dash temp sensor is in the head, between #2 and #3 cylinders... on the IP side of the head.