Hello there. I have a 1980 firebird formula that I am in the middle of swapping in a 305TPI/700R4 (I know the 305 is a waste, but it was cheap, and once everything is sorted out, I can always swap it out later). Anyway, the motor is sitting in the car, and most of the wiring is done, but there are a few things I need some help with.

First of all, does anyone have a wiring diagram for the lighting on my car? I have alldata, but that only goes back to '82, so it isn't much help. I have no exterior lights, and no instrument cluster lights. There is a red wire coming out of the firewall that goes to ground when the headlight switch is turned on, but I don't know where it taps into. I also have a yellow wire coming out of the firewall that I can not figure out what it is for. Also, how is the oil pressure gauge wired up? There are three wires coming out of the dash that effect the oil pressure gauge when they have power/ground. There's a green, blue, and black if I remember correctly. What do I hook to what? Or do I just ditch that gauge and get an aftermarket one?

Also, the motor is sitting in the engine bay, but it isn't on the mounts exactly right. The car originally had a pontiac 301 boat anchor sitting in there, and a buddy of mine told me to move the mounts forward, so I put them in the holes that are basically about 1" forward and up from where the mounts were bolted for the pontiac motor. Do I have the mounts in the right spot, or do they need to go somewhere else? If someone has a pic of where the mounts sit for a chevy motor, it would be very helpful.

Next question: I'm sure someone has put a 700R4 into a 2nd gen with a SBC before. Does anyone know what length the driveshaft needs to be for this combo? Oh yeah, another thing, I read somewhere that for the TPI setup, the computer needs to see a VSS signal, otherwise it will throw it into limp mode. Is this true? Cause the trans that I have is out of a GMC van, and it only has the provision for the mechanical speedo, which I thought was great because it will work with the stock speedo in the car. Is this going to be a problem, and if so, what are my options to solve it?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Mike

your most likely going to need a custom drive shaft built for it. The other stuff I can't really help you on at the moment.

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I'm sure I will, I was just wondering if anyone knew exactly what length driveshaft I will need so I can have one made up while I'm working on all the other stuff on the car.

itsbet just to measure yourself trust me on this one lol

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I guess so. There's a driveshaft shop about 15 minutes from my house that I had make the aluminum driveshaft for my cougar. I'll probably see what measurements they want and have them make up a steel one, or maybe I can just have them shorten my stock driveshaft and put some new U-joints in it.

Mike,
Have you tried calling alldata? They have a library service that might be able to help you find what you need. They helped me find something pre-1982 as well.

I didn't know I could do that. Its my boss that has the subscription at the shop, so I'll have to talk to him tomorrow and see if he has a number for them.