IROC-Z DONOR PAGE CONT...

Here we have the carpet up, and the console and stuff out.  We've got the masking tape and pen to label everything.  We discovered some minor surface rust on the driver's side.  Nothing serious, just some sanding and rubberizing should take care of that.  Still there is a lot of dirt caked in the crevaces.  What's new? :)

Well, we're back at it again!  This time around Bill and I will be focusing on comparing the wiring harnesses behind the dashboard, and seeing what goes where.  We pulled the car out of the stuff garage, and set it around back.  We were blessed with beautiful weather to work with!  So far, just getting the interior stripped out.

With the help of the 4-wheeler, we got out the IROC. I needed to take off the IROC's windshield wiper motor, because the wiring connector's didn't match up to the stock coupe one.  Now my car will have delayed wipers.  Which is great!  We snipped the headlamp wires back when we yanked the engine because they were pinched into place by the wrecked fendor, well, I used a crow bar and pulled back the fendor rail and managed to get them out.  I spent some time routing them into my car, now, If I want to have fog lamps, I get have them on my car instead of the aftermarket ones!

Here Bill is going to drop the drive shaft down.  You can also get a look at a lot of the wires that are underneath the dash.  We knew if we would be patient, and label everything, than we can figure out how all this stuff works. We also had the IROC to experiment with.  I believe that I'll just be using the whole IROC dash to swap over to my car.

Here is just an interesting photo opportunity.  The sliver car is Bill's newest.  It's an 81 Trans Am.  He sold his 91, and bought the 81 for cheaper car payment purposes.  Also He has always wanted a 2nd gen Firebird.  On the end is his 84 Firebird Coupe.  Check out Bills web page at http://www.oocities.org/billsfirebird for all the details of his 81 and 84!  BUT continue to read on about the project IROC-Z Upgrade!! It was a short weekend for us, so we didn't get too much accomplished, but next time we'll be going at the dash boards on my cars.  Lord Willing it won't be to big of a chore.

It looks as though the heater controls are on separate wiring instead of connected to the dash wiring.  We'll get a better look later.  I will still be able to use my CD player.  The stereo place just rigged up a wiring harness directly to the stock wires.  Pretty simple.  We're plugging right along. Bill and I pulled out the power accessories wires in the IROC, since my car is virtuously optionless, I won't be needing them..  It will make it easier in swapping.  Perhaps later if I get the correct parts, I'll put in the power locks and windows.  I don't feel so bad not using them, because I never had them to begin with :)

I purchased a few parts from the dealership...I got new radiator brackets, and oil cooler lines to replace the broken and rusted parts.  I installed the radiator brackets, and put on the cooling fans no problem.  I should have replaced the oil cooler lines before I put the engine in.  But even so, It wasn't that big of a deal.  I also purchased a new starter.  The fully installed TPI looks pretty good!  It's hard to believe, but it's finally in there!  Man I can almost here this thing rumbling!  But the  Project isn't quite finished yet.

Here is a good picture of the oil cooler lines.  They run underneath the block.  It was kind of tricky to get it in there.  I had to disconnect the Tranny cooler lines and the water pump hose just to get the right angle to get them in.  It is a set, the two pipes are connected by welded bracket, in which you bolt it to the block.  Good as new!  The old lines were rusted, and the black coating was peeling back.  Pin holes were enough to make it leak pretty severely.

Here is a part for the  IROC-Z performance package.  It is the anti-sway bar that bolts to the differential, and frame.  This part keeps the car flat in corners.  It wasn't to hard to put on.  My Coupe had all the necessary holes to bolt it onto it.  I just had to thread the bolts on carefully.  There were some frame stiffening brackets that needed to be put onto the front of the car as well.  Again the bolt holes were all there.

Here is where the anti-sway bar bolts to the frame.  It connects via a bolt and bushings.  This should result in a significant handling upgrade for me.  My car has had a tendency to body roll in sharp turns.  I can't wait to see and feel the results.  Here you can also see that I have drum brakes on the rear.  Perhaps I'll be switching the differentials out because the IROC has 4-wheel disc brackes, and a Posi rear end.

Here, Bill and I took out the dash board of the IROC.  Bill labeled everything.  It is amazing what they can stuff behind a dashboard!  All of the air ducts for the vents, wirning, ECM, fusebox, etc. etc.  Wow, what a mess of wires.  Bill and I examined the wiring closely and got a pretty good idea of what went where and what connected to what.  We'll just need to pull out the Coupe dash and do some swappin'.  We also had taken out the wires that lead to the power accessories, since my car doesn't have them.  It'll make for easier swapping.

Here it is all layed out in the way it'll need to be put back in.  The top is the dash wiring, the wire leading back goes to the tail lights, and the long wire coming off the taillights, is the fuel pump wires.  I hope that all of the wires are in good shape, and the fuses are ready to go as well.  Bill and I are starting to get pretty familiar with all of the lay out.  Time now to get at the Coupe!

Here are the two dashes and wiring.  We are nearing the end of our time this weekend, so Bill and I are making quick time of swapping these out.  We hope to hear this thing fire up before we go, maybe.  We're coming to a close, but still much work to be done!  Our time has run out for this weekends work.  Next time we come up we'll be able to splice in the IROC wiring.  I will be needing to put the fluids, and find a radiator, because this one I have has a leak in the tank, and get some exhaust parts.  Lord willing, I will get my car started next time!  Until then!

After had taken out the IROC dash, the Coupe one was pretty cheesy.  You can see where we have the IROC ECM in hooked in, but man what a sight!  If you have ever wondered what is behind the dash board, there you go.  It's pretty cool how everything works back there.  We've managed to get all of this out successfully,  now it will be a matter of remembering where everything went, pull out the remainder of the Coupe wiring, and splice in the IROC wiring.  After that, we should be able to give this baby a go as to firing her up!  We're almost done with the IROC-Z upgrade!!

I have exciting news!  Bill got the opportunty to talk with Jennifer's Uncle John.  John worked with cars for many years, he even built and drag raced his own cars.  He built a corvette from the frame up kind of thing.  Well, he showed much interest in Bill's and my project.  I'm thankful for this because he answered some questions that Bill and I had about all of the wiring.  We spliced the fuel pump wires, with the turn of the key it didn't hum.  He suggested a few things and even expressed helping us out, by doing some hands on work!  I'm so excited.  At this point we've done so much work, and it's taken so much time, and I will be glad to have my car back soon.  Thanks John for your willingness to help Bill and I on this project!! MORE TO COME! F-body nut, Dan Rittichier Check out IROC-Z DONOR PAGE 4 YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!!  BWAA HA HA HAAAA!! or go back to IROC-Z upgrade page 2

Don't click this button just yet, I'm not done telling you about my IROC stuff!