1983 main engine harness on a 1981 car

[tgraham]

Here's one that'll be challenging to explain with words... Today I was attempting to install a 1983-style engine harness on my 1981 DeLorean, but ran into two problems:

1) Routing. Trying to follow the basic path of the 81, nothing quite fits. My guess is that it's a bit different and, having never been this in-depth with a 1983 car, I have no idea how it routes! Any pointers?

2) The big brown wires. In the 1981, the harness carries current between the bulkhead post to the alternator (via a roundabout path) via thick brown sures, then another run (on the harness) goes from the alternator to the starter, with the two red leads attached to the starter as well. At least, this is as far as I can tell with a quick multimeter test...

The 1983 harness has no brown wire at all. How do I get from the alternator to/from the battery? And also, how do I get to the bulkhead post? Maybe I'm just not thinking through it right (long weekend with lots of various fumes), but it seems like I'm missing a part or two.

Thanks for any advice.

Travis

[DMCMW Dave]

The 1983 harness is installed almost hidden, down the two sides of the intake.

The large brown wire gets replaced with two of these:
http://www.delorean.com/store/p-7137-lead.aspx or something similar if you are handy making wire jumpers.

They go from the starter to the alternator, and from the bulkhead connector to the jump start post.

[DMC5180]

Brown wire jumpers should look about like this when installed. You may need to cut a small notch in the jump start boot to get it to sit properly.

[tgraham]

Thank you, Dave and Dennis!

Those look easy enough to make, but if a genuine solution still exists, that's the way I'd like to go... Dave, I'll give you a call in the morning.

Travis

[DMC5180]

Define Genuine solution? Those are the NOS wire Jumpers used in 83 cars. If I recall correctly, the Original 81 wiring has a brown wire between the ALT and Starter. When I removed Mine. It it had big loop in it. Unfolded It was about 19 inches long. You might be able able to go from the Coil box post to the alternator if you don't want too do the 2 wire method.

[dmc4087]

The 1983 harness is installed almost hidden, down the two sides of the intake.


Would anyone have a picture of this?

[tgraham]

Define Genuine solution?

I'd define it as: something that was intended by the factory to go on the car. Depite the fact that many factory parts look home made anyway :)

Travis

[tgraham]

The large brown wire gets replaced with two of these:
http://www.delorean.com/store/p-7137-lead.aspx or something similar if you are handy making wire jumpers.

They go from the starter to the alternator, and from the bulkhead connector to the jump start post.

2x those wires are now in hand! Thanks to Julee and Dave for the speedy service!

I'm assuming that the parts of the harness running down the sides of the intake just sit between the intake and the spark plug leads/fuel injectors? Or is there some sort of official placement of these runs?

Thanks!
Travis

[Morpheus]

I actual ran mine under the mix unit and then out the side of the intake... The lengths of some wires sort of dictate where it will fit right.

[DMCMW Dave]

I believe the "official" routing would be along the sides, but its possible to hide much if it under the mixture unit for a cleaner look. The only drawback to that is future serviceability. It does just kind of fall in to place.

[DMC5180]

This is how I ran mine when I did the 81 too 83 update.

1. You will have some issues If you try to suspend the harness from the support bar on the back wall. I chose not to use it and have since removed it for a cleaner look.

2. I chose to adjust the breakout point of the first branch of wires (FV,GRD,ENG Temp) by unwrapping them. This allowed a little more length to work with. Someday I'll go back rewrap them in the new position.

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3. I Chose to run the next main branch (w/two Long bundles) along the right side of the intake.

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A. The bundle containing the (Alt/Starter/Oil.P/Ign.Rly) runs around the end of the Rocker cover (not over it as I've seen others do) no length problems.

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B. The Bundle containing the ( ECU temp, Idle Sw,Full Throttle Sw, Auto trans Sw, A/C. comp, Oil Lt.
ECU temp.) Routes DN under intake behind Rt front runner.

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Idle switch) Routes UP between middle and Rt. front runner.

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I ran the rest of the bundle around the Rear of the intake behind the Water pump under the W-pipe.

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Full Throttle Sw, Auto trans Sw) Connects under the throttle assembly

A/C comp) Continues straight across UP too the Compressor.

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Oil Lt.) Routes down behind A/C Idler bracket and head. No wire lengthening required as some have done for alternate routing.

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The last group containing The (CSV,ISM,WUR) Run behind DN then UP to their location as required.

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