Engine Harness Differences?

[Chambers]

I bought an engine harness off of Ebay, and it looks quite different than my 85.5 harness. I'm guessing it is for an 84/85 SVO.

Does anyone know if the 84/85 harness has 3 or 4 wires for the fuel injector harness, and does the fuel injector harness include a wire for the oil pressure sender? On my 85.5 the oil pressure sensor is integrated into the fuel injector harness, which then plugs into the main harness. On this other harness, I can't find a plug that fits my old fuel injector harness, but I did find one that is about in the same location. Not to mention it appears that the oil pressure sender wire is integrated into the main harness.

There is also another harness on the 85.5/86 that plugges into the main harness right where the fuel injector harness does. I can't find a spot for it on the new engine harness either.

I can get pictures if need be.

[vrinner]

I just went through the same problems with my 86. I purchased a harness from a guy who said it would fit an 86. I got it and the wireing was different...close...but different. I compared the 86 against my 84 daily driver and those were different...again...close...but different. I think the harness I got was from some other 2.3 car and not an SVO.

I cant say for sure, just that in my case, my 84 and 86 are different. Sorry I cant be of more help.

[cobra0478]

So,does anyone know for shure if there is a difference between the harness for the svo years,& if so,could one from an 86 be maid to work on an 85 or 84 with without a major modification?
I am about to buy an 86 harness ( drivers side under hood ) & hope to use it on my 85 car, will it work? If not directly, what mods will I have to do to make it work?
Thanks Don
Bud,Paul, Eric Any thoughts?

[GT350R]

Well, it can be MADE to work.

Few points that are different. The early harness uses different connectors on the TPS at least and mabey on the O2.

Then also remember the early cars had a different BSC set up. It used a very basic valve with a box that looks like an old duraspark ignition to control it.

Personally, I think the early harnesses are trouble, They have different insolation on the wires that is know for rotting faster and there seems to be a difference in the actual grade of the wire. (83-84 being the worst for Ford harnesses)

I would use an 85.5-86 TC harness before i would use an early SVO harness.

I am not saying the TC harness would be a perfect swap, as I am not sure about the igntion and gauges connectors, not to mention I keep finding 85-86 TC harnesses with some odd colored wires (resto guys) , like white with blue IDM and coil wires! But the end product would be of better quality. and it does have the correct BCS and TPS connectors. You would probley have to splice in the Premium switch also, but you would have to check that out.

[Chambers]

Well, after looking at my current wiring, I think I can salvage my 85.5 main engine harness. My only problem is that the two other harnesses ( fuel injector, and other sensors) are pretty much toast. Since I lost my job, I've got plenty of free time, and not much money, so I'll head out into the garage and try to build a harness from the burnt ones.

I just wish someone had a full harness out of a 84/85 and a 85.5/86 so I could compare the differences and such. It would be nice to actually tell the difference between the two.

[GT350R]

very easy to tell the two apart. they use different plugs. the early harness's use the an early plug design with fatter pins.

take a look at the TPS connector for both your harnesses and you will see what I mean. The early one has fat pins inside the plug and the later one has little thin pins.

then you have the difference BCS set ups.

[Chambers]

It definitly looks like an 84/85 harness. I compared Alldata info from an 85 to an 86, and the 85 has the same connectors as the harness that I bought. The 86 has the two harnesses that I need.

Oh well, maybe someone can use this 84/85 harness.

[Tony]

If the 84-85 harness that you have is in really good condition, I may be interested in it. My wiring is cracking and decomposing before my eyes. I don't know how much longer it will hold out. How much do you want for it if you are going to sell it? We can bring this to e-mail if you like... tferrant@nvbell.net