I have an opportunity to get a JSpec long block supposedly from an 88 jspec, what I know for sure is its an S4 because of the mechanical OMP...my question is about the wiring and the ECU, I am freakin clueless about this

I can get the engine with the harness uncut and the ECU or w/o ECU and with the harness cut, it obviously costs more to get the uncut harness and the ECU, and I will have to wait longer as it ships from somewhere far away and not from NY...

Basically I wanna know if the jspec harness with plug right up with whats in my car because they are both S4, if not, what kind of electrical crap am I looking at doing I dont like wires too much, but I have friends that love playing with that crap...

Now the other issue at hand is if I don't get the ECU what do I do, is a Haltech the only option or is an Apexi S-AFC a cheaper alternative...sorry I know these are noobish questions but I searched and I can't figure out if there is a difference between the things or not..

Thanks in advance for all your help

 

No, you ned the Jspec harness and ECU. I did the exact same thing wit my car '88 Jspec into an '88 GXL.

As fa as the Standalone, or safc, the safc is just a piggyback bandaid. what're you planning on doing wit the car? Also, if you go with a standalone i.e. Haltech/Microtech/Wolf, you won't need the stock ECU or wiring harness.

So, it all depends on wha you want. I personally would go with a standalone and say screw the stock stuff, but that's another 800-1500 dollars.

 

so getting the JSpec harness and ECU will be the easiest thing to do, no cutting wires and staring at wiring diagrams trying to figure out what goes where?

How about the harness and a standalone...is that the best option?

Plans for the car, when I get the block gonna send out the turbo to have the wastegate ported and get a lighter compressor wheel, clean out injectors or maybe buy new ones, rebuild the motor, run (hopefully) 15psi...any suggestions/other options I should consider?

 

15 p.s.i. is out of the range of the stock turbo. It maxes out at 13-14, or so I've been told. Yes, the Jsec harness and ECU is the easiest, you just replace your old ECU with the jspec, and the wiringharness as well. You might have to lengthen some wires, but no biggie. If you plan on getting a bigger turbo, and going for a serious streetcar, I'd go standalone. If you're not planning on doing anything too razy. Get some 720's in the secondary, the Rtekv1.5 chip, safc, boost controller and FCD. That's good for some good power.

It all depends on how crazy you want to get. And remember to always plan ahead.

 

Jspec harnesses are meant for RHd cars, and barely even fit our cars at all. IT's a tight stretch to even get it to reach. Second, it's missing a large gang plug inside the car by the ecu that runs stuff like the dash temp gauge, heater blower motor, cruise, wipers, and all the good stuff that most streetcars need. There is not really any way around this, its a difference between the LHD/RHD dash and engine harnesses.

You need the jspec engine, US spec harness, and either ecu.

 

Thanks for the heads up Kevin, much appreciated, should I just cruise some junk yards for the harness or can I use my N/A harness on the JSpec engine...

or keep my eye on the For Sale section right

 

just a curiousity but whats the main difference between the usdm ecu and the jdm ecu for the s4 tIIs.

 

I dont know about where you live, but finding a t2 harness in a junkyard is not possible for 90% of us. IT is possible to mod an NA harness to work on a t2 engine, by lengthening the TPS and secondary injector wires, and if you're keeping emissions crap and BAC, then there would probably be some changes to make there too.

I would imagine emissions. Either will run any s4 t2 just fine.

 

Kevin, thanks again do you have any idea where I might find info on what I would have to mod with the BAC (what is that btw...?)

So for now I should work on securing the engine, knowing I can use my harness definitely helped clear up a lot, I really appreciate it, and if everything goes right the engine will probably come your way before it gets into the car

 

heres a site for all the abbreviations
http://fc3spro.com/abb.html

 

bottom line, lay your old harness over the new engines, note the differences, extend wires accordingly.