Attach Harness before or after you put the motor in?

simpsons7s

Its pronounced Nu-clear..
Oct 9, 2005
253
1
0
Riverside, Ca.
I always find it easier to attach it before if I have the intake manifold on the head, you can always put it through the firewall after. If you are piecing it togeather once you have the longblock in then you could go either way.
 

jdub

Official SM Expert: Motor Oil, Lubricants & Fil
SM Expert
Feb 10, 2006
10,730
1
38
Valley of the Sun
^^ Same here. When you pull it out of the car, it's an excellent opportunity to inspect the harness as well.
 

ForcedTorque

Join the 92 Owners Group
Jul 11, 2005
6,099
2
38
58
Satsuma, Alabama, United States
The difference is huge! Do it out of the car as said. I did mine out of the car, then had to swap it while in the car. Now I have to swap it again this weekend for a Good one. Much easier out of the car!
 

Supracentral

Active Member
Mar 30, 2005
10,542
10
36
Attach the harness to the motor, coil it up on top of the intake and drop it in.

There's no way in hell you want to try to reach all the sensors, etc with the motor in the car...
 

adampecush

Regular Supramaniac
May 11, 2006
2,118
3
38
Edmonton
the small wire on the starter is much easier to get to with the engine out of the car. Much swearing/wrench throwing occurred when i tried to install a new harness with the engine in the car.