86 Cab on 87 drivetrain

[kmanrsss]

Is there a major difference in wiring from the 86 to the 87 trucks? Will the ECM from the 87 plug into the 86 wiring and run everything without too much of a headache? Anything else needed to be done? thanks

[thirsty]

I might be wrong about this but here it goes. If your truck was an 87 with a v8 then it was tbi. If your 86 cab had a v8 it would be carbed. There would probably be some differences. I could be wrong though so don't take my word for it. 
Here is a link to the wiring for that from the technical pages.
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/wiring_diagrams/81-87_computer_control_wiring.jpg

If you are changing cabs then why not swap the harnesses between the two? It's fairly easy compared to swapping cabs and making the wrong harness work if they are different. The worst of it will be gutting the dash for access and reassembling it but if you can swap cabs you can do that too easy enough.

[kmanrsss]

Swapping harnesses crossed my mind as my main concern was the TBI to carb differences.didn't think it would be as easy as plug and play.  Anyway I'm not sure I'm going to peruse the cab as its a short bed and I need a long bed. Long story short truck ate a utility pole and the front is junk but has a mint short bed and very good cab. Figured it it was worth it bolt that cab and bed on my frame and not worry about the rust damage on my cab and bed, then just sand and paint my fenders. I think I'm still going to have a look at it though. Might still be worth it.

[slammed79]

If nothing else take the TBI stuff and swap it in. Fuel injection yields better fuel milage. Sell anything you don't need or want, scrap the rest. At least thats what I'd do.

[bake74]

      86 and 87 will have different wiring harnesses.  The cab itself will be similar, as far as metal goes, but the easiest way if you plan on using a 86 cab (I assume you have an 87 and for some reason need a new cab), is to swap the wiring out from the 87 to the 86 cab you are planning on putting on.
     If you do not have the complete 87 cab, then the next easiest would be to get a complete wiring harness for a 87 and put it on the 86.

[thirsty]

I think I saw that truck on craigslist. It was in very nice shape before the utility pole! If I had the funds I would buy the short bed off you if you bought it, I was drooling over that bed. Not many cabs in that condition around NH, good luck getting it.

[Captkaos]

As stated, the TBI wiring and Carb wiring is different, but it isn't that different.  I just pulled it all of my 1987 and I am using the existing wiring with the LS motor.  You can actually remove it without a lot of cutting, maybe one or 2 wires.