AAW to LSX Harness Integration

[analyte]

I'm back on wiring, and I've got everything laid out ready to connect. That said, I need to verify a few things since the instructions from AAW don't offer help when swapping an LSx engine into our cars. I also called Mad Elec to talk about a battery relocation, and I have to admit it didn't take long before he was talking over my head. Hopefully, I got it straight in the end.

So here's what I have laid out, and I hope it's not too hard to follow. My spreadsheet didn't maintain the cell structure.



AAW
Battery Dist Block
Starter
Remove
Fuel Pump
LSX Harness










Pink 12V Ignition
Connect to each other
Pink/Black Key Ignition


Red 12V Bat
X






Large Red 12V

X + alternator via
dist block






X



Red 12V Bat


White Coil/Tach


X




Pink Bat on Coil


X




Orange heater blower


X




Dk Blue Oil Sender


X








X
Gray Fuel


VSS Purple Power


X




VSS Yellow Ground


X




VSS Purple Signal


X













Does anyone see any issues or concerns? I want to pull the unneeded wires, and those identified as "remove" are basically being replaced by signals from the LSX harness to the Dakota Digital cluster.

The main wires I need to get right are those involving the battery distribution block and the starter/altenator. This is where I am somewhat unsure. This is what I'm thinking:

To summarize:
Battery to Front Dist Block
Front Dist Block to AAW Fuse block, Starter Solenoid, and LSX Fuse Block
Alternator to Front Dist Block to charge Battery

I hope I'm on the right track. The wiring has been well laid out so far, but the changes from stock requiring me to integrate things are really making my head hurt.

Thanks,
Kerry

[nats68]

everything you said is pretty much how I have mine wired up and everything works fine.
Just remember to ground everything. Engine block, valve covers, alternator, just to name a few.
You can't have too many grounds, in my opinion.
I also went with the Dakota Digital gauges. Did you get the OBDII plug/adapter thing? I forgot what it's called. It uses the OBDII to get the info for the gauges instead of wiring to the sensors.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, I've just recently gone through all of this.
Good luck.

[130fe]

I used the GMPP harness with my install. If I remember correctly it is wired this way-

Battery - Front distro block (on harness)
Battery - Starter
Alternator - Starter (part of gmpp harness)

I also used the AAW ECM batt and ign wires to power to GMPP harness. Everything works correctly. I also used the DD gauges with their OBD 2 BIM module (for the gauges). The little module made installation easier because there were less wires to run. I re-purposed most of the wires on the engine harness plug and a couple on the front light harness to use for other things such as my check engine light and other PCM signals for the DD control box. I didn't want extra wire holes in the firewall.

[analyte]

I used the GMPP harness with my install. If I remember correctly it is wired this way-

Battery - Front distro block (on harness)
Battery - Starter
Alternator - Starter (part of gmpp harness)

I also used the AAW ECM batt and ign wires to power to GMPP harness. Everything works correctly. I also used the DD gauges with their OBD 2 BIM module (for the gauges). The little module made installation easier because there were less wires to run. I re-purposed most of the wires on the engine harness plug and a couple on the front light harness to use for other things such as my check engine light and other PCM signals for the DD control box. I didn't want extra wire holes in the firewall.

Just to clarify, you are running two wires from yhe battery; 1 to starter and 1 to dist block?

Does the wire have to go from the Alt to the starter rather than the dist block. No big deal, but that will limit the wires needed around the headers.

Thanks,
Kerry

[analyte]

everything you said is pretty much how I have mine wired up and everything works fine.
Just remember to ground everything. Engine block, valve covers, alternator, just to name a few.
You can't have too many grounds, in my opinion.
I also went with the Dakota Digital gauges. Did you get the OBDII plug/adapter thing? I forgot what it's called. It uses the OBDII to get the info for the gauges instead of wiring to the sensors.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, I've just recently gone through all of this.
Good luck.

I didn't know about the OBD adaptor so I'm going to check that out. Thanks!!

Whew, I was hoping I was close. I'm ready to get the wiring part finished!!

Kerry

[nats68]

Does the wire have to go from the Alt to the starter rather than the dist block. No big deal, but that will limit the wires needed around the headers.

Thanks,
Kerry

I ran mine to the distribution block.

[nats68]

I also used the AAW ECM batt and ign wires to power to GMPP harness. Everything works correctly. I also used the DD gauges with their OBD 2 BIM module (for the gauges). The little module made installation easier because there were less wires to run. I re-purposed most of the wires on the engine harness plug and a couple on the front light harness to use for other things such as my check engine light and other PCM signals for the DD control box. I didn't want extra wire holes in the firewall.

This is what I was trying to say. 130fe said it better.

[130fe]

I gave you some bad info in the previous post. My battery is in the trunk, I ran a 2/0 cable (I think) from battery to starter and a 4 gauge from battery to gmpp fuse lug. I didn't use the AAW ECM Batt and Ign for the GMPP stuff, I used them for other things. I used the ECM Ign for my reverse lockout and the ECM bat for the electric fan relay power. What harness are you running?

[analyte]

I ran mine to the distribution block.

Great, that's my plan as well.


This is what I was trying to say. 130fe said it better.

I understand, I must have 20 pieces of paper with schematic's to help me understand better.


I gave you some bad info in the previous post. My battery is in the trunk, I ran a 2/0 cable (I think) from battery to starter and a 4 gauge from battery to gmpp fuse lug. I didn't use the AAW ECM Batt and Ign for the GMPP stuff, I used them for other things. I used the ECM Ign for my reverse lockout and the ECM bat for the electric fan relay power. What harness are you running?

I spoke with both AAW today and BP-Automotive that built my LSX harness. You are correct on the ECM-labeled wires in the AAW fuse box not being used. Instead I will now be using the large Red 12V bat for power to the AAW fuse box via the distribution block, and the old Pink wire to the coil will be used for the LSX fuse block. The purple wire will still be at the starter. So basically, only 3 wires will be used from the AAW engine kit while the rest will be removed or repurposed.

I'm also picking up my distribution block tomorrow so that I can start terminating the wires this weekend. The 6 gauge wire coming off the back of the ALT will power the distribution block and go back to the battery for charging. The LSX power wire, the AAW power wire, and anything else in the engine compartment will pull power from the distribution block. Next, I'll extend the purple starter switch wire so as to run it to the trunk mounted remote solenoid. The battery cable to the starter will be measured and made up next week.

Now I just need to finalize my ECM location under the hood....

Thanks everyone!!

Kerry

[nats68]

I will see if I have any pics of where I mounted my ECM. I made a 4 sided box to mount the LSX fuse box and distribution block. It uses the stock battery tray as the bottom. Then I mounted the ECM underneath the fuse box. Does that make sense? A picture would help. lol

[nats68]

Here's a crappy pic but you get the idea. The ECM is mounted under the distribution block. You can see the bolts hanging down.

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