Wiring cut harness ? not recommended?

[Wuss]

Hey guys, I could really use your opinions/experience. There's a local JDM importer that I'm thinking about buying a motorset from. I have only heard 1 reference for them, and it was from a reputable shop that bought a b16a from them and was happy with the product.

I called them, and they have a couple of redtop motorsets in stock, but with no ECU and a cut harness. Now, they have an in-house mechanic that does swaps of all sorts for their customers. They told me that he can wire the cut harness and ECU to the motor.

Question 1. Can this be done? From the short time on these boards, one of the things that has been hammered in my head is " always get a motorset with an UNCUT harness" .

2. If it can be done, are there any adverse effects of using a cut harness? ( assuming that it is actually done correctly, is it any different from using an uncut harness? )

3. If the motorset does not come with a complete harness and ECU, can I just buy a harness and ECU and all will be well?

Some of you guys might ask why I'm even "gamb|ing" with this deal. The major reason why is that these guys are local, and I can pick out my motorset, as well as physically be in their shop should a situation arise. They sound pretty confident, and from what I know, their mechanic is very capable.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[robbbby]

I'm not sure how great an idea it is to wire a cut harness but you can buy a uncut harness and ecu seperately elsewhere, just be prepared to spend big $.

[MojoMan]

Or just modify your ka harness. Its not alot of work and you wont have to worry about the sr ign. set up as much. Actually if your motor is comeing with a cas and the individual coil set up then I would stick with the sr setup and find a harness. Will you have the ignitor chip with it?

[spec-v5150]

I wouldnt recommend it either. However why CANT it be done??? It is a matter of wiring. Simple in itself. The tedious part would be wirng the ECU back. That is a TON of wires. If they have a mechanic who can do it, Maybe watch him do some wiring once or twice to get a feel for the quality of his work. I wouldnt recommend a cut and splice with electric tape job of the wires. That many and for something so important. If you are saving some good money though, why not....if they are local...might not be too bad

[Wuss]

I have a friend that got his OBD2 honda motor wired to an OBD1 ECU by this same guy. He spliced and soldered everything back together, and works great.

Doesn't the ignitor chip come with the ECU or harness?

[Machine]

dude, call mid-atlantic, they sell motors too, i think they want 2500 shipped...or 2500 plus shipping, check'em out.

if it were me, (it is, cause im just past your position, id just order online from a reputable shop), just cause you buy it from them doesnt mean theyre gonna hold your hand and guide you through it.

[chillmieste]

Im going with mojoman and spec about wiring. Its just wiring! Why cant u just modify the ka harness? Im assuming its a lot of work but it saves like 400 dollars on a sr harness.

[APEXi240]

I have a friend that got his OBD2 honda motor wired to an OBD1 ECU by this same guy. He spliced and soldered everything back together, and works great.

Doesn't the ignitor chip come with the ECU or harness?

Wiring a Honda motor and a Nissan motor are different things. KA to SR is very different than OBD2 to 1...they make jumpers for that, that can be installed in like 10-15 mins.

[912.0turbo]

I had my cut wire harness wired at a good shop (wont say who) and had 2 problems. 1)ignitor chip wired incorrectly and 2) firing order was wrong it took way too long to get the problem corrected. If I were to do it again I would go with a full harness but it can be done correctly.