First off, I haven't been on here in a while but all is well. Mark was nice enough drop me and email and see if I had given up on the 8.1's and bought an RV instead
The short story is, it's been an odyssey getting these 8.1's (now fully rebuilt) ready to install. Of all things, I got hung up for weeks and weeks on an oil pan leak! The simplest things and probably the ONLY thing I couldn't address in the boat. I turned out to be the rear cap/block connection as the source. One is 100% ready to go, I threw a sheet over it and down to a punch list on the second one. In the meantime, I just got a deposit on my 454's yesterday and will be pulling those just after Labor Day.
One of the things I wanted to add with these newer engines is a warning light gauge cluster. I scored a pair of gauges and harnesses but cannot get them to power up outside of my powerprobe. One of my challenges is the wiring harness colors on the round 10 pin engine connector don't quite match any of the diagrams I have. I searched everywhere and the oldest 8.1 wiring (or any manuals for that matter) diagrams are around 2006/07.
I'm trying to test this now while I have the engines in the garage and before I commit to installing new gauges. I posted a quick video the other day if anyone has any thoughts. It looks like just a two wire connection. I think the ECM provides the data back to the gauge for the water, trans and oil pressure lights. If true, if I get the CEL to come on momemtarily with the IGN, I'm good.
Am I missing something simple here? On my test gauge panel, I have an IGN switch and a separate momentary START button. On the boat, it's a single two position switch combining these functions. I'm turning the IGN switch ON in the tests I've done so far. That activates the fuel pump and gauges only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJbb...ature=youtu.be
thanks
Bob