8HP70 WIRING GUIDE USING SOUND GERMAN STAND ALONE

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Dantra

69 Dart.. AKA Butters
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I thought I'd just make a post with a few tips on 8HP wiring.. Very simple, once you figure it out. I've seen a few posts with some uncertainties and thought this might help someone, someday, or possible make someone feel more comfortable in moving this direction. This is directed more towards the guys using a Mopar Crate Harness, Sublime or any other kit that utilizes the Mopar "Star" type canbus connector. If you have something besides that, you'll need to get that info from Sound German. It's not bad.. you just need a RPM and TPS input and added wires.

The 8HP wiring kit will come with a boxed controller, bagged harness and a bag containing several loose lengths of wire with a male pin connector on one end. My first time, I just thought it was extra wire. Nope! The extra lengths of wires are "add in options". ie not everybody cares about reverse lights, speedo etc. But there is 1 wire that absolutely has to be added in. That's the brake input. Without it, you wont get out of park. In my opinion, it should already be there.. but not a big deal since you're in there anyway.

Some of the pictures provided here are directly from Sound German Automotive. The Cheat Sheet is something I created for a reference, while I was sticking the wires in .. since I had already installed the harness, not knowing that I needed to add them. The chart that I made is looking at the area that the wires pop in to.. not the face of it. You'll see small numbers at the top (and maybe bottom) of each row, so it's easy to figure out where you're at. If you want reverse lights, you'll need a relay. The output is not strong enough to power any kind of bulb. You can also add a relay for a neutral safety switch.. Mopar Crate Harness has a "clutch interlock" wire that it can be connected to, rather than a relay.

Everything with the exception of a few wires, is just plug and play.. plug in shifter, trans, star and main harness.

Here is a link on how to disassemble the main connector and add wires in..
https://www.powertraincontrolsolutions.com/download/Released/Public//Technical_Documents/TCM_Connector_Servicing.pdf



Crate ecu connections - Copy.png


Relay wiring to 8hp - Copy.png


PCS DRAWING.PNG




digital inputs to ground  - Copy.png


CHEAT SHEET 10-24.PNG
 
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Thought I'd add some pictures of the actual harness.

Main Connector
Screenshot_20241030-065640_Gallery.jpg


Main connector disassembled. Remove grey buttons to add in wires

Screenshot_20241030-065700_Gallery.jpg


Complete Harness

Screenshot_20241030-065717_Gallery.jpg


3 Wire Hookup for power

Screenshot_20241030-065736_Gallery.jpg


Laptop Connector.. I personally have never needed

Screenshot_20241030-065750_Gallery.jpg


Option connector..

Screenshot_20241030-065800_Gallery.jpg


Can Connector (Star)

Screenshot_20241030-065811_Gallery.jpg


Trans Connector

Screenshot_20241030-065818_Gallery.jpg


Laptop Adapter

Screenshot_20241030-065845_Gallery.jpg


When using a Mopar Crate Harness, the can (start) connector will be white.. This is standard. If using Sublime Harness or Sublime Quick Run, you'll need the purple connector.. Sublime will provide that if needed.

Screenshot_20241030-065834_Gallery.jpg
 
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Dantra, can you provide a more readable pic of the PCS diagram? Zooming in on it just makes it blurry.
Thanks
 
Is there any possible way to use a stock cluster using a standalone alone harness for the engine and this kit for the transmission... I'm asking this because this is my setup and I would like to use the cluster from a 2016 challenger
 
Is there any possible way to use a stock cluster using a standalone alone harness for the engine and this kit for the transmission... I'm asking this because this is my setup and I would like to use the cluster from a 2016 challenger
I'm pretty sure there is but not all features will work. Russell at Sound German runs a Hellcat cluster in his old truck. The info is out there somewhere or contact Russell.

Screenshot_20250212-062625_Facebook.jpg
 
Is there any possible way to use a stock cluster using a standalone alone harness for the engine and this kit for the transmission... I'm asking this because this is my setup and I would like to use the cluster from a 2016 challenger

Maybe @'Cuda_ragtop can share some insight?

Here is his cluster:

1712198478801-png.1716231209
 
Maybe @'Cuda_ragtop can share some insight?

Here is his cluster:

1712198478801-png.1716231209


Still working on it... but the short answer is absolutely.
This is my 69 Barracuda Dash with 2016 Challenger cluster work in progress.
Thrilled at how this is turning out so far. Still a couple more final touches planned...
1739384417332.png



Found some silver Pinstripe tape that fills the gap above the cluster nicely. I don't have a pic of that yet but it makes the silver uninterrupted. That gap really didn't look right to me... It won't be there in the next pic I post.

1739386866592.png


Russell Drake (Sound German Automotive) sells "PCS" (Powertrain Control System) for 8HP70/90 transmissions, and others but I can only comment on the one for 8HP automatics.
If you buy the PCS from him, you can also purchase for an up-charge "Cluster Support". That is what I did. Many of the most desired Cluster functions are supported. Has to be certain year and up cluster. Mine is from a 2018 Challenger.
Just going from memory... don't quote me.
Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, Coolant Temp, Trans Temp, Gear/PRNDL, Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel,
Ambient Temp, Volts, Left/Right turn, Hazard, High beam, Lights, etc.
Russell continues to develop and add more support for his products.
Haven't gotten to the point of wiring mine yet but several others are way ahead of me.

Link to SGA FB page, use the search tool to find "Cluster" posts.
Sound German Automotive FB Link "Cluster" search
Screen grab from SGA FB page. Not mine.
1739385278587.png
 
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Still working on it... but the short answer is absolutely.
This is my 69 Barracuda Dash with 2018 Challenger cluster work in progress.
Thrilled at how this is turning out so far. Still a couple more final touches planned...
View attachment 1716365310


Found some silver Pinstripe tape that fills the gap above the cluster nicely. I don't have a pic of that yet but it makes the silver uninterrupted. That gap really didn't look right to me... It won't be there in the next pic I post.

View attachment 1716365328

Russell Drake (Sound German Automotive) sells "PCS" (Powertrain Control System) for 8HP70/90 transmissions, and others but I can only comment on the one for 8HP automatics.
If you buy the PCS from him, you can also purchase for an up-charge "Cluster Support". That is what I did. Many of the most desired Cluster functions are supported. Has to be certain year and up cluster. Mine is from a 2018 Challenger.
Just going from memory... don't quote me.
Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, Coolant Temp, Trans Temp, Gear/PRNDL, Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel,
Ambient Temp, Volts, Left/Right turn, Hazard, High beam, Lights, etc.
Russell continues to develop and add more support for his products.
Haven't gotten to the point of wiring mine yet but several others are way ahead of me.

Link to SGA FB page, use the search tool to find "Cluster" posts.
Sound German Automotive FB Link "Cluster" search
Screen grab from SGA FB page. Not mine.
View attachment 1716365320

Looks stunning. Very nice!
 
Here's a tuning tip..

If you're running a stock type ecu/pcm with the SGA kit, make sure that you are set to Manual Transmission in your tune. Mopar crate harness comes set as a manual trans in ecu. I believe the Sublime stuff does too. The ecu /tcm will fight for control and cause throttle tip in surging. It will drive you and your tuner nuts if it's switched to Automatic in your tune lol.

BUT.. If it's a hellcat swap.. Switch to Automatic Trans, oddly.
 
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