'87 Is computer necessary for heater to work?

Haven't completely dived into this yet but I'll ask the question that will at least get me on the right road. Is the ECM necessary for the heater to work? I switch the switch and nothing happens, no blower motor or hot air. I eliminated my ECM when I put my new motor/trani setup in and had only recently plugged in whatever was involved over there by the heater box. I also eliminated the valve on the heater hose that allows hot air to come into the ventilation system because it had broken vacuum lines on it. Will replace those when I find a good set but they're a pain to get out of a junkyard car. The fuses are good, but will double check them when I go all the way in on this.

On a side note, is the ECM necessary for cruise control to work? I know there's a speed sensor that goes on the back of the speedometer but where the info it gets goes I don't know.

No.

for all i know the vacume is necissary but if you straight piped it then its not needed. my best thing would be is to hook up the blower to a toggle switch hard wired to the battery with a inline fuse. this way you can shut it off and on i did this in a 196? ford f100 cant remember exact year but was my fathers and it worked pisser used a 3 way toggle so i had low med and high.. just left the heater controls there for look but you can even remove whole console and olate it up put a tv there or what ever.but by the way you have one damn beautiful caprice and rare, can't find a 2 door anywere

under the dash in the steering shaft area is a wire crimp...the wires should be orange in color this was where 3 wires were joined together..the crimp some how corroded causing no a/c heat blower operations...

check for power to the swiches...follow back..use color to guide you