93-96 to 97+ Dash Conversion Project Thread

[meissen]

Haha true that. The original dash was such a PITA to get out I ended up grabbing metal cutters and cutting the plastic out. I was picking tons of little plastic pieces up all over the floor yesterday.

[MP81]

Although it no way shows the REAL work of trying to fit the dash in.

Or the persuasion (death threats towards plastic dash, cussing, etc)...

...Hell, I remember trying to get my gauge cluster out...stupid speedo cable - those are fun.

I would bet yours is a lot more "fun" though, even without that stupid cable.

[meissen]

Yeah, but the middle option is also the smallest screen.

And thanks, it atleast makes the job seem a little worth it to have all the pictures for documentation and to really show the work that goes into doing the mod. Although it no way shows the REAL work of trying to fit the dash in.

[MP81]

Looks awesome dude!

Really, you've done so much work, and it looks great!

You're gonna do a big collection of before and after, right?

...makes me sorta wanna "restore" (or restify, maybe) my interior...my seats are purple, haha.



I like the middle option with the climate control [controls] below the screen - seems to fit the best.

[meissen]

Here's the three options.

[meissen]

Where you able to get that check gauges light fixed?

Turned out it was most likely the alternator giving bad voltages which caused the check gauges light. I noticed when I took it around the block today as soon as I started driving it was better, but then when I idled in the driveway waiting for my dad to come out and help me back into the garage, the light came on again.

Instead of parking it, I drove over to Murrays and had them test the alternator. They hooked the volt meter up to the battery with the car off and it read OK, turned the car on and the voltage was all over the place... high, low, just right. Turned the headlights on and it was going crazy. The regulator in the alternator went bad, so I replaced the alternator. When I started the car after finishing the install of the new alternator, the check gauge light didn't even come on at all. Hopefully that's all it really was.

All that's really left for the dash conversion is to finish painting the parts and install them. I also have to hook stuff back up that I had disconnected back when I started the install. The dash pad that I've had since 2005 that I thought was for a 97+ Camaro turns out is actually for a 4th gen Firebird I'm guessing as it doesn't fit correctly around the defrost vent -- you can kinda see the gap between the dash and the dash pad in some of the pics. I also have to rewire the fog lights since it's a different button and I have to rewire the rear defrost since it's part of the HVAC on the 97+. Really easy stuff to do though, only a few wires each.

Once the dash conversion is done, then it'll be time to figure out how to mount the CarPC into it's new home. It looks like it's going to be an easy project to do. The biggest decision for the CarPC - do I stick with a 7" screen or do I go big and get a 10.5" touchscreen? If I can fit the 10.5", I'm doing it.

[BP_Z28]

lookd good B...

You got some balls doing this damn swap

[CHMLEON]

I'm going back and forth on whether or not I'll just document it and leave it, or if I'll get it adjusted. I dunno.

Where you able to get that check gauges light fixed?

[meissen]

I'm going back and forth on whether or not I'll just document it and leave it, or if I'll get it adjusted. I dunno.

[JoeliusZ28]

its amazing how much detail camera's pick up isnt it? my car always looks terrible in garage pictures... but in person it looks better than it really is

what are you going to do about the odometer reading?

looking really good!

[SoulTerror]

Looking good, need to finish painting the rest of it.

[meissen]

I finally got the dash fit into position correctly. It was the damn metal horizontal brace that goes across the bottom of the glove box. The old and the new dash are both shaped like a C and the metal brace goes on the inside of the "C" shape. Once that was into position, a lot of the holes lined up correctly. I got excited and started installing more and more parts, mostly just to see what it'll look like. You can really see the difference between the ugly charcoal radio bezel and the sexy black dash.

Anyway, here's some pics!








The discolorations are smears from my handprints and what not, not discolorations in the paint.

[meissen]

Yup, already got the 98+ console. Was one of the first interior mods I did.

And as far as a writeup... not sure. Possibly? I don't have a lot of pics, just what's in this progress thread. Not too many "in progress" ones.

[BP_Z28]

Are you doing writeups or will be doing it when everything is done?

[Camaroz2894]

following your progress an... looks awesome man... i'm gonna talk to you when i convert dashes if i need help!