93-96 to 97+ Dash Conversion Project Thread

[SoulTerror]

I'm happy with my dash for the most part. Just some color change maybe or add some carbon fiber.

[JoeliusZ28]

yea im definitely glad im happy with what i got... sounds complicated!

[meissen]

Alright, here's the progress from today's work:

[SoulTerror]

You need to get some better music your you PC.

[meissen]

Well, I did actually hit the "Next" button a few times to make it land on something not as embarrassing as the Celine Dion songs it kept wanting to play.

[s.reef]

Looks Good!

[the_dragon]

looking good

im on ur computer screen.

[sman]

I would be all over a car pc if I could buy a screen that came with a bezel or could pay someone to make one.

[phoenix_rising]

Sweet job Bri! I must say the new gauge cluster is a big improvement. Something about it seems familiar... A little Pontiac love there.

Man I do not want to get into that mess any time soon. Glad to hear that the 97+ cars are plug and play for the bulbs though. Should make replacing the one that is out under my fuel gauge a lot easier. Your CarPC is the sexy Meissen!

Just a question, does it do wifi? I am assuming so but...

Also you can pull off real time weather updates? How accurate is that GPS software?

[meissen]

Your CarPC is the sexy Meissen!

Just a question, does it do wifi? I am assuming so but...

Also you can pull off real time weather updates? How accurate is that GPS software?

It's literally a full blown computer, so it can do basically whatever I want it to do. It doesn't have built-in wifi, but I can use my USB Wifi to give it wifi. I'm actually contemplating using the software that is made for my Treo so that I can plug the Treo into the carPC and use the Treo's internet connection on the carPC... but I'll need to write a batch file to accomplish this easily while I'm driving.

The real time weather updates are only available while it has an internet connection, but yeah otherwise it's downloaded straight from Weather.com.

The GPS software is very accurate. I use iGuidance, it's my favorite out of the handful that are available. iGuidance is easy to use because the software buttons are larger and it integrates with the frontend software much easier.

[badinfluence]

thats lookin good brian!

[Phantom409]

B, I did the same thing when I bought mine but for some reason all my air ducts and all lined up.

What works best I found to get the dash in is to loosen up the bracket that holds up the stearing collum and let it set right on your car seat and then put in the dash.
Then all you have to do is to hold up the stearing wheel and put 3 bols back in, works well.

I have pics, I'll see if I can get them up.

[Phantom409]

Here is the dash when I bought the car:



Tear down:



Finished Product:



I know this isn't quite as big of a project as you but it was an under taking.
I had to reinstall all my air bags and everything because of the wreck.

BTW, your project is way cool!
Can't wait to see the finished product

[94_LT1_Z28]

Ok I have a question for you since you have torn down your entire dashboard. On a scale of 1-10, how hard is it to get to the gauge face/needles with a 93-96 setup? Cause my gas needle is off by a little bit and it really screws with me cause it says i have a little bit of gas when I have none/a super full tank when its just full, and I need to change that before I get stranded where I dont wanna be

[meissen]

B, I did the same thing when I bought mine but for some reason all my air ducts and all lined up.

What works best I found to get the dash in is to loosen up the bracket that holds up the stearing collum and let it set right on your car seat and then put in the dash.
Then all you have to do is to hold up the stearing wheel and put 3 bols back in, works well.

I have pics, I'll see if I can get them up.

Do you know exactly which bracket it was? I saw a big metal bracket under the steering column and tried unbolting it but it wouldn't budge after I loosened the big bolts. It was kinda "V" shaped bracket. Is that the right one? It's a real ***** to get the dash in with the steering wheel in place.