Hey guys, I've been reading through all the dash conversion threads and they all seem to be for either newer camaro into older camaro or firebird into older camaro. I have been trying to figure out if there is a difference between the newer firebird and older firebird dashes besides the gauge cluster. If it is just the cluster, wouldn't i just be able to replace the dash cover with the newer one and put in the newer cluster housing and cluster?

 

IIRC there is a slight difference between the 2 other than the obvious color difference..

the newer dash's pad won't fit the older dash w/o some modification and then it doesn't look quite right because you can tell where it is cut right at the little curve in front of the pass side airbag..

i know someone who took a 98+ dashpad, modified it and put it in a 95.. so if the dashpad is different, therefore the dash itself must be slightly different.


i don't have any pics of what i'm referring to other than this ebay dash pad faboric cover for the early dash. the shape difference i'm referring to is just to the right and down from the large vent opening



IIRC the 97-02 dash pad has more of a rounded corner there.

*edit* i found the same style cover for a 97-02 and you can clearly see how that part is different... its more rounded than the 93-96



also the vent is a little different shape although that would not effect anything.

and FWIW if you want to have a newer gauge cluster (ie if you changed the whole dash) the only one that will work with your car is a 1997 since that gauge cluster is still for an LT1 car. i think i read somewhere that a 98-02 gauge cluster will not work on a 93-97 car, but that you can get basically the same cluster out of a 97 (97 was the year they added the digital odo and changed the faces of the gauges)

 

Sweet Thanks for the input. I got a 98-02 cluster yesterday before you posted lol for 34 bucks so i'm gonna try and get it to work somehow maybe.

 

Whats your goal? The digital cluster from a 97 will fit with out mods and work. The LS1 cluster will fit but won't work. . A lot of the trim will fit. The dash pads are different and won't really interchange. You might be able to get the LS1 to fit the LT1 dash but there will be an ugly gap. The LT1 dash pad might fit with grinding but it'll look ugly. The LT1 dash is so similar to the LS1 dash I don't know why anyone would change anything but maybe the digital odometer.

 

What i really wanted to get was the newer gauges and find out if the dash was different. If there were no major differences, i wasn't going to worry about swapping it. So from what you guys have told me that would not make sense.

 

Alright, got around to messing with the cluster from a 98 T/A I got a couple weeks ago. I disassembled both clusters in an attempt to see what I could scavenge from the newer cluster to put onto the older one. Unfortunately, GM did not just retrofit the old board, they completely redesigned it. The gauge coils and the faceplate/Gauge separator with some modification were the only things I could get from it.

The old and new clusters side by side


Their circuit boards (New on top, Old on bottom)


A few strategically placed cuts to make to new cover fit




and voila!!!



I would have liked to get the digital odo but this should keep me satisfied for a while.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-FI...Q5fAccessories

Buy that one sell your old one and the bezel and it won't cost you too much out of pocket to get your digital odometer.

 

seems like a lot of work for a very minor cosmetic change. you should have just bought a 1997 cluster

 

Yeah, I accidentally bought it before I realized it wouldn't work. I got the new cluster so cheap, I'm not too worried about it. If I, find one from a 97 for a really good price then I will grab it.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-FI...Q5fAccessories

buy it now $80