I'm just wondering if anyone who has done this swap has any particular write up for how to do it.

I know there's a write up for a 1997+ into a 96, but obviously the wiring a lot closer since that's OBD2->OBD2.

BTW, right now I'm just "dreaming" about this mod so I haven't looked too closely at it.

 

96-speed did the swap on his 96 several years back, I don't think it being obdII is going to play much in to it, most if not all the stuff should apply since the 96s had the same dashes as 94 and 95. OBDII doesn't really factor in to how the radios, hvac or head lamps are wired up. Given as how old these cars have gotten, I would go for it, you can find deals on most any thing used and there are plenty out there to choose from.

 

I'd rather spend that money on performance mods,,,

 

So would I but mabye he has enough of them to keep him happy for now and wants an interior update

I want to swap a firebird dash into my car. I think they look alot cleaner and I have to look at it all of the time so it might as well be nice

I'd like some more into on the swap too. I know it can be done, but how hard is it?

 

I did my swap a year or so ago, the thing is for it to work properly you have to find a '97 z28 inst.cluster '98-'02 WILL NOT WORK! you can also use a cluster from a Trans Am.
you will need the plug that goes to the cluster from a trans am or a 97 camaro and splice it in.....
BE SURE if you get the '97-'02 dash to get the plastic A/C ducting that attatches to the back of the dash or you WILL have issues!
you will also need to extend the fog lamp harness from the drivers side to the stereo pod and the truck release button will move from the glove box to the lower dash panel that is mounted above your knees..
I managed to do my conversion in 4 hours but i was non-stop with no interuptions.

 

I helped put a Firebird dash in a 96 Camaro but before the car could be driven it was stolen and never seen again we might have a few pictures it really did look good.

Personally if I ever get up the courage to do it again I will use the firebird dash.

 

So swapping in the cluster all I would need is the harness plug for it? I am about to tackle this in a few weeks. I already have the old dash out.

 

Well right now I'm building a blower motor, so I think I will be good on performance mods for the time being.

 

Ok so if i have a 1994 OBDI guage cluster in my car, which only reads up to 110 btw, does the same thing apply if i just wanna switch an OBDII guage cluster thats shows 150 because I hate this thing?!

 

OBD1 OBDII no matter they will interchange.
original 96 dash

02 dash



97 cluster from LKQ

 

Damn that looks like alot of work, but I do prefer the look of the 97 - up dash and gauge layout better that the 93-96. However if I swap a 97 - up dash and cluster how do I get the odometer to work since the 97-up is digital and recorded in the pcm?

 

mine works properly

 

Mileage is NOT stored in the PCM on the digital odometer clusters. It's stored in the cluster. So, miles will accumulate just like always.

 

Theres several places that can correct for miles. Interior mods are worth it, thats where you spend your time driving it. May as well make it the way you want.

 

Re-doing my worn out cloth seats to leather was pretty much the best mod I did.

Interior FTW.

 

It's not really a hard swap to do - just time consuming. The thing that ticked me off the most during the swap was the inverted screws - you'd be looking at the TIP of the screw instead of the head of it.

Here's a good writeup on CarDomain that helped me with converting the wiring from my 94 to a 97+ gauge cluster:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/345879/3

 

Man that is so weird seeing a Camaro Airbag on a Firebird steering wheel. Nice looking!!!!

I'm a little biased but I do think the Firebird dashes look wayyy better.

 

My 93 had a factory camel colored interior, never liked it. I ended up converting every thing to graphite.

Dave,

Thats actually a 00+ wheel, the Firebirds got the updated style wheel in 95, the Camaros got a new wheel for the 00 model year. They look damn near identical minus the logos on the air bag.

 

Damn, didn't know that. I knew they went universal in 00+ for the interior, but didn't know the wheel was the same as well. Looks way better, the Camaro wheel was really ugly from 93 on.

 

This winter I'm going to try to fund a firebird interior swap into my car. The dash in the birds looks soo much better I cant take it anymore LOL. Then I can delete my AC box and replace my heater core without too much trouble.

When doing a firebird dash swap do I need the bird heater box or just the vent tubes?