sgt0704

THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON QUESTION. HOWEVER, READING THROUGH THE TREADS, I NOTICED MOST , OK, ALL OF IT SEEMED TO BE REGUARDS TO AN AUTOMATIC. I'M WONDERING, HOW SIMPLE IT IS TO SWAP THE ENTIRE 4TH GEN DASH, AND THE MANUAL CENTER CONSOLE INTO A 3RD. AND JUST HOW COMPLICATED IS THE DASH SWAP. I SEE THAT THE SPEEDO AND TACH ARE A PAIN IN THE ***, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GENERAL FIT. IT LOOKS PRETTY SWEET WHEN IT DONE..

white91formula

iTrader: (4)

i got the same set up as you.... 91 tbi 5 spd

tach worked fine, the only issue i had was the speedo not working, other then that you just need a lt1 guage cluster and youll be set

and the manual console went in just fine, no problems

sgt0704

do you have any pictures? and the gauge cluster? than can be from what ever i pull the dash from right. say an 02 ss.. are the dashes/ gauges the same for 93-02? or about the same as far as bolt up?

white91formula

iTrader: (4)

no you need to find a guage cluster from a 93-97 lt1 firebird for them to work

Bull

iTrader: (5)

I swapped a manual console from an '02 TA into my '92 Formula. Not that bad of a job, but it does take some time and some tweaking. My car is an auto, so I dunno how much different the install would be with a 5 speed.

But, I think that Camaros require a bit more work because of the differences WRT how the radios are placed i.e. the 'Birds have a "pod" above the console and the Camaros do not. Pretty sure there is info on that in the archives here.

85f-bird

you won't have trouble w/ the console swap if you're swapping the dash as well...since all the hardware will be gone and you're essentially replacing everything, it'll go together like nothing was there in the first place. Getting the swap done in a car w/ a manual transmission is a tad easier than getting the swap done in a car w/ an automatic, because you don't have the shifter rachet sticking up in the middle of everything. If you had an auto ( which you don't) you have to worry about that unit hitting the ****er assembly, using a manual console w/ an auto, eliviates some of that problem but not all of it, if you use a auto console w/ an automatic car, you have lots and lots of trimming, hammering, banging, cutting, test fitting, and more trimming to do, on just about every piece (console, shifter, car) but eventually everything will go together, just takes time....


dash swap itself is very straight forward, i spent a day taking my old dash out i guess, maybe a day getting the new one in and mounted, then there were hours and hours, months and months (not everyday of course) but lots of time tweaking things to get it right, it's still not there, but it's much closer than it used to be.

1985WS6transam

iTrader: (4)

ok, after searching this is one of the few threads that asks about a 4th gen manual center console in a 3rd gen manual, what trimming and cutting has to be done for that, it seems as though alot has to be done if you have an auto but what about a manual??
thanks
Dennis

white91formula

iTrader: (4)

just take you your old one and it should slide right in... just leave your radio pod there

1985WS6transam

iTrader: (4)

thanks, many of the other threads that i searched for just gave an answer to "do a search." thanks alot, I will now be purchasing my 4th gen seats and center console.

triplerc

I was out today after getting my gta ready to get painted in a couple months, and just out of curiosity i wanted to see if the 02 TA 6 speed console would fit in my 89 5speed gta, it went in fine and look like the mounting holes are off but i can mount it on a different bracket, once i get the car painted im going to do a how to for people interest in the swap, right now im in the process of disassembling the car . But to answer your question it is easier for a 4 gen console to be put in firebirds and ta's than camaros because of the radio pods.

sgt0704

i'd be doing the dash swap too.

triplerc

Im not too excited about all the wire splices, and for time wise i have a pretty nice dash anyways, also never reallly liked the look of the 4th gen dash.