96 t/a dash into 94 z

[SMok3 Em A11]

So I'm not near finished but got the ugly z dash out and the t/a dash bolted in.23299
Its a mess I know but its a work in progress.

So far the only issue that I am having is the speed plugs are different. This was not expected so I'm kinda at a crossroads. I'm not a wiring guru so I'm hoping someone can chime in and tell me what I can do. I'm guessing doing a 97+ camaro dash swap would be very similar since I believe the 97 clusters are interchangeable with the 94-97 firebirds. I have the car the dash came from so if it just a matter of cutting the plugs and splicing them in then I can do that.
Please chime in here cause I am at a stand still with the dash till I can figure it out.

Thanks


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[spikester7878]

thats awesome

[SMok3 Em A11]

Thanks. I may have figured out the wiring from a buddy. Won't know if it works for a while tho since the engine is out.

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[GreenZ96]

IIRC you need a 97 cluster and pigtail, them you repin the new plug, and ls style a pillars. It's been about 4/5 years since I've done the swap in my car. May be able to use different year ta clusters 97 and older, that part I'm kinda iffy on. The hardest part is done, all that's left is to button it all up.

[GreenZ96]

I've been thinking bout swapping my camaro dash for a bird dash to use the center vents for gauges

[SMok3 Em A11]

The cluster came from my 96 ta. I also still have the pigtail also. A buddy of mine gave me the pinout sheets so I should be able to figure it out. I will post them up so if anyone needs the info they can hopefully cone across this thread. Should work for a 97+ dash/97 cluster swap. I do believe you can use 94-97 bird clusters in the 97+ camaro dash.

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[GreenZ96]

Your probably right about the ta cluster, but with the camaro dash I think you can only use the 97 cluster.

[ginoz28]

Hers for the 94 camaro now you have the ta pinouthttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/01/4a3a9aba.jpg
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[SMok3 Em A11]

Your probably right about the ta cluster, but with the camaro dash I think you can only use the 97 cluster.

From what I was told the 97 camaro cluster will fit/function in any lt1 bird 94-97 and of course the 97camaro dash. And any cluster from a 94-97 bird will fit/function in the 97 camaro.

I left the 93 cars out because the pcm is different and sends different signals so can only work in the 93 car but cannot be interchanged from bird to camaro.

All this being said if you were to do a 97+ camaro dash swap in a 94-97 in theory you would not be limited to only the 97 camaro cluster but could also use a bird cluster for 94-97 or the 97 cluster. It is mostly just a matter of preference since there are cosmetic differences between the 2.

Hope that makes sense. If someone thinks this is untrue please correct me this is just what I was told by someone that ha done the 97+ dash swap.

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[SMok3 Em A11]

96 firebird pin out
23302
Here is the b side has couldn't.find the a side
23303

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[spikester7878]

I have swapped different year clusters in my car with no problem. Mine came with the 115 mph and i switched to the 155 with a custom face out of a 96 and then to an unknown year factory 155 mph set up. I think as long its not a 93 or has a digital odometer it should work fine. Someone might be able to chime in about the digital odometer though. Did you have to modify anything to get the 98+ center console to fit? I ran one in my car for a bit but it never fit quite right so I went back to factory

[SMok3 Em A11]

Yea as long as its a bird you should.be good.

Still have the custom face by chance?

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[MeanTA]

The 97 cluster digital cluster will work on the non digital years. I have a 97 digital cluster in my 95. And works perfect

Only issue is finding one. There isn't many 97's floating around it seams.

[SMok3 Em A11]

The 97 cluster digital cluster will work on the non digital years. I have a 97 digital cluster in my 95. And works perfect

Only issue is finding one. There isn't many 97's floating around it seams.

I will keep this in mind cause I'm thinking about trying to find one. I lied the clusters with the lays better.

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[spikester7878]

yea. It is one of the ones by 6LE/mcnord. has the hvac and headlight switch overlay too

[SMok3 Em A11]

Any pics?

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[SMok3 Em A11]

I Did you have to modify anything to get the 98+ center console to fit? I ran one in my car for a bit but it never fit quite right so I went back to factory

Sorry I mwant.to answer this question before.
I noticed that where there are 2 bolts under the shifter plate there is only 1 bolt on the late model console. Next to it instead of a second bolt thee is a guide pin type thing. I just cut it off and it fit much better. Although it is just sitting in there now for the picture sake. I haven't done a full future test yet. I'm guessing worst case I will have to find the metal plate from a later model and swap them. Hope that answers your question.
I will also be updating this thread as I make progress so that it can be as useful as possible to other members in the future.

Also if anyone else has done a dash swap of any kind post up some pics here id like to see them.

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[ginoz28]

I did me a 98 camaro dash in my 94 and deleted radio and all hvac.
I wish I would have removed all the wires I'm deleting at that time, all radio, hvac, abs, foglight, cruise control, and airbag. All that done as of today.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/02/eme7u3um.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/02/urytuvup.jpg

I had to repin the connector and everything worked with the 98 cluster except the tach was showing double, you could see here
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/02/2ehybu3u.jpg
There's a thread on this in general engine tech
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[SMok3 Em A11]

Did you ever get the tach right? I also deleted everything didn't think about cruise control tho.

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[ginoz28]

I called Dakotadigital and the guy told me this one would work. But I haven't bought it yet.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/02/3anyhajy.jpg

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[SMok3 Em A11]

Wow for the price you could probably just buy a 97 cluster and then sell the 98 and break even. I don't think that'd be worth the trouble imho. Or just buy an after market tach and not even worry about it lol.


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[SMok3 Em A11]

Ok her is the entire firebird pinout for the gauge cluster. This is the same for 94-97 firebirds.23329

Credit to shoebox.

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[ginoz28]

Wow for the price you could probably just buy a 97 cluster and then sell the 98 and break even. I don't think that'd be worth the trouble imho. Or just buy an after market tach and not even worry about it lol.


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I already had all the parts from my donor car and trying to find a 97 cluster is like finding a needle in a hay stack

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[SMok3 Em A11]

I already had all the parts from my donor car and trying to find a 97 cluster is like finding a needle in a hay stack

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

As I stated earlier in this thread you are not limited to only the 97camaro cluster. You can use any firebird cluster from 94-97 also. Same fit and plug.

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[ginoz28]

I was just using what I had available and I didn't know that the tach was going to read double the rpm's. I was thinking all I had to do was repin the connector and everything would work.

I like the all white numbers, markings and red dials.

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[SMok3 Em A11]

I was just using what I had available and I didn't know that the tach was going to read double the rpm's. I was thinking all I had to do was repin the connector and everything would work.

I like the all white numbers, markings and red dials.

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I also like.the whit numbers and red dial. I was thinking about changing my dials to the red I believe they can just be poped off and swapped

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[cavamaroZ28]

i wish i saw ur post earlyer lol the swap is pretty straight forward i thought. what i did was bought a trans am dash harness and cut the cluster plug off and spliced it in using pinouts off of shbox. i also cut off random other plugs to that wer different like the rear defroster. had to extend some wires nothing major.i changed everything. pillars, door panels, seats, ect.
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m586/cavamaroZ28/IMG_2759.jpg (http://s1133.photobucket.com/user/cavamaroZ28/media/IMG_2759.jpg.html)

[SMok3 Em A11]

Ugod02010

[Ugod02010]

I actually kinda liked the dash in my 96 Camaro. But now seeing the dash in there I see what u mean the firebird Definitley has a nicer setup. Plus there's 3built in gauge holes.

[SMok3 Em A11]

I actually kinda liked the dash in my 96 Camaro. But now seeing the dash in there I see what u mean the firebird Definitley has a nicer setup. Plus there's 3built in gauge holes.

Yea I love it. Only thing I need to finish it is that plug lol;)

[ginoz28]

That definitely looks better than the frog dash on the camaro.

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[cavamaroZ28]

Whats the update on this. Ever finish it?

[SMok3 Em A11]

The dash is in and everything is bolted up. Wife just had my 3rd kid last weekend so between work and the pregnancy I haven't done much else to the car lately

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[cavamaroZ28]

Congrats!!

[SMok3 Em A11]

JCZNova