'84 berlinetta dash to 88? & T-top strenght for engine hp?

Does anyone know if you can take that 84 dash and put it right into a later, like a '88 camaro with no problems or would it make more sense to find something else?

Also i have heard that damage(?) can occur to a 3rd gen T-top camaro if the engine has too much HP/torque. Is this true? Do you have to run it hard quite a few times to cause damage or just once?

I have helped a buddy but an 82 Ber dash in an 87 and besides for the center console braket holes not lining up exactly right it was pretty easy. I assume it would be about the same thing.

The 82, i think was not ditigal, unlike the 84 which is. So, it might be more difficult, i don't know, that's why i posted.

well we just used autometer mech. gauges in place of the stock cluster, so im not so sure about that.

Not all 84's are digital. I have never seen a 3rd gen with a digital dash.

I know the '84 Berlinetta, only the berlinetta, had a ditigal speedometer with the other normal gauges

I know the '84 Berlinetta, only the berlinetta, had a ditigal speedometer with the other normal gauges

That could be the case. I am thinking Z28's.

ttop cars are mildly less rigid than the hardtops. but there are plenty of guys running good hp and not damaging the car.

if you're concerned just install some subframe connectors or a roll bar.

i think the typical damage is the body flexing and causeing the paint to chip off prematurely

I've made the swap BOTH ways,........ as long as you have a complete parts car to work with you should be all set. Much of the interior will need to be swapped as well..... the heater / AC relays behind the dash housing need to be added to the 88 heater box, the coulmn should be swapped ( no blinker lever needed ), the center consoles are different and some wiring will need to be spliced. ( Speedo sending unit and wipers at the minimum. )

There are some other wiring issues that may need to be addressed like the fuel pump wires on the body harness ( 84 wires run to tail light harness & 88 wires lead behind the rear seat backrest ) and possible the tail light harness.

If you have a complete 84 parts car than just take ALL the wiring from it.

in one of my past f-bodies i put an 82ta dash in a 89 shell, most everything bolted right up although i changed wiring harnesses on the cars, they will not be the same, inner harness and outter harness, also the fuel guage had to be hardwired, and the light harnesses.

i realise there may have been a better way to do it but this one was the most comfortable for me.

it also was a t-top car w/ a posi rear and a 350 w/ a 4sp sagganaw behind it
it cracked 3 winshields on me b4 i realised that the crack got bigger each time i punched it or downshifted witch ment frame stress was causing it, after i put a frame kit (Weld in from jegs) the problem stoped!

Don

edit: also i basiclt changed the 89 into an 82 taillights and all