I was contemplating changing to the newer interior setup since I got the parts, does anyone know if the cluster harness is different?????

 

If you did do it i would be interested in doing it as well, i am getting tired of the 94 dash

 

Ok, looked at all the wiring schematics.

1. Connector is mounted in the rear of cluster on 97+ Camaros, instead of the left end of the 93-96 Camaros.

2. 97+ Clusters have 34 Wires. Unsure how many 93-96 Camaros have, does anyone have a spare lying around they could look at???

3. Every wire on the 97+ Cluster are the same colors as the ones on the 93-96 Camaros, with the exception of 2.

4. One difference that may effect the unit working is the difference of sensors used to send data to the cluster itself. In essence they all work the same, but there might be a difference in readings. Then again, maybe not since the cluster style was used in an LT1 in 97. But you can bet there's probly some differences in 97 and 98+ clusters. So I guess the only way to find out more is to get the wiring schematics for a 97 Cluster and compare them to the 98 Cluster I have.

The dash conversion should be as simple as the front end conversion. All the mechanics are generally the same, and the only PIA I see is running the hatch release to the drivers side!

Your probly thinking, "Why didn't this guy just buy an LS1?"

LS1s are more $$$, and my car isn't all paid for yet. I will eventually have a newer camaro, but I'll always have my 93!

 

Seeing as how 97's are nearly the exact same car - it should be an easy fit.
Will you be going for the 97+ stereo also? You could then get the same year steering wheel and have audio controls on it.
I wish I had that.

Come to think of it - I should have just bought a 98+ and changed the front end to the LT1 style.
Hindsight's 20/20 I suppose.

 

I converted my 96 TA dash to a 95 camaro dash...I had to rewire EVERYTHING..the guage cluster plug is different for the 95-96...they changed the plug in 96 so from 96-02 it is the same..the dash should go in easy without much rewiring...maybe a few extensions here and there but not nearly as much as me...I will send the link for the wiring later tonight.

thanks
matt

 

Thanks Matt. Sound interesting. Seems strange how they changed it in 96

Well anyhow, I know the harness connector is different, but I'll just splice my wires into the new connector and use it. Then try everything out and see if everything works.

I just wonder about the accuracy of the guages. I guess I could check that by using a scanner through the PCM.

Went from 93 to 94 Cluster,
Now 94 to 98

Will it ever end...

 

well I do know that the 97 gauges will work on the ealier LT1s the airbag light and the seat belt light will stay on though, everythign else remain functional

 

Those are the 2 wires that are different colors. But why would they stay on if they are wired up correct?

 

that's interesting, no they should turn off if they are wired correctly, if you could let us know what ports those need to go into on the plug so that it does work correctly I'm sure the info would be much appreciated by quite a few people.

You said the plug itself that goes into the back of the cluster on the 97 cars were different right???

so maybe it's as simple as getting the other plug, swapping in the wires over to it and putting those two wires where they are suppose to be for the newer car

keep us updated, I'm very interested in this

 

Damn, too bad I left my wiring schematics at work or else I would list the pinouts for the cluster.

There is 34 pins on back of the 98 Cluster I have so I'm assuming there is 34 on all clusters from 97-02. V6 Clusters should be the same number of pins, atleast they were the same when I swap a 150mph Cluster into my old V6.

Now I need to look at a 93-96 Cluster to determine the number of pins it has. But I wouldn't be surprised if they were the same since 97's used the newer cluster.

Could anyone help me out?

 

Check out 96-speed's install page: http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/memberpage/345879/3

Tom

 

Pretty informative, but why must a 97 cluster be used? Curious...

 

a early 97 cluster is mechanical and a later 97 cluster is digital.

 

Well, that's how it was in 93 to 94 swap. 93s were mechanical and 94s are digital....

So one of us is wrong...

But that's how they are in 93, because I had to keep the 93 unit itself and just swapped the faces instead of the whole cluster since the differences in 93s and 94s....

But I see no major differences in components between the dashes...

Does anyone have any in-depth knowledge of how a digital and analog cluster works?

I just wanna know why a 97 cluster is a must, because I can't believe that they work in totally different ways...

Especially when 93s are analog and the 94 I put in was digital. But I could be wrong, I'm just speaking on experience...

 

The Tach signals are different for the LS1 motor, so it wont be accurate. 98+ won't work.

Also depending on if it's an early or late 97 cluster it will have the analog or digital odometer. I hear the 97 clusters are compatabile between each other.

Steve