merim123

Well, all I can say is that this was damn, damn hard. switching the dash from the 93-96 to the 97+ dash is not easy, it's time consuming. I think I have about 7 hours total in it so far. the wiring harness attachment to the dash is the hardest part. I was half tempted to cut the wires and splice them until I saw how many there were. I had to figure out how to do the depin of the connectors to switch over the gauge cluster connections, that thread is here https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=752204 once I did that, i had to do a couple more things:

1) extend the trunk release wire from the left to the right
2) redo the connectors for the rear defogger. this is simple. (a-orange, b-purple, c-brown, d-black) and if you had a 5th like i did, the gray, that just doesn't get included anywhere, just wrapped it into the loom and called it done.
3) extend the fog light connector from the left to the center of the dash, that connector pig tail is the same, so just extending the lines is all that is necessary.
4) i spliced the old airbag connector on the passenger side to the wiring harness of my 96. the ebony dash had a different connectory type, but it was the same color two wires, so i just cut the connector from the 96 and spliced it on.
5) the vacuum connector is different for the hvac controls at the control dial. It's still the same connector at the firewall, so you need the newer part, but it will plug in to the 96 harness.
6) i had some extra connectors than I found on the cardomain link from here. I had some pink wires, I used the Helms manual and it was actually on back to back pages the different pin outs so it was very easy to move everything over.
7) need the 97 cluster, so I got one, but not sure if other clusters will work.
8) switching over to the 97+ console, I also switched the handbrake lever as the newer one is a little shorter than the 96.
9) now this was damn hard - getting the cluster connector aligned and clipped in like factory in 97+. because the wiring harness was on the left, and needs to move to the center, it's not easy. so i ended up lifting the entire harness, loosening the hvac from behind (supporting the dash on the two screws)and getting the connector in finally. It was not easy.
10) getting the gauge cluster in - drop the steering rack would make it a lot easier. I tightened mine up and it was little harder to try to work it in with everything bolted up.

we'll see what else shakes out, pics coming after I clean it up a bit. in the end I think it looks better, but the effort was very time consuming.

Victor1096

Im doing this same swap in my 96. Did you follow some kind of schematic for repining the connector? and where did you get the new connector for the 97 cluster??

Injuneer

Victor1096

Thanks, Im new here lol

383z93

Victor1096, have you thought about just painting the dash with interior paint?
it might be easier and I've read good stuff about new paints.