Thanks to mrfixit58 and the pics of his Firebird dash conversion, I've chosen this to be the next upgrade on my car. So, we went to the wreckers today and took out a '95 Firebird dash and '94 cluster (and it was friggin cold!). It didn't take Pete long before he had it apart in the living room and was doing the figuring.
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09:33 PM
PFF
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wiccantoy Member
Posts: 3372 From: northwales , pa / Williamstown nj Registered: Mar 2002
Wow that dash is doing 200kph while setting in your living room! It must know what engine is in your car. That dash upgrade is the..... (well you know)!
Steven
------------------ 88 Fiero coupe 2.5 5 speed, Custom IHI RHB6 turbo equipped, gutted and track abused 88 Coupe Project "F-88" has begun....Classified TOP SECRET 87 Fiero GT 14.9/ 89mph CSP car NOW with ZEX N20!!! 87 Fiero GT auto soon to be 4.9 v8 87 Mazda RX-7 SBC v8 5.0L/700R4 ---FOR SALE 84 Fiero 2M4 T-top, Turbocharged and tons of extras! SOLD 87 Conquest TSi 406 SBC V8! SOLD **I am Looking for 88 coupe w/ auto trans near Va...PM me** Always have engines, fiero parts and accessories for sale. Custom engine swaps and chassis modifications are available.
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 01-06-2003).]
The local yard has absolutly nothing to help me out if I wanted to do this project...Tell pete to give us every detail on the conversion no matter how little or insignificant it is...I'm really interested in this conversion aswell
Wow that dash is doing 200kph while setting in your living room! It must know what engine is in your car. That dash upgrade is the..... (well you know)!
Steven
It's funny that you should say that! We were sitting here looking at it and Pete said the gauges were all reading what we want them to! Now I just have to picture going down the road on a nice summer day. . .coming up beside some nice hotrod to race. . .maybe in a dream tonight.
Originally posted by Santa Cruzer: Did you get the full interior? if not there is a guy in the paper selling the door panels for $50
We just took out the dash components. I would like to have the door panels eventually but right now they would just take up space - but $50 is a steal!
You know with all that you are putting into that fiero... I would gladly fly to Canada just to take her for a QUICK ride around the block. You know, just to test her out and all!
Dont be alarmed if I am gone a while.... I think I may get lost and end up back in VA!
Seriously though... You have a VERY nice ride. Hats off to you and all the hard work you all are putting into it.
Steven
------------------ 88 Fiero coupe 2.5 5 speed, Custom IHI RHB6 turbo equipped, gutted and track abused 88 Coupe Project "F-88" has begun....Classified TOP SECRET 87 Fiero GT 14.9/ 89mph CSP car NOW with ZEX N20!!! 87 Fiero GT auto soon to be 4.9 v8 87 Mazda RX-7 SBC v8 5.0L/700R4 ---FOR SALE 84 Fiero 2M4 T-top, Turbocharged and tons of extras! SOLD 87 Conquest TSi 406 SBC V8! SOLD **I am Looking for 88 coupe w/ auto trans near Va...PM me** Always have engines, fiero parts and accessories for sale. Custom engine swaps and chassis modifications are available.
Damn its pretty hard to find a wrecked 93 and up t/a int he GTA area.Will you be selling your 180 km/h cluster?
Did you get the full interior? if not there is a guy in the paper selling the door panels for $50
Can you get me the info for these panels. I am trying to find the door panels. I don't want the dash, just the door panels! and for $50 Canadian... I am in for sure!
Sorry, I got excited about the panels and forgot to compliment you guys yet again on your car! Wow! I was jealous when you threw the 4.9 in, now you have the turbo, and are throwing the dash in!! Can you say nicest Fiero in Canada? PBJ, you are becomming the Candian Archie
------------------ Thanks hallsman!
[This message has been edited by soup (edited 01-07-2003).]
I'd be very interested in details of what your doing to make it work
I've read and re-read every word on the other Thread, however, i've still got a few questions...well not soo much questions as the need for more info on it. I don't mind mounting it I would just hope you take pictures of absolutly everything you do.
Are you planning on using the center console from the Firebird? or are you going to keep the stock Fiero Console?
I think the problems i'd have is with that piece that needs to be fabricated between the dash and the windshield and the electronic's and speedo's...so i'd like to read more on it...i've also got 10MB of webpage space and i'm willing to put together a website to make something to help everyone with this conversion that I believe is going to be very popular. So Just post all pics and schematics (if you've got them) so that easily intimadatable people that want to know everything before hand (me ) can feel more confident doing this
Can I keep the stock fiero enviromental controls, radio and console?. I pretty much want to swap the dash and door panels but keep the enviromental controlls and radio and center console the same to avoid a headache...is that a direct swap? would those parts be directly interchangable.
Well, break out the Sawsall and fire up the soldering iron! Let's get'er done.
Your going to love the way it looks.
As I've mentioned a few time before, I'm writing up the details for the website that will explain, in detail, how I performed the conversion. I hope it will be of help to all those interested in a custom dash swap -- whether it's a Firebird or something else. The only missing component that I'm waiting on is the information for the covering of the door panels. I'm going to see Mr. Mike on Thursday (he lives about hour south of me) to show him the door panels and get his advice on the upholstery.
stevenrossi -- The web site will address many of your concerns. My technique isn't the easiest or for the faint-of-heart but it does make for a beautiful finished product.
If your concerned about the center console, the stock Fiero consol can be maintaind from the shifter bezel back. When the dash is located according to my method, the bottom center of the Fiero dash is about 1/2" in front of the shifter bezel. All you need to finish off the transition is a piece of metal formed to make an upside-down "U" and covered with gray vinyl long enought to extend from under the bezel to under the dash.
You can also keep the Fiero environmental control panel. All you need to do is to fab a bracket to mount it into the Firebird dash. The Fiero unit is narrower so you'll also need to find something to trim out the edges. I showed details on the other thread of my attempt before I decided to use the Firebird control panel. The radio is a simple bolt-in swap.
At this time, I'm not planning on including the wiring diagrams from the Firebird to the Fiero although jscott1 has posted his wiring table to convert the gauge cluster from Fiero to Firebird (refer to the other thread). I am including the wiring diagram for the headlight switch (angain, thanks to jscott1) and for the conversion from push-button to rotory switch for the environmental control panel.
In the meantime, for anyone attempting the conversion now, if you have specific questions please feel free to email me directly and I'll do my best to try and answer them... and, if I have them, will include pictures.
Keep up the great work,
------------------ Roy :D Blue 87 GT w/ 4th generation Firebird interior. Suncoast Fieros
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10:56 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Mrfixit58 (Roy) and I both have nearly complete Firebird dashes, (and door panels and center console) installed.
Roy's method requires a little cutting and welding skill to raise the steering column, but results in a real nice looking product.
My method does not require cutting of the column support but requires some gymnastics to get everything to fit acceptably. The reader can choose for him or herself.
Congrats to her86GT for being the next to get the firebird conversion. For the money it can't be beat.
As the Firebirds start showing up more and more in the yards this conversion should get even more popular.
I have tons of information, especially wiring diagrams, if you need help, PM or email me j_scott_1@yahoo.com
- Jonathan (JScott1)
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks...
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12:52 PM
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Her86GT Member
Posts: 1173 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: May 2001
Thanks so much for all the help! The only real problem I have with this conversion is that my car is tan right now and the dash is graphite. I would absolutly love to convert everything over to the Fiero grey and keep the dash the colour it is but I don't have any leads on a donor Fiero with grey interior (carpet, door pannels, centre console). So my biggest expense will be having the dash custom painted by an interior specialist.
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01:54 PM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
...So my biggest expense will be having the dash custom painted by an interior specialist.
It's really no big deal to do yourself. If you know someone with a paint gun, you can buy a quart of color pretty cheap. I bought quart of Pontiac "Parchment" (or off white) for a 69 Firebird I restored and it was less than $25. It was enough to paint both front and rear door panels, both headrests, both seat backs and some molding and trim.
The biggest deal is making sure all the old Armor All or other silicon conditioners are removed. Some 409 and a scrub brush will take care of most of it. They also sell a vinyl primer but I had great sucess without it. I sucessfully changed the color from black to parchment on both black vinyl door panels with just two coats. It's easier than painting a car. To quote a line form the Water Boy... YOU CAN DO IT
Roy
[This message has been edited by mrfixit58 (edited 01-07-2003).]
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03:31 PM
PBJ Member
Posts: 4167 From: London, On., Canada Registered: Jan 2001
Well the dash is out of Her86GT's fiero and on the shop floor. A few pic, some cutting and trial fitting to report later on tonight-I hope.
I was also thinking, since I have the automatic lamp control module for the firebird, the photo light sensor, we could have some automatic headlights and possible DRL lights too.
Pete
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[This message has been edited by PBJ (edited 01-07-2003).]
I did a color change from Beechwood to gray along with my conversion and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. If you sell the tan parts you should at least break even, if not make money.
Are you going to move the steering column, ala Mrfixit58? I see you are enlarging the opening on the Firebird dash. That's what I did to get the dash back a little further.
By the way, you can keep your Fiero radio, but if you want to go with a late model GM radio I have the conversion chart for that. No need to buy one of those expensive harnesses. You can do it yourself for almost free.
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 01-07-2003).]
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08:34 PM
Jan 8th, 2003
Her86GT Member
Posts: 1173 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: May 2001
Is it already hard mounted? What are you going to do about the difference in colors?
Give us some (a lot of) info!
Steve-0
It was hard mounted for the inital fitting (what you see in the pics) but it will come off again. As for the colour difference, we have a couple ideas going. We got a quote of $200.00 to paint the dash a toupe colour (which is what I would like). We would not go with the original tan. The other idea was to paint the Fiero centre console to match the dash and leave the dash the colour it is. I don't have a solid answer on the whole colour thing yet.
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09:32 PM
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Philphine Member
Posts: 6136 From: louisville,ky. usa Registered: Feb 2000
is there a base model that wouldn't have the tach? or anyone put their own guages in to suit themselves?
think it would work on a base model '84 that has the two vent levers under the dash? i guess i could just attach them to the bottom of the dash, but think the vents themselves might be blocked?
think the airbag space on the pass side could hold a small changer, like an alpine 6 disc?
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09:40 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
That dash looks great. It appears like you have it in the "Jscott" position, (steering column in stock location).
It results in a little bit of a gap above the column but the huge advantage is the time savings in doing the conversion. As evidenced here how quickly this dash got mounted.
If you stay with the Fiero console you will have a great fit there. I am happy that someone else has taken the plunge. - Jonathan
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks...
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 01-08-2003).]
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09:41 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
is there a base model that wouldn't have the tach? or anyone put their own guages in to suit themselves?
think it would work on a base model '84 that has the two vent levers under the dash? i guess i could just attach them to the bottom of the dash, but think the vents themselves might be blocked?
think the airbag space on the pass side could hold a small changer, like an alpine 6 disc?
I have not seen one with out a tach, and the vent handles would just be attached to the bottom of the new dash. You do need to do some plumbing for the air system to the new vents. As for room for a CD changer. as mention you likly would have room for two and if you did not use the firebird glove box you could but a small cooler in there too.
The steering column is held there just by the bottom two studs, it will be moved up into the dash.
Pete
[This message has been edited by PBJ (edited 01-08-2003).]
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10:19 PM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
Cool. I haven't seen something different in Fieros in a long time. This definitely is. Do you plan on installing the passenger air bag? That would be a first too
------------------ Alex4mulas :-) N2O! 3.4!
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10:23 AM
mrfixit58 Member
Posts: 3330 From: Seffner, Fl, USA Registered: Jul 99
...Do you plan on installing the passenger air bag? That would be a first too
Actually, jscott1's (Jonathan) dash still has the passenger side air bag and the air bag steering wheel so, technicaly, he's the first. But, they are not operational. I would way too leary to even try to hook them up. If I'm not mistaken, the electronics are caliberated based on the weight of the ORIGINAL vehicle. Who knows what would happen if they were hooked up in the Fiero.
Anyway, if you use a dash with a blown passenger side airbag like mine, the dashes are cheap and the lid can be hinged and turned into a storage area or... something.
------------------ Roy :D Blue 87 GT w/ 4th generation Firebird interior. Suncoast Fieros
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10:38 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Actually, jscott1's (Jonathan) dash still has the passenger side air bag and the air bag steering wheel so, technicaly, he's the first. But, they are not operational. I would way too leary to even try to hook them up.
True... My airbags are for looks only. I am way too leary to hook them up.
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11:11 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
That dash upgrade is the..... (well you know)!
) can feel more confident doing this
N2O! 
3.4!
