Ive seen a few ppl swap there old dashes for the 93-97 style but havent really seen any1 do the newer 98+ style dash. The 98+ dashes should be just about the same as a pre 98 dash install with lil differences right? i know with the newer dash i have to modify my pillars but im mostly worried about the wiring and getting the dash working. how difficult would it be to do the install and wiring. what else do i need besides the dash and cluster? I just need some info to get me going in the right direction. i found a dash with cluster CHEAP and thoti mite aswell do the swap instead of spending over 800bux on gauges

 

I have a 2002 Camaro Dash in my 82 Z28. Everything fits pretty well, the drivers side of the dash against the cowl is about an inch or so away from the cowl. However since it is held up by the steering column I am not to worried about it. The passenger side I have a mount to go from the stock 4th gen dash support (which I bent horizontal) over to the kick panel area of the car. If you are using an older TPI engine or TBI motor then I would suggest picking up a 1997 Instrument cluster and either a 1997 wiring harness or a 1997 and older Firebird dash harness which will have the same instrument cluster pin out (except for the addition of one wire for odometer illumination which can be spliced from the regular dash illumintation feed) Also another issue which I have not gotten around to fixing at this time is that with my 82 heater core box and heating ducting there was no way to get the dash to fit. I am not sure if the later years boxes are smaller in size and have not gone that far with it yet as I am still completing a motor swap along with many other things. All of instrument cluster works though including the digital odometer If you are doing a motor swap to an LT1 or LS1 then the best suggestion I can give is to take all of the wiring from the donor car ie. engine bay harness, PCM harness and dash harness all from the same car. It will all fit with some minor alterations, this is the route that I went down and am very happy with the results.
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Oh and the pillars are a real PITA!!!!!! Follow this link to see the amount of work to get them done right. I have barely started tackling this feat.
http://www.ms-fbodies.com/jade_ta_2.htm

 

82camaroguy, i just looked at your site and the work you have done is absolutely amazing! I give you all the credit in the world for what you've accomplished!

 

i didnt get into all the fiberglassing with my pillars. i trimmed the front down and then fastened them with push fasteners that are textered to match the pillar.
you have to look up in the headliner to see them and it looks factory.
only issue is i have a hardtop. the pillars are about an inch short of the facotry 3rd gen ones.. tiny ara between the pillar and seatbelt trim, but its not noticeable either.

 

I should have been a bit more specific, the link that I added was from someone else's work on the forum.... The guy did a heck of a nice job so I was kind of modeling what I needed to off of his work. Send the kudos his way wherever he is because he really did a fine job. I will eventually need to get some pics posted up of my own. Stage 20 thanks for the tips on the A-pillars, I started them over the weekend and with everything else I have going on I decided to take a bit of a break from them (Trimming the dash pad up to fit was a bit of a chore, LOL) I am hoping that I can take the information I have found by doing the swap and fill everyone else interested in dash swaps in on the particulars. Stage 20, on my car (T-Top) with the 4th gen a-pillars lined up on the dash side they are at quite a bit lower angle then the 3rd gen ones. I am thinking about cutting them down low where the difference in angle is not as extreme and grafting from there. Could you send me some pics of what you did on yours for reference? I am always up for an easier route that I haven't found yet Thanks!

 

i dont have my car at my house, i have it in my shop. ill try to snap some pics this weekend for you.
basically what i did was take a spare, and cut it until it fit.
being a t top, i dont know if i could give you any pointers or not.
id try to bolt it up, thne see if you can cut the lower section to match the dash.
a heat gun works on some plastics. ive never tried it on the a pillar. my pillars in the car now, im not 110% satisfied with. got a set in the mail yesterday and are going to see if i cant do a better job this time. not like the 1st ones are bad. i also have a set of 4th gen door panels ive been wanting to do as well. i have some really nice GTA panels in the car, but with everything else being so curved, they always looked out of place to me.

 

that is a sweet looking vert

 

Hi Stage 20, sounds great. thanks for the input and advice. If you get a chance to take some pics that would be awesome!!!
Smokefan, I agree with you on that guys vert. what a nice car, he sure did everything right