I'm seriously considering switching my dash to the digital dash but before I do I just want to know how hard is it to do? and is there an actual tutorial on how to do it or did the people who have done it just figure it out on their own? thanks!

 

You'd be in for a major redo since (obviously) the cluster is different but that means that the dash itself is different as well as the wiring for it. I have a friend that looked into going from Digi to Analog & he said it was way too involved, both they physical parts as well as the wiring, to do so he went ahead with fixing his digital stuff.

 

So it's not really a practical thing to do?

 

No.

 

Anything of course is possible, but this swap is very impractical. Even if you had a complete, fully functioning donor car to swap parts from, you will be in for a major undertaking. Not only do you have to swap the entire dash and wrining harness, but there are also various sensors throughout the car, along with the wiring that goes with them that are specific only to digital cars. Some examples include a specific radiator, washer fluid bottle and door sensors.

 

As I said in other topic I think it's just part of the hobby. No matter it's hard. It's done by humans in the factory also =)

 

the extra sensors are for the system check readout only and dont actually play any role in the gauges themselves. There are even extra wires for every light on the car so the sytem check knows when a bulb burns out. I managed to gut one car and transplant EVERYTHING from my GTA to it. The wiring harness from one end to the other along with the digital dash, power lumbar seats, ect. It all depends on your ability and if you can get everything you need to do it

 

Yes, sensors are not for the cauges but the car computer. It does the system checks and let you know if your door is open etc... just like nowadays cars does.. and i think it part of that whole digital dash thing. Just like a/c with buttons..

Did you find that swap hard? Lot of work at least i think?

 

I have done several digital dash swaps.. Cyberdyne and Dakota Digital.. Only sensor's that you might have to swap would be the Speedo gear if not already electronic, Oil Pressure Sensor possibly, and Coolant Temp Sensor. They should already work but it is recommended on some applications to change them.

 

So if i swap to digital it automaticly knows if my door is open??

 

If you really love the digital dash look then the best replacement IMHO would probably to check out markscustomkits.com. They fabricate digital dashes that replace the analog dashes on the Firebirds. They are also one of the first companies that started fabricating the Knight Rider dashes years ago so they know what they're doing. Their digital replacement dashes I think look pretty cool, especially the blue color lights. They are pricey, but it beats trying to swap an entire GTA digital to replace the analog dash.

 

The digital dash kits and aftermarket gauges are not the same as the factory digital dash and requires a different approach. The op asked about the factory digital dash which has extra sensors and a different wiring harness. Aftermarket digital gauges requires their senders in place of the factory ones and usually require custom wiring and mounting. Both have there pros and cons, and both require wiring changes. I personally had a complete working GTA that had a rotted floor board and subframe so I swapped everything from it into a rust free car

 

May be a bit late here but I got a digital dash from an 89 GTA with all the additional parts needed from thirdgen ranch and it only took me a day to to the full switch. I have an 88 Formula and all the wiring hook ups were the same and already there. For the most part all I did was pull one and put the other in.

You can see 3 pics here...
Old dash out
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/u...d/IMAG0023.jpg

no dash in car
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/u...d/IMAG0024.jpg

new dash to be put it
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/u...d/IMAG0022.jpg

I need to get pics of it installed still but everything is working.


When I bought my dash it came with the door sensors I needed. So I just had to pull out my old ones and put the new ones in.

 

You're a better wrench than me if you did this swap in one day.

Do all of the System Check warnings function properly such as lamps, coolant, washer and trunk?

 

Did u get that which cost 500? I was just about to order it: ) well maybe later. Good work thou!

 

I bought mine over a year ago and yes all the System checks work. Also, I don't know anything about working on cars. Just took a chance and started to work on it one morning.

 

I dont see why it couldnt take a day to do the swap if you have a complete dash and the wiring for it.Physically swapping the dashes in/out isnt hard and wont take long..its the wiring that will be majority of time spent.How much the system check display will work is entirely upto you on how much you hook up to it to read what is or isnt working.Gauges will work regardless just supply the existing signal from the analog dash if thats all you are concerned with.Its just tedious..not horrendous if you take your time.

 

Yeah and in my case all the existing wiring was exactly the same so it was pretty much just swapping the dashes.

 

Doors and water bottle also?
Did u change the water bottle?

 

I would definitely be interested in doing the swap. If someone could point me in the direction of a parts list, I can source everything. Thanks in advance.

 

You talking about the plastic coolant overflow tank? If so then yes. When I bought my digital dash from thirdgen ranch it came with everything I needed including the coolant tank, windshield wiper tank, and the door parts that I needed to swap on my doors.

 

When you did your swap,were you able to enter in the cars mileage or was it set from the previous car it was in?

 

Luckily, I was able to purchase an entire 1988 donor car that has a digital dash that will soon get swapped into my 1991 GTA.

 

No it's set from the previous car which sucks since the engine I have only has 4,000 miles but it says it has 179,000. A friend told me there might be a way to change it but I'm still trying to find that out. I would appreciate any info on this if anyone else here may know the answer.

 

Ask on www.GTASourcePage.com.

 

Does anyone have any pictures of the radiator sensor? I need to figure out how to install that. Also if I have the standard ac control box with the slider is it possible to switch it out with the digital push button one? I'm just concerned about that because the slider one is controlled by a pulley system and am not sure if that should be removed or not.

 

Would it be like "unplug" and "re-plug" to replace a digital dash? My 89 had one installed in like 91 or something...

Just considering since some of the digital lights are now fading or out.

Thanks for considering it if you respond.

 

Just replace the bulbs, it's a lot cheaper than replacing the gauges.

 

I'll look into the bulbs... If that is a solution, that would be great.

Thanks

 

It's the bulbs. They don't fade they get lighter. I have 2. The one out of the black Florida car is almost orange when held up to a light. The other from a white cold climate car is still blue when held up to the light.