Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

So I decided to make the change from analog to digital for my 89 Trans Am GTA and have noticed that there hasn't been a thorough thread made on it so I thought that I might as well start one to help people who are wanting to do the same.

This is how the car was

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Making a start on it, removed shifter plate and removing steering wheel

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Removed the cluster and removing dash harness

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

This is the stage I'm basically at now, removed the dash harness and started unplugging the wires in the harness, got most of them unplugged. Having a bit of a hard time figuring out how it connects into the engine bay

dctrouant1995

Subscribed! Looks great so far haha, This is something I've been wantin to do

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Welcome! I'll have more pictures of progress tomorrow, time to give my bleeding hands a break

dctrouant1995

Understandable haha! Do you have all the sensors and wiring to make it all of it functional? Also noticed you have steering wheel controls with an aftermarket radio, does the controls work with the radio?

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

I sure do! I bought everything needed from a member of this board. The steering wheel controls do not currently work with that head unit, however there is an adapter that I plan on getting that will make them functional.

dctrouant1995

Awesome! what all is needed?

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

The digital dash itself, the specific digital dash wiring harness for the dash, taillights and headlights (not the same as the analog one) all the sensors, washer bottle with float sensor in it and push button ac unit

dctrouant1995

Will it malfunction without the washer bottle float and sensor?

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

It will all still function as it should but if you're missing sensors the driver information center (little display that shows the car and scans for issues) will come up as undetected and will show as an error

dctrouant1995

Well if I do the swap I guess I'll have to hunt down my washer reservoir and re drill the holes. Thanks for the info!

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

*UPDATE*
Discovered a dealership installed security system that took a while to take out

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Managed to finally disconnect the plate that connects the headlight harness to the dash harness so the are by the dash is completely gutted out now

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Working my way to pulling out the harness going to the trunk, found it easiest to cut through the carpet to get the the wiring. (carpet is getting replaced but I was still cringing)

dctrouant1995

Holy crap at the wiring, I was surprised how much wiring was in these cars when I pulled the carpet out. Well at least when you get done with old harness you can make some money off it haha

6SIX6

iTrader: (35)

Good to see you are putting it in. There is alot of wiring that goes into the dash as it works or sences everything in the car. Cant wait to see it done in the car

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Wow, i thought about doing a dig dash, now I'm over it after seeing this !!

You are brave - thats some serious doing and un doing ... GOOD LUCK.

Keep the pics coming.

Suggestion - not that you need more to do, but now would be a good time to throw in a remote start kit.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

I'll be installing a digital dash into my '91 Trans Am GTA as soon as the weather is consistently warm. I'm replacing the entire interior in my car, so that'll be the perfect time to do the dash. I already have an '88 donor car with a digital dash setup, which should make the swap somewhat easier since I'll be able to see how everything is laid out in each car.

RockShowTrader

iTrader: (1)

Holy crap. I have a digital dash in my 88 GTA and wanted to swap TO an analog. No way in hell would I dare attempt that project after seeing this posting. You are brave, sir.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

That's basically what I'm doing too, I thought If I've pulled basically everything out, I might as well take everything else out too and start replacing/restoring it all. I have a t56 and 350 tpi swap to do after this too. Bus busy busy

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Good to hear from you again! I was going to pay the shop to do it but then I looked at all the work involved and realized it would cost me an arm and leg so I decided to just bite the bullet. So far so good, only thing I'm concerned about is where some of the sensors go

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

I'm a little stumped here, this is the wiring for the analog hvac controls. Should I delete them or can they be left there because I know the plug ins for the push button hvac controls are electric connectors

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

That's a great idea, would it be feasible to do even though the vats system needs to detect the chip in they key to start the engine?

MikeMN

Wow, that looks like a lot of work, I am glad my GTA has a digital dash already.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Rub it in

MikeMN

Just saying, I hope it all works out for you.

MikeMN

Veaceonee

iTrader: (1)

Bypass the VATS. I did it on mine, easiest thing ever.

MikeMN

Sorry if I offended you Firechicken86, I am a new member here as you can see by my post count, I am looking forward to participate on here as well as getting advice from other members on here.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Here's my progress for today:
Peeled back the rear carpet to get to the fuel sensor, nice to see an unmolested gas cover (fuel pump hatch)


The sensor was a pain in the a$$ to remove and I didn't want to break it by prying it off so I just cut the wires because the one for the digital dash is the same and I'll just connect it to that one


Didn't have the right size torx head to remove that metal bar that holds the plastic trim in place and the stores were shut so I had to remove the taillight harness with the trim in the way. Not fun!

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Now you see it


Now you don't!


Finally removed all of the interior analog harness! all that's left is the headlight harness and the hvac harness

Veaceonee

iTrader: (1)

maybe its just me..but I can't see your last 5 pictures. Just little squares

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Not at all! I was just lightheartedly joking Welcome to the forum! You'll find everything you'll ever need here, it's an awesome place. Thanks for that diagram too, it really helped clear a few things up.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Hmm, I think I know what's wrong. Imgur wasn't working for me and I had all of my pictures om my gmail so I just uploaded them from there. I'll upload them again from another hosting site.

*Edit* Should be fixed now

MikeMN

eseibel67

You can work around that, but it's unsafe to put a remote starter in a manual transmission car. No matter how much you tell yourself you will never leave it in gear.

eseibel67

There are 3 black boxes the control the electronic HVAC in a digital dash GTA. A pushbutton control, a vacuum distributor, and a blend door motor. I have pics of them if you require.

eseibel67

Top pic in post #32 you cut the fuel pump power and sending unit. Better make sure you get a super clean connection on that one, the fuel pump needs all the voltage it can get. Never ever use a crimp connector, especially here.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

That would great if you could. Does this means I should unscrew the black airboxes attached to the dash and pull out the hvac harness that's in there?

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

I'll definitely be soldering the wires directly together

eseibel67

Not sure on the manual HVAC, but I believe all wiring and vacuum is within the control head.

On the electronic type, there are 3 seperate components. These are pics I have of them from the connector ends:

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Looks like the vacuum distributor and the blend door motor wasn't included in the harness that I bought.

eseibel67

Push button control will not work without all 3 components. Although digital dash cars ALWAYS came with the pushbutton controls, is you cannot find those other 2 boxes, I can't see any reason why you couldn't leave the manual controls in there. I must assume the HVAC control head connector will differ between manual and electronic, so you would have to decode the wires on the electronic harness in order to use them on your manual control.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

I just talked to the guy I bought it off and he's going to have a look to see if he can find them so fingers crossed

Jeffs82TA

iTrader: (1)

If it works anything like my 90 Y-body it will have a a/c controller like this.



Most vents are still vacumn controlled but the blen-door uses and electric motor. I would venture to say you will end up changing the heater box where this beln-door is. There will probably be a couple sensors for interior heat as well as maybe exterior heat (if it works like my Y-body)

Retrostylz

What did I get myself into!?
Looks like I've got quite the spring cleaning project ahead of me.
Glad that you made this either way, it will be a big help in my conversion! I'm going to start gutting everything in my car next week.

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Man... I'm SOOOOO freakin' glad I have a donor car to get all the parts from to do my swap.

kmcn47

i often thought of doing this in my camaro, i eventually decided on an option that'll probably be alot of the same work, but is different, anyways props to you, its a BIG project because of all the tedious diss-assembly and wiring, goodluck can't wait to see it finished