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Wondering if anyone has swapped a 90-92 style cluster into a 82-89 car?
I prefer the 4 gauge center 90-92, so I bought an Intellitronix digital dash kit for a 90-92, now I need to wedge it into my 1983. My car has a 350 swap and a later model WC 5spd swap, so I’m not worried about the wiring end at all since it will be all custom (I got the GPS speed sensor too, that’s the hard part, sending units and tach signal are easy).
My question is, other than a bezel (which I think I’m going to Machine one from aluminum plate), should the cluster be interchangeable if I’m not worried about wiring or do I also need to replace the whole bucket that holds everything in?
Gonna get a start on it this weekend, but thought I’d get a head start on some parts if anyone knows whether or not they can be physically swapped.
or do I also need to replace the whole bucket that holds everything in?
You will need to convert the ENTIRE dash housing,....... This includes removing the 82-89 dash housing brackets (that are spot welded to the body) and replacing them with dash housing brackets from the 90-92. Yes; I've done this before.
I'm not getting into the wiring changes,..... there are too many. This is an "All or nothing" conversion IMO.
Thanks for that link! I did a search but didn’t find it originally.
Well crap. I didn’t know you meant the entire width of the car... I guess I shoulda looked at the differences closer. I figured all I’d have to do is find some mounting holes that matched up if I was going to make a new bezel anyway since everything is contained on the circuit board including turn signal and high beam indicators.
Oh well. I’m into her too deep to stop now, lol. Guess I’ve got more time and $ than brains!
Part of the reason it's such an involved swap is because GM completely redesigned the dashes in 90 for the airbags. The airbag blocks the view of the earlier gauges, and the knee bolster was added under the column for safety. Chevrolet cared enough to design a new cluster that sat higher in the dash so it wouldn't be behind the airbag. Pontiac figured you'd never be under 50mph and left the gauges alone.
As mentioned the brackets that mount the dash hull to the firewall are different too.
I did the swap in my car. Mine's an 86 but when I picked up a roller 92 z28 for the GFX, it just so happened to still have the 145mph cluster in it. Being it used the digital signal opposed to cable like my 86 cluster, It was worth while for me to swap the dash. Basically got the 145 cluster and working gauges for my ls swap for free.
EDIT: Please let me know how that cluster works out for you. I had their digital cluster for my 86 a few years ago and I had nothing but problems. Mileage would always reset, and I couldn't never get it to read accurately. Hopefully the 90-92 style is a better desgin.
