'92 dash removal and '90 reinstallation

[focusedrage]

Its a long story, but a friend and i may swich our dashes... what will be involved, is it just alot of unbolting and rembering fasteners? how long should it take?

 

[fertez_turbo]

PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE!

Just when you think you are ready to pull it off you will find a slew of more bolts holding it on. I had my best friend (99gst_racer) help me with mine. It took us about 5 hours to get the entire dash out. Then I put the new one in the next day by myself, which took about 6 hours. I ended up with a handfull of extra bolts, what I like to call "weight reduction" But yeah, its a pain. I wouldnt do it unless its absolutely necessary.

 

[fertez_turbo]

How the heck do you post multiple images???

 

[focusedrage]

thanks, i think the time is worth it, we are tradign cars, and i get a manual car out of it so its worth it in my opinion

 

[fertez_turbo]

Cool deal man, make sure it runs good and doesn't have any hidden problems before hand!

 

[dsm4life]

how come no matter what i do i always come up with 1 extra bolt

i guess weight reduction is a plus !

 

[dynatos]

there is a great tech article on how to remove the dash - and when i used it, it was very accurate.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73670

it took me 5-6 hours to remove the dash and all interior. have fun

 

[focusedrage]

thanks, that will help alot

 

[theboogieman]

..funny how it only takes like 5 minutes to read the instructions.....to be followed by 5 hours of dis-assembly!
Leo

 

[Rabbi]

How hard is it to remove the dash on my 1g DSM ?
Im planning on fiberglassing & painting my entire dash,And i need to remove the dash. Just wondering if anybody's done this. And if so how hard was it? I got the hayne's manual,And it shows how to remove it. But ive removed a few dashboards before and they were a beotch...The one in my DSM looks pretty easy,But looks can be deciving,So how hard might it be people? Thanks

 

['96_Talon_TSi]

Took me about nine hours to completely gut my interior. I'd say 6 or more of that was on the dash. The screws are easily located, but a pain to access. However, it was my first dash removal, so you may be a little quicker than i was.

Make sure you have a friend or someone to help you. its a PITA to work out of there, and its also heavy.

 

[jmoyoli]

Look at the thread I responded to...I've posted a link with diagrams and the numbered order of steps for the removal. It should be cake if you've done these before.

Good luck!

 

[4geze63]

i took my dash/instuments off in about 30 mins, wasnt very difficult

 

[mksk415]

I used the tech info to help me remove a complete dash from a 92 eclipse with plans to put it my 90 because it's in much better condition. Before I remove the dash from my 90 and install the 92 dash, I'm wondering if the electrical connectors are the same. Does anyone know?

Thanks.

 

[anubis]

as far as i know, everything will swap over just fine. if you want to avoid the confusion and the hassle, just use all of the accessories and switches and controls from your 1ga. also remember that there's no switch for flip-ups on a dash from a 1gb, however, the spot for them is there. all of the openings for all the swtiches/dials/controls/knobs are identical though. so if you use everything from the 1ga, you'll be ok. if you really wanted to use parts from the 1gb, you shouldn't have any problem. either way you go about it, you should be fine.

also, you've got to remember that you're vin plate is attached to the dash. when you swap dashes - you're swapping the vin tag too. i personally would swap the vin plates between the dashes - however last time i said that, it raised quite a debate about the legality of swapping vin plates/dashes. just be mindful of it.

 

[mksk415]

Thanks!
I was concerned about the large connectors that hang down at the bottom left of the dash. Do you think these are all identical?

I didn't think about the VIN plate. I think you're right--it would look pretty obvious and probably very suspicious if I tried to attach the car's actual VIN plate to the newer dash. I'll have to think about whether I want to do that or not.

 

[Defiant]

Yes, putting the VIN on the dashboard probably wasn't the brightest move on the Fed's part. Out here -probably everywhere, since it's Federal- you have to get a State Assigned serial number to replace the original VIN when you do a dash swap. Transferring the plates isn't legal, and they're attached with pop rivets you won't find a match for.

 

[anubis]

the only large connectors involved on the left side are A) your speedometer cluster connectors and B) your diagnostic/fuse ports. if what i remember is correct, those are all the same and shouldn't be an issue when you do the swap.

as far as the vin tag issue - another option you might have (which may or may not work - it all depends on your local officials) is to just take the vin from your old dash and keep it in your center console. if you ever need it, you can just pull it out. if you get busted - plead ignorance with good intentions.

honestly, your best bet is to go to your DMV/secretary of state and tell them you needed to exchange your dash and the vin tag situation. ask them what you need to do and do what they say. that's the safest and probably most time consuming and expensive way to go about it. being shady about it is risky, but it's also cheap and easy. i'm not going to condone risky/shady behavior, so my official resonse is to go through the process that your DMV/secretary of state lays out for you.

best of luck and let us know if you run into any problems.

 

[BLockDsm]

Hello I am wondering if someone can link me to a how to for a dash removel for a 1g dsm.I searched and cannot find it anyhelp will be welcomed

 

[the_skin_eater]

Its not hard....

Just start busting away at it.

You gotta remove the vents, the front bezel around the radio and such, the instro cluster. remove the bolts near the windshield...I think theres some near the glovebox...

I forgot the rest...took mine out like a month ago.

Take shit out, tug on it, find where its caught...And repeat.

 

[bw4kdsm]

http://www.maddsm.com/tutorials/tutorials.htm

If anyone knows how to do it, John at Maddsm knows.
Click on the interior section and then "pulling the dashboard"

 

[Cobrasatellite]

Its not hard....

Just start busting away at it.

You gotta remove the vents, the front bezel around the radio and such, the instro cluster. remove the bolts near the windshield...I think theres some near the glovebox...

I forgot the rest...took mine out like a month ago.

Take shit out, tug on it, find where its caught...And repeat.

That is the most acurate I have ever heard this put.
Carefull with the bolts on the ac vents DONT forget them I broke them, twice.
Under glove box theres 2 bolts and just drop the pannel under stearing colmn dont disconect the hood popper.

 

[the_skin_eater]

Just took another one out....

The wires behind the dash are the biggest pain in the ass....You cant get a screwdriver up there...

I found it easiest to cut the tape holding the wires in.
Youll see what I mean when you get there.

Other than that, its a straight forward process.

lets see:
1 screw each side for the vent cover
2 bolts, each side, under the vent thing in the corners of the windshield
2 screws in the gauge bezel
2 bolts for the bottom panel
2 or 3 screw or bolts for the glove box area.
wires...which suck balllls
2 bolts behind the instro-cluster
those tabs behind the air vents in the front
the radio bezel
speaker wires
glove box light

thats most of the things to look for....

 

[Shaggy_357]

I don't know if it helps or not, but I always find it easier to take the dash out from the passenger side. I fought with mine for an hour before I figured that out LoL
Good luck


Eric

 

[Defiant]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188723