Is it feasible to put a dash and cluster from an 85 1/2 9944 into a 87 924s
I just think the new interior looks way better and was wondering if it is possible to switch the dash clusters and still have the gauges work????
Cheers

 

The late interior will fit along with late door panels. One problem you will encounter is the speedometer. Late ones are driven off the tranny sending unit, early cars and 924S's are driven by a cable from the front drivers wheel.

 

No, it is not feasible to put a late dash into an early car or 924S.

The entire HVAC system is different and not easily modified from one to the other. 924S and early 944 is cable operated and the A/C unit fits under the glove compartment. Late system is self contained, fits behind the dash in the middle, and is electronically and vacuum operated.

I have never seen it successfully completed.

 

But it has been.
Fredis GT had 924S that had complete oval dash conversio, including all gauges, HVAC etc and all wiring done properly and nice NOT hack job.

 

Look, anything is possible if you want to do it but it will take more effort and knowledge than 99% of the people on this list. The remaining 1 percent who has the knowledge to do so most likely will not waste their time as they can probably make enough money to buy a complete late car with the time they will spend to do the conversion. The speedometer can work if you buy a custom electronic signal converter. After that, you will have to change all the electronics to the late car if you want to use the HVAC unit which means you will have to pretty much redo most of the wiring harness under the dash and reroute the harness for the late HVAC to fit where the early wiring is. Also, the tunnel section of the pan is thinner on the late model cars and the carpet is different size. If you use the late center consol, then the carpet is going to sag a little. The late heater is vacuum operated while the early uses cables. The late panels don't really fit on early doors without bulging or some cutting unless you change your doors to late model ones. The only conversion I have seen left the early heater core/ac under the late dash and moved the early switch into the glove compartment. The late cars also have larger windshields to accomodate the later dash even though the difference is very slight. Also, the A piller plastic covers will have to be changed and that does not fit with the cross piece the rear view mirror and sun visors is bolted on. When you change that out, you will find that the early model cars have rubber padding on either side which will have to be removed in order for the late piece to fit properly unless you trim and cut to modify. Basically the headliner will have to be removed to do that properly along with the rear quarter glass since the headliner fits under the glass. I would like to see detailed pictures of the complete wiring and working late HVAC in an early car if there are pictures so I can see wether they cut the early harness to splice into the late panels or if the cut a hole into the early car to put in a late model fuse box. Either way, its hard not to hack stuff up.

 

I agree. 100%

 

I'm not actually looking to make the spedo and AC work.
I want to put the dash in my 924s racer. SCCA ITS. (I;m not sure if it is legal yet but if it is I just want to put the dash and cluster in.
is there a pinout listing of the clusters somewhere??
Thanks

 

It is NOT legal in
ITS.
Original dashboard must be retained.

I have an 87 924S ITS car in my driveway too.

What exhaust are you using?
There are legal gains there, but they are not cheap.

 

The late dash is significantly heavier than the cardboard early dash (I never weighed it but its probably double the weight) which can be a detriment to a race car anyways.

 

Actually, this has been done before. This would be sweet to do for a street car.


http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=22061

 

Thanks guys.
Exhaust is a stahl header into probably a stright thru 2 1/2 pipe with a super trapp

 

I have seen it done but its crude just like the one in the post. Notice the windshield is not on the car and the mess of wires under the glove box. A good amount of hacking into the early harness is necessary and alot of splicing would have to be done. I just want to make sure some unsuspecting 944 owner reads a post where someone says "oh yeah it could be done just do a few things here and there and everything works" don't end up hacking up their own car to find out they don't have the know how to finish it. For the amount of time it would require to do this right, I can do about 5 or 6 clutch jobs for a 944 instead.

 

Why would anyone want to do this I like the old dash better and if I had my choice id put the old dash in my 87 944.

 

I like the older dash much more for a race car anyway. I can move the tach to the center hole and rotate it.