for some reason, i think i like the look of the pre '81 interior as opposed to the gsl-se style...(dash, door panels, console). has anyone done this interior swap? does anyone agree with me?...would it be possible to do?

 

umm, no... just no

 

Some one last week posted pics of one that had been changed to the early dash, So it is possible.

I also like the look of the 79 - 83 cars better.

 

SA interior is the best...... good luck finding a non cracked dash and keeping it like that.... 79-83 dash pads are the same btw..... keep and eye out for my pics in about a month or two.....

 

I've only seen it the other way around: 84-85 dash in earlier car.
It can all be done, but it's not really bolt in. The problem is that the two dash styles use a different number of bolt at the top, which means you'll need to compromise. Also, there are no cut-outs in the firewall of a pre-84 car for ventilation (the square cut-outs in that draw air from the area where the wiper-motor is), which of course translates in the design of the dashventilation.

 

I did it check my pics a couple pages back (check oout my 84 gs) if u dont find them il post them when i get home tonight

 

Another thought-
The tranny on the SA has a different shifter location (further forward) so you would likely need to use an 81-83 dash assy to permit proper placement of your shifter in the console. If the 81-83 "look" is close enough, that would be the way to go. You might also need the earlier heater box since its all mechanical linkages rather than the "pneumatic" push-button system I think your car has. best of luck...quite an undertaking. But, jeez, if guys can get a 20B into these cars, anything should be possible! If it helps, the british-market 84's had the older style (81+) dash in them, so the likelyhood of interchangability is there...
Stu Aull
80GSs
Alaska

 

AAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next thing you know someone will take a '79 and put some form of 13B in it!

Thank you for scaring me, now I will *not* be able to sleep tonight.

- Pete (Series 1 Purist)

 

No, the solution is to cut and section the floorpan so you can install the SA transmission with its superior shifter positioning.

 

are you trying to be funny, or are you just in need of your daily shot of whatever you're on???
Al I was trying to point out is the difference in these two dash-models, and what would be involved in going from S2 to S3 or other way around.
Anyway, has anybody though about the fact that the heater controls on S1/S2 are mecanical, while they are electric on S3. This will have some influence on dash wiring.

 

alot more work than expected..thanks for the input. i'll keep the 85 lookin' 85. 'cept for the new wheels i just bought!!! see my other post (17" on a gsl-se)

too bad cuz there's a 83 black interior for sale for $200, runs fine, just the floors are shot (fuckn salt). someone should get that car for parts if you're in ontario..car's in missisauga.

 

S3 dashes suck. The S1 dash is perfect. The idea of desecrating a S1 with an S3 dash just makes me shudder.

Two notes on S3 dash:

I could swear that the S models had cable actuated heater controls.

In any event, you could always just swap everything *behind* the dash cap along with the dash. The only significant dash-related bodyshell change I can think of was the shifter location.

 

Ah, that way. Well, I'm not gonna swap a S3 dash into my S2, and wouldn't do it in a S1 when I buy one someday (last one I bought was sold to my dad because I didn't have any place left, kinda regret it, but at least it's still in the family)

As for cable actuators in S model: I don't know. In Europe we didn't get these models: just RX-7 with options like powerwindows or sunroof etc. All our LHD S3's had the same (electric controlled) dashes (as far as I know that is).
Shifter location only goes for S1, as S2/S3 had the same. So if you want to put an early style dash into a S3, you can use a S2 dash without problem. But there's a difference at the bolts near the front window: one has three and one has five (don't remeber which is which) and this of course means the bodyshell hasn't got the correct mounting brackets there.
And if you swap the dash you'd probable need to swap the ENTIRE wiring loom, as I believe the S3 used a different set of connectors.

 

I have a GS dash with a cable vent control.

 

What's the contact info for the car in Mississauga?

 

pm me and remind me to check it and i'll let you know, or just go to autotrader.ca, and type it in...there's no pic, but the # is there...

the owner said that a few years ago it got a flat tire, and he tried to jack it up, but the jack went through the floor, and he ruptured a fuel line, so he parked it...then he bought another rx7, and when the coils went bad, he swapped them from the original car. so apparently it has a bad floor, but a good engine that's been sitting, good black interior, and good silver exterior...apparently he says its pretty nice looking. if you can get it towed away, or move it yourself, maybe we can go splits on it, and tear it apart and part it out! let me know