79-83 Dash Will it fit in an 85 Model? I like the way these look better, they seem to be a lot more simple. Any thoughts?

 

heating system completely different - don't think the earlier dash(and its subframe) would pony up to the heater assy that basically sits on top of the tranny hump. Likely ventilation different too. Plus there would be all the electronics and your 85 harness that would have to weave thru a foreign dash assy in back - where do all your 85s relays and electronic doodads mount?? None of the 85 electrics would connect with the early speedo head/tach/guages... you'd need to be a wiring genius (or at least very patient) to figure this all out! Understand your desire tho - I LOVE the simplicity of my 80 SA, inside and out!
sorry to **** on your idea...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Stu is right, its a royal pain. My cara is a JDM model so even though its a 84 here in Japan, it has the same dash as the 80~83 in the states, they never changed up to the GSl-SE style over here.

I just changed the dash over to a 91 FC dash, for reasons other than looks, I needed the entire wiring harness for my engine/front cross member conversion.

originally I was going to keep the original dash, and just rewire the FC harness to match, but with all of the different relays, solenoids etc that come with the fc dash, it was simpler to just swap out the entire dash as well as its a/c heater core etc.

so unless you are a very patient person with wiring, it is a royal PITA.

kenn

 

You guys rained on my parade, Sick With It!

All good almost bought one off of ebay for $20.00 USD, Close call. Thanks.

Oh and speeking of which I need a new speedometer any thoughts???

 

Junkyard for speedometer. Too bad, man. I love the earlier year 7 dash

 

I just pulled this off. I took a usdm lhd dash, measured and cut the speedometer area out. Cut out the glove box and fabbed up some brackets to hold it. Fiberglass and lots of bondo... voila RHD GSLSE DASH!! I made a flat panel out of sheetmetal where the glovebox would go and made it completely flush. I might mount some gauges across there or something later. I didnt want to hassle with perfecting the bodywork to be absolutely perfect so I dropped the dash off at the upholstery shop and got a dash mat made. It should be ready monday. Ill post some pics when I get it back. I also converted my car to a gsl-se motor so I can have a smog legal FI motor here in cali. I took the complete wiring harness out of the gslse and swapped it into my 78 SA. Even down to the taillights. Wasnt that hard actually. Just flipped the harness over from the left to the right. Had to extend about 10-1 wires a lil bit but it was pretty easy.

 

Post some pics...

 

^ Ok, you just voluntered to do a write up on the Sa to Se harness installation including all relays,ecu,etc...

 

I am looking to put an SA dashboard in my Series 3, because I agree the USEM Series 3 dash/IP (IT IS NOT GSL-SE SPECIFIC, ALL OF OUR SERIES 3'S WERE INFECTED WITH THIS JUNK) looks like regurgitated anus. Plus, the Series 1 offers much more kneeroom/legroom and I want to switch to the Series 1 pedal assembly, so the dash will have to come out anyway. Further, it appears that the early dash is lighter.

Yes there are a bunch of relays/switches/etc. Many of these can be eliminated, since they are for controlling warning lights and such that will be eliminated with the instrument panel.

 

here ya go. I will post some finished pics by thurs when I get the dash in. These were the night I put some bondo on and did some sanding. Looks a lot better now. These pics are kinda rough.
As far as the wiring goes, I didnt splice and connect the sa harness to the se. I completely took out ever single sa wire out of the car and laid in the gsl-se harness throughout the whole car.

 

What Happend to this??? Any Updates?

 

Still Nothing???