How difficult is it to swap an S2 dash into an S3 chassis. I love the center tach gauge cluster. Are the wireing connectors different? My first thought is to keep the S3 steering shaft and wiring.

My car is being stripped down for paint and will be completely rebuilt. I was hoping to use the original harness and modify it as needed. Off the top of my head, the only interface between the '84 harness and the S2 dash would be the gauge cluster and ventilation controls. Is a swap of the blower motoer and air routing box required for this?

Other info: This car will have no radio and the ventilation may be modded to support the minimum state safety requirement for defrosting. This car is going to be strictly a weekend summertime pleasure/show car. My preference with this build is to use more Mazda parts than custom pieces, hence my desire for the '83 dash. And correct me if I'm wrong, but the '83 speedo reads to 130 or 140 ish?

My current prospects for parts is an '83.

Thanks

 

not an easy task. the wiring is very different as is the ventilation system. keep the S3 dash. worst case, buy an S2 and save yourself countless hours and headaches. the 83 speedo is calibrated to 130mph and the 84-85 is calibrated to 140mph. this was covered not too long ago.

 

I prefer the S3 interior. It's much more modern looking IMO

 

I did it a number of years ago and it wasn't that bad. Fortunately there are wiring diagrams for each dash style. I recall it took a couple of weekends, working slowly but methodically. I made adapters or re-terminated the connectors where necessary. I suggest you tag all your unused connectors at the outset.

What's really needed is a custom hybrid dash, IMHO.

 

I agree. The interior is the one reason why I never owned another a 1st gen older than 1984. Those interiors were sooo 70's looking to me. That an the 79-80 RX7's are friggin hideous, with the huge bumpers and the ugly tail. I love the 84-85's. Thank God they sold just as well as the older ones. There are plenty available.

 

Can I ask for any suggestions on how to swap that gauge cluster into the newer dash? I have a feeling that isn't easy and I may as well make a custom gauge cluster. I really want to change the 84 cluster out for a center tach.

 

the shape of the S4 and S3 dashes are completely different. short of custom making your own cluster, neither will just swap in the other's location.

 

Thank you for the input everybody. I suppose my option is to make a custom gauge cluster. Anybody have any threads or links for a good looking gauge cluster creation? I'm thinking i'll take the housing of the stock cluster and fill it with a new set of gauges and backing panel.

 

Sorry for the thread necro (not that old), but didn't want to make a new thread. I read that the NA S3 was the only one with no center tach. Would a Euro or JP swap fit in correctly? Guessing the connectors are not compatible and would have to be rewired right?