ok i have a problem with the dash in my 86 fc. i have no desire to try to find a good used dash and hope that one lasts... I would like to swap the dash and door panels for one out of another car entirely. has anyone done this? if so what dash and door panels would work? I was thinking S13/240sx

 

I highly doubt there are any other dashboards that would come remotely close to fitting.

 

An 82 International

 

you would find NOTHING that would fit,
think about it, the gauge cluster is a unique shape,
the cluster suround and turn signals are all unique shapes,
heater controls wont fit in another dash,
besides lengths and widths being off too im sure.
the fc has a unique door shape as well.

options iether find a used dash? well u said ud ont want to do that one...

so maybe custom recover the stock dash? with some material of your liking?

 

You would have to custom build it from fiberglass or carbon fiber. Also, the only way to remove the stock dash is to remove the windshield first. there are four mounts on top that you will not be able to remove with the windshield installed.
but why would you want to put in another dash? mazda did a really good job designing one that is both ergonomic and attractive.

 

hmmm thats funny, because im pretty sure iv removed several FC dashes without having to remove the windsheild. If things get tight, swivel jointed tools work wonders and are not expensive from any local hardware or auto store.

 

I have removed a dashboard without removing the windshield. It can be done and it's not that hard.

 

IIRC the S13 dashes are prone to cracking in the middle.

This is complete nonsense-please ignore.

 

Seems to me I've seen pics of FC's with alternate dashboards...finding one that will sit in the car is one thing, actually attaching it and making everything functional is another.
Your stock doorpanels- at least the underpinnings- would probably have to be used and suitably modified to meet the dash end.

Depending on your donor vehicle, wiring in the gauge cluster would probably be fairly simple but since most newer cars use an electronic speedo, you'd have that to deal with.

The dash is one of the most concentrated/complex assemblies in the whole car...swapping in a different one would be quite an undertaking but doable, I should think.

 

I wasn't aware FC dashes were that low quality. Both of my gray dashes were perfect in my two FC's until I broke each of them because I was a moron. I don't think it is going to be harder to find a good condition FC dash within a few hours of you than it will be trying to retrofit something else into your car. What's to say you'll find a 240 dash closer to you than an FC dash?? Sounds to me like someone local to you has a 240 that they'll give the interior away from, and your hoping someone on the forum will say

 

Not going to happen. If you just absolutely do not want an FC dash, why not build a dash out of sheet metal, like in a race car? Actually, That'd be kind of badass come to think of it.


Admins: PLEASE fix the reply button!!!!

 

lol if its cracked or peeling u can do what i did in my race car peel the covering off,leavng you with a black plastic frame, some of the glue might stay stuck but u can get that off also

 

The stock dashboard plastic (the stuff that all the various parts attach to) gets really brittle and starts to break apart as it ages. Pretty typical mid-80's Mazda.

I'd rather just spend the bucks on a new dashboard than try to retrofit something from another car. They're not THAT expensive.

 

^How much is a new dash?

 

+1

All the plastic bits disintegrate, but the main dash is pretty durable. Go down to the Mazda dealer or register for Mazda Motorsports and buy all the broken stuff. For around $100 you can replace most of the trim pieces.

You're not gonna find anything else that bolts in.

 

$500 from Mazda Motorsports for just the main dash pad.

 

S13 dash fits pretty easily. I did a test fit a few weeks ago:

 

There may be no "direct fit" installation of a dash but it's worth a try if you have one lying around.

 

i think its interesting how this fits. was this just testing it just to do it? or has this progressed onto completing the swap?

makes me wonder what other dash would fit.

 

wow didn't think the s13 dash would just shoehorn in like that. Gives the fc interior a very interesting look. wonder if it works the other way around

 

Why the vehemence?
We routinely swap in parts from other cars (even domestics, gasp!) to either improve performance ( Taurus efan/alternator, anybody?) or looks (wheels from a multitude of cars)...do you object to all of that also?

Although the pics of the s-13 dash aren't good enough to really evaluate how good the fit is, from what is shown it's a lot closer than I would have guessed.
With the totally bare interior It's also tough to decide how well the swoopier styling would fit with the harder edged/more formal styling of the rest of the car, but it's still intriguing.

It should also be noted that simply bolting in the dash carcass is probably the easiest part of such a conversion.
Integrating the subsystems behind it (heat/AC/defrost vents, for instance) to achieve functionality would be hellish, not to mention dealing with our very unique and heavily integrated switchgear...I can't even begin to imagine how that would be done.

That said, I'd be interested to see such a swap done well...the ingenuity- if nothing else- would be laudable.

 

^ that is the point i was trying to make, he says it cost to much to get a new fc dash. yet he wants to retrofit the wrong dash because its cheaper

id say if he has to ask advice on how to do it, it will never get done. thus he should spend money on something every fc needs.......... like paint

 

Everyone has different tastes, obviously. But IMHO, that dash is ugly and the time/money could be spent on one of the 23 year old parts that need replacing.

edit: ugly on the FC I mean...

 

ive seen one person that i can remember that fit the fd dash into the fc. I think it was dragon that did it

 

found the thread..
https://www.rx7club.com/20b-forum-95/my-new-n-side-port-20b-fc-460102/