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so, I'm currently debating on what to do with the interior of my new project My 87 Firebird that I call "Energy Weapon", even though there's a mile long list of things I need to handle first.
the way I see it, there are two major routes I can take.
1.restore the stock 3rd gen interior, with some additional sound deadening and NVH attention to remove some of the typical 3rd gen noises.
2.Swap in a 4th get dash, door panels, and console, with similar attention to NVH.
option 1 is easier, and I personally don't mind the aesthetic, but requires careful sourcing of parts.
option 2 is a little more difficult, and requires a bit more custom work, I'm fairly certain I can get a complete 4th gen interior on a decent budget pretty easily, a yard local to me has a few, but will also require finding an earlier 4th gen T/A cluster, as I'm going to be running an MS3 Pro in my car and not a modified stock PCM.
Aesthetically speaking, I don't mind either interior, neither particularly disgusts me, or pleases me compared to the other.
TL;DR version, post pictures of your Firebird interiors/dashboards and get my opinion to sway one way or the other.
Hi there,
I am partial to the 3rd gen interior. The 4th gen interior I think suits the rounder body style of that car, 3rd gens are more angular. I really like the "soft touch" interior of the 1985-1992 console, it sets it apart from the hard plastic of the earlier cars.
Keep in mind that the 3rd gen firebird dash parts direct swap as far as fitment goes (and close as far as wiring/sensors depending upon your current setup) and the 4th gen will require A LOT of work to get right. It will be very easy to get in over your head and either end up A) not finishing the swap or B) ending up with a hack job that you're not totally thrilled with. Not saying it can't be done, but the 4th gen swap takes considerable more work, planning, and execution skills than the 3rd gen setup (and the average thirdgenner is willing to invest).
If you're going to do the 4th gen setup:
- acquire everything you need before you disassemble anything.
- assemble it outside the car. Ensure everything fits together and you have all needed fasteners.
- research and determine how you will be filling the gap between the 4th gen dash and the 3rd gen windshield/firewall
- research and determine whether you should adapt 4th gen door panels, including how to get your window controls to the doors and functional
- plan your needed wiring changes using Helms (or other equivalent) wiring diagram(s), checking against what wires your car has and doesn't have
- plan what needed A/C routing changes are needed and how you'll go about doing that
- plan how you're going to use (or not use) the 4th gen A/C controls and how these will be integrated into the 3rd gen setup
- plan for some of your "new" 4th gen parts to come cracked, or otherwise crack while you handle them. They are all plastic, so expect to do plastic repair on these parts or keep shelling out for more of them
Best of luck. The 4th gen dash / door panels swap isn't for the feint of heart.
Keep in mind that the 3rd gen firebird dash parts direct swap as far as fitment goes (and close as far as wiring/sensors depending upon your current setup) and the 4th gen will require A LOT of work to get right. It will be very easy to get in over your head and either end up A) not finishing the swap or B) ending up with a hack job that you're not totally thrilled with. Not saying it can't be done, but the 4th gen swap takes considerable more work, planning, and execution skills than the 3rd gen setup (and the average thirdgenner is willing to invest).
If you're going to do the 4th gen setup:
- acquire everything you need before you disassemble anything.
- assemble it outside the car. Ensure everything fits together and you have all needed fasteners.
- research and determine how you will be filling the gap between the 4th gen dash and the 3rd gen windshield/firewall
- research and determine whether you should adapt 4th gen door panels, including how to get your window controls to the doors and functional
- plan your needed wiring changes using Helms (or other equivalent) wiring diagram(s), checking against what wires your car has and doesn't have
- plan what needed A/C routing changes are needed and how you'll go about doing that
- plan how you're going to use (or not use) the 4th gen A/C controls and how these will be integrated into the 3rd gen setup
- plan for some of your "new" 4th gen parts to come cracked, or otherwise crack while you handle them. They are all plastic, so expect to do plastic repair on these parts or keep shelling out for more of them
Best of luck. The 4th gen dash / door panels swap isn't for the feint of heart.
Yeah, I'm definitely ok with the fab work, I've put more effort into stupider things. I actually started a dash swap almost 20 years ago when I was young, dumb, and stupid, so I have a pretty good idea of the labor already. I'm still not set on either, and I have plenty of time to make decisions.
You might want to search the threads. There are some good ones showing what some guys did. Or Google image search "firebird 3rd gen custom dash" or any variant. You will be surprised. Some good stuff.
A few pics of what I did. Many, many other options out there.
10-19-2022, 06:41 PM
