Dash Swap ('96 LSC to my '93) - Will It Work?

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jbelcourt

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I've discussed this on the Facebook page, but I'm going to pick up a '96 LSC parts car on Sunday with immaculate interior. I plan on definitely changing all the seats and at least door panels, though I'm considering going as far as the entire doors and the entire dash. I've done some research but I'm having a little doubt on the swap.

Will the '96 LSC dash plug and play into the '93? There is some concern on the plug for the ECU for starters.

If anyone has done this, or has any information, that would be GREATLY appreciated. I want a little more confidence going into this project before I start it.

Worst case, I won't swap the dash but I'd much rather do the swap to this dash which is in much better condition, will match the door panels and seats when I swap, plus it's double DIN.
 
i expect you'll have to swap wiring harnesses and/or do some custom wiring.
 
Another thing to consider is the down time of your 93..I wouldn't expect to be able to pull the dash on both cars and reinstall in your 93 all in one day especially if its your first time. Not trying to discourage you but just something to think about before you go tearing into it.
 
keVIIIn said:
Another thing to consider is the down time of your 93..I wouldn't expect to be able to pull the dash on both cars and reinstall in your 93 all in one day especially if its your first time. Not trying to discourage you but just something to think about before you go tearing into it.
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Yeah, that's why I'm trying to research as much as possible before going into it. My thought was to remove the dash from the 96 on like a Saturday then on Sunday remove mine and swap. That way I don't have to do so much in a single day, and I can get it all done at once. I don't have another car to use while mine is down.

Unfortunately, if it's not a straight swap, I can't do it. I can't risk cutting into my harness not knowing what I'm doing. Shoot, that really sucks.
 
Unless I knew for sure the wiring is the same, but the connector is different. In which case, I could easily color code swap the wiring harness from mine to that dash lol.
 
i dont see why you can't remove as much of your harness as possible from your dash and put it back into the 96 dash..its basically the same exact dashboard with the exeption of the double din radio bezel.
 
that's where i would start, yeah.
its been done.

some time and the wiring charts, i'm sure it could be done again.
 
I think what I might do, if anything, is pull the dash out and bring it upstairs until I have time to do it. That way if I have to get rid of the parts car, I at least have it. I live in an apartment so I'm not expecting a lot of time with it before someone complains and I have to get rid of it.

Plus, when I take a week vacation once vacation rolls over for this year, I could take my time with it. Maybe pull my harness out and do it upstairs then bring everything down and just plug it in.

I've never seen a harness out, so I don't know what I'm looking at or what I'm doing. The more time to look at it and understand it, the better.
 
When you remove the 96 dash, set it on the floor face down on a blanket and remove the whole harness from the back of the dash. It's actually pretty easy and straight forward. You will have to remove some screws and duct work to the vents for access to some of the wires. Then remove the harness from your 93 and swap to the 96 dash. If you've had several dash's out, I would say you could do it in a long hard day. But if you've never had a dash out before, I would definitely count on 2 full days of work. It's not hard, just time consuming.
 
chargerxr said:
When you remove the 96 dash, set it on the floor face down on a blanket and remove the whole harness from the back of the dash. It's actually pretty easy and straight forward. You will have to remove some screws and duct work to the vents for access to some of the wires. Then remove the harness from your 93 and swap to the 96 dash. If you've had several dash's out, I would say you could do it in a long hard day. But if you've never had a dash out before, I would definitely count on 2 full days of work. It's not hard, just time consuming.
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So we're not talking about modifying my wiring...just pull and swap my harness over to the 96 dash then reinstall new dash in my car? If so, I'd be much more confident in doing this lol.

Also, i would assume i can install the arm rest/cup holder/shifter bezel from the 96 in since I'm changing the whole dash right?
 
My 93 has a 95-96 dash in it however the swap was not done by me. As far as i know since I did pull my dash to check my blend door recently I didn't see any wires that needed to be swapped. Like someone also said earlier the only difference really is the center console bezel and cutouts are different. Harness is really just wires and connectors associated with any part. It's not something special inside the dash. If you have the patience and have the luxury of not needing the car for 2-4 days you can definitely do it. Good luck.
 
Yes you will have to use the console from the 96. Ecu is not an issue at all since the wiring harness that goes to it comes from the firewall. It doesn't even have to be removed if I remember correctly. I swapped a 96 dash into my son's 93 2 summers ago. Also over behind the glove box area is a relay on the 96 that lets the radio and windows work after the ignition is off for 10 mins. The 93 doesn't have it, but I think has the connector for the relay is there on the 93 harness. Can't remember for sure because I used the 96 harness, but wished I had swapped them.
 
chargerxr said:
Yes you will have to use the console from the 96. Ecu is not an issue at all since the wiring harness that goes to it comes from the firewall. It doesn't even have to be removed if I remember correctly. I swapped a 96 dash into my son's 93 2 summers ago. Also over behind the glove box area is a relay on the 96 that lets the radio and windows work after the ignition is off for 10 mins. The 93 doesn't have it, but I think has the connector for the relay is there on the 93 harness. Can't remember for sure because I used the 96 harness, but wished I had swapped them.
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So when you swapped your sons dash, you were able to just use everything straight from the 96 to the 93 without changing the harness...but you're recommending the harness swap because of some of the relays aren't used in the 93 that are present on the 96? Did I understand correctly?

Thanks to everyone that has posted so far. It's been really enlightening.
 
Your ECU wiring stays put. At least it did on mine. I cut the electrical cloth tape holding my harnesses to the plastic track on the back of the dash, and just pulled the dash out. Then when I put the new dash in, I retaped the harness up to the plastic track. No biggie. Dash is a dash. A little harder that way, but didnt remove any wiring.
 
Is the wiring that goes into the doors also part of that dash harness or no?

I might be swapping the entire doors out also and want to make sure.
 
The reason I say to swap the harness is because of the connectors that go through the floor in front of the console that controls trans and has extra wires for the extra o2 sensors the 96 has. Wire colors are different there and pin locations. It was a pain in the ass figuring that out even with wiring diagrams. Door wiring is separate from dash harness. I just mentioned the accessory delay relay in case you wanted those features. I think that's what it's called.
 
chargerxr said:
The reason I say to swap the harness is because of the connectors that go through the floor in front of the console that controls trans and has extra wires for the extra o2 sensors the 96 has. Wire colors are different there and pin locations. It was a pain in the ass figuring that out even with wiring diagrams. Door wiring is separate from dash harness. I just mentioned the accessory delay relay in case you wanted those features. I think that's what it's called.
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Ah, gotcha. So if i just use my old harness on the new dash, its obviously just plug and play at that point. Very good to know.

If you have any other tips or tricks, I'm all ears!
 
Where are you in Orlando, and what will you be doing with the rest of the car? I am down in St.Cloud and have a half-breed (97 with a 94 rear sheetmetal).
 
markup97 said:
Where are you in Orlando, and what will you be doing with the rest of the car? I am down in St.Cloud and have a half-breed (97 with a 94 rear sheetmetal).
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I'm actually in Casselberry but that's not much of a difference.

Once i take what i need, i plan on scrapping it for whatever i can get. $100...$200. Whatever.
 
hmmmm this was a very helpful thread,thanks guys, I've bin dreaming of running a 96 style dash and console in my 93. Cant stand the damn single cup holder and the fact that my elbow rest on it.
 
Any of you Florida guys know how to find out who owns an abandoned car? I know where a Mark VIII is sitting on blocks and would like to contact the registered owner to see if they are willing to sell it.
 
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