Thinking about a dash swap...

[PoisonDrop]

My dash is shot to crap. Many large cracks. Only problem is, I can't find a 93 dash anywhere. But there are 2 94's at the junk near me, so I'm thinking about doing a dash swap. Just a few things, I have a BP using a 92 Escort harness for the motor. So I can either rewire my front harness to fit the new dash harness, or get a new 94 front harness and rewire it to fit the BP harness. It seems like the first one would be easier, less wires to switch. Just the bit about removing and installing the new dash on my old rebar. The thing is, I need to complete the swap in like 3 days max. So I need everything to go pretty smooth. I need the car for work, and would really like to avoid borrowing a car until this is done.

Searched, read lots of threads, but have yet to find a full write up. Maybe I'll do one if I do the swap...

So does anyone have any advice for me in my situation? I know how to do the swap, but thinking it would be nice to hear from one of you guys who have done this before. I'm planing on using my 93 rebar with the 94 dash parts. Anything I should watch out for? I hear there is some cutting if I use the dash as is, but if I use my old rebar with the new dash all the holes line up?

Thanks in advance!

[PoisonDrop]

Well, it seems that no one will admit to doing this swap (lol), so here is my plan...

- 94 dash from the junkyard (with dash harness, all switches, center console, etc...)
- 93 style rebar (from my current dash)
- 93 instrument cluster
- 93 a/c controls

I will take the new dash parts and swap them onto my current rebar so everything will bolt up nice and neat. As for the wiring, the dash harness is pretty much just for the controls that are within the driver's reach. The instrument cluster plugs are part of the front harness, so I will keep my current cluster to keep the wiring to a minimum. Plus I really don't feel like dealing with the whole speedo gear thing.

My only issue is the a/c wiring. I know it's a little different, since the controls in the 94 are electronic, so I think I'm just going to keep my current controls. Maybe some day I will swap the a/c as well, but I really don't want to deal with replacing a ton of other parts just to get this dash in. So that just leaves the a/c button (between the vents). In the 94's, the a/c button is with the rest of the controls, so there will be no place for this button on the new dash. For simplicity, I am going to turn it on and leave it tucked away under the dash. If I need to turn it off, I'll just reach up there, no biggie. I guess you could lengthen the wires and run a toggle switch or something, but I don't want to do any more wiring than I have to.

[onlytrueromeo]

Ok, I have done the swap. It isn't as easy as you'd think! The 94+ dash does not bolt directly to the 93 rebar. You hafta make a couple brackets, or just use the 2 or 3 mounting points that do work. You will have alot of extra screws! Once it's in the car, it feels much more snug.

The heating pipes from both the 94 and the 92 do not fit w/ the dash/rebar. I got some flexible dryer pipe and ran my own tubing. Duct tape helped seal everything!

I could not find a 94+ HVAC panel w/ slider controls AND A/C. So I couldn't get my A/C hooked up (but mine is broken anyway)

Cut the interior wiring harness out of the 94 car you are getting the stuff from. Keep your 92 harness on the rebar. You will need to swap out a few connects from the 94 harness, but it is much easier than fitting the 94 harness as there is a different fusebox plug, and other things.

My 92 had slider HVAC as I said above, if you have a 94+ car w/ the pushbutton style, you will need to swap out the motors under the dash to make them work.

On the slider style w/ A/C mounted on it, the A/C button has separate wires that go to it. I don't know if the US 94+ pushbutton style is the same, I never looked when I had my RS in my possession.


Do you have a 92 or 93 car, and is it an RS or GS? The instrument cluster is only different if you have a mechanical vs electronic speedo. You WILL need to swap the mounting tabs from the 94+ dash, as the 92 style does not mount up...otherwise the 2 clusters are identical.

Stop worrying about doing wiring, otherwise I would not do this swap. Your 92 style HVAC controls will not fit in the 94 dash right. The wiring to do this swap is not that bad, most of the colors are identical, which is why I said you need the 94+ dash harness. For me it was easier to keep the 4 way flasher buttons from the 92, they drop right into the 94+ dash to replace the black buttons that don't do anything. Only downside is that you not have 2hazards switches, the big one on the 94+ isn't hooked up so it does nothing. Didn't bother me

Some other points to note:

You will need to do some cutting/bending of metal pieces on both the dash and the rebar. You will see what I'm talking about when you try to fit it together. Angle grinder/tin snips help here!

Trim around radio/center console by the carpet does not line up 100%, as it is meant to attach to the 94+ style dash, not the 92. You will not be able to fully attach the pieces that cover the ECU.

Allot a LONG weekend to do this swap.

Getting the dash off is a PITA if you don't know the problems you will run into. Make sure you read through the online manual! Getting the heating vent by the windshield off is essential to getting the dash out...and no screwdriver that I had would fit to get the Philips head screws out. Use a dull knife or similar to remove the plastic clipped pieces covering the screws. I misplaced my angled screwdriver piece but I used a different method to get them out. Use a 90 degree bend screwdriver like shown in the picture, or use a socket and a small Philips bit.

[PoisonDrop]

I have a 93 RS. I've taken my dash out countless times, but I haven't seen the insides of a 94 dash, so thanks for all the info on that one. That's good to know that there will be some custom brackets made. Better to be prepared.

So you're saying it's easier to mod my current dash harness than the 94 harness? I guess I can't argue with that. Thanks, that'll probably save me a headache later...

Yeah I'm going to attempt to use my current a/c controls and just leave the a/c button pressed somewhere in the dash. Maybe I'll run a toggle, or maybe I'll swap the rest of the a/c parts over. But I'll deal with that later.

I'm going to the junkyard tomorrow. I shall post my findings...

[PoisonDrop]

The junkyard dashes are both cracked as well. Not as bad as mine, but that sucks anyway. Some good may come of it, though. In my search for a dash I may have found a 92, but I'll have to drive across state. And they don't know if it's cracked, so kinda taking a chance there. But I'm desperate, so I may just do it. They want $150 for it though, can you believe that? I'll HAVE to talk them down, cuz I'd rather bondo my dash than pay that much.

[Daninski]

Gee I just scrapped a 92 with a perfect dash, too bad. Canadian dashes don't get the sun and heat like your southern dashes do so we don't have much of a cracking problem. My advise is to keep looking and stick with a 92-93 just to avoid the headaches. Cheers

[PoisonDrop]

Geeze I found another and they want $100 for just the top panel. They won't let me take it out, they have to do it. I know I'm just paying for labor. I told him I could do it easier since I know what I'm doing. I can take my dash out in like 10 minutes. Oh well. I'll probably just end up driving across state...