MY98-00 Dash Conversion

I'm thinking about doing this conversion as the original dash is horrible... I've got the later pre-face lift dash with the square heater controls and the electronic speedo, does anyone know how much work is involved, is it just a case of splicing in the connectors and fitting, the later dash and sourcing some MY98 clocks? Thanks!

You will need the later front dash loom as well. This will have all the relevant electrical connectors.
The later speedo can be re-wired to your existing speedo loom, fuel gauge, water temp, dash symbols etc. The cable operated speedo then needs to be changed to the electronic speed sensor that's fitted to the gearbox, plus rewiring that part. I used the 98 sti speedo to my pre96 wrx along with a electronic speedo convertor. I am not sure if using a uk based car & mixing it with jap speedo will give a true mph reading. So stick with uk later speedo if you have a uk car, likewise jap with later jap type speedo.

The heater controls can be spliced into the old loom but you will need the later blower motor unit. The connectors are different as well as some extra wires so it will be difficult to rewire. The servos on the heater matrix unit look the same but use different pin outs on the connectors. So its best to change them as well.

The later dash bolts in various places, 2 on the bulkhead & some on the hidden cross bar. The later crossbar is different in shape, so your old steering column wont just bolt on. You either need to modify it or use the later column. The 2 bolt point on the bulkhead are wider apart on the later cars so you need another diy fix there. The 2 or 4 dash pegs that locate in holes on the bulkhead are wider or shorter apart, so another diy fix required again.
The centre console has different mounting points which need to be made up, the handbrake lever is different as well but at least this just bolts on.

There are some many little things are required to do to make it a complete finish job.
The wiring is one part & the other is drilling or making brackets, depends what parts to use?

Ticky

Ive got a 97 car, i wonder if its different.. its already got the electric speedo and the center console (around hte handbrake) looks different to the earlier ones.

Well thats one part less that you will need then. The 98 clocks should work fine. Its just the later 99 clocks that use a 3 wire speed sensor which make the wiring difficult & from what I can remember is not compatible with your ecu. At least you can trace a copper ribbon circuit on the back of the 98 speedo where as the 99 does not have the ribbon circuit. So you would have to rely on a good wiring diagram. Note the 98 speed sensor is a 2 wire type.

The later handbrake lever bolts up no problem. Its just that the non facelift handbrake uses a different shaped grip cover. So when you let the handbrake down it catches on the later console trim. I use to get a flicker of the handbrake on symbol so I changed that part too.

will have to investigate my speedo sender, steering column not being compatible is putting me off a bit now lol

did you do this in the end davey and ticky any more info on the aircon wiring and speedo wiring temped to keep the standard speedo for the time being if i can make it fit

I didnt bother in the end

Mongo

Ade you old fooker

Fancy seeing you here.

Originally Posted by sturu

did you do this in the end davey and ticky any more info on the aircon wiring and speedo wiring temped to keep the standard speedo for the time being if i can make it fit

yhpm.

The wiring for the speedo should be in the project thread section. Use "search function" I posted all the wiring colour codes there sometime ago.

Here the finished conversion.

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/PICT0433.jpg
Ticky

looks spot on where did you get the defi pod from may i ask

I have done a cluster conversion. It is not that hard but you should replace the MY98 mechanical VSS to get the speedo working.

The only thing that doesnt work on me is the DCCD lights because I dont have DCDD =)