dash swap, glove box differences
#1
dash swap, glove box differences
I'm putting a black '97 dash in my '94. I've run across a few little oddities like the cable brackets on the glove box lock being positioned different and the cable being longer and its latch mounting differently, requiring swapping of parts to the other lock/button.
I have everything mostly put back together and ran into another unexpected one. The '97 glove box has two mounting holes in the upper left corner, whereas the '94 glove box has only one. (They're what the little black squares clip in to cover up.) The '97 dash has its mounting hole in a different spot, corresponding to the extra hole on the black glove box.
I assume I'm not the only person who's run across this. What has been other people's solution for black/tan dashes? Drill a hole in the glove box to line up with the dash's hole and ignore that it can't be covered with the square plug, drill an extra hole in the dash to line up with the glove box hole and put some sort of plastic rivet back there to thread into, or use just use the right mount up top instead of two?
Looking at the back side of the glove box, there are several screws along the bottom edge. I was thinking it might be possible to disconnect the inner box (which has the inconsistent mounting holes) and swap it over, but all the plastic seems to be a continuous piece. I can't figure out what those screws/clips are holding together, and knowing SC plastic, most of them will break from exploratory surgery.
I have everything mostly put back together and ran into another unexpected one. The '97 glove box has two mounting holes in the upper left corner, whereas the '94 glove box has only one. (They're what the little black squares clip in to cover up.) The '97 dash has its mounting hole in a different spot, corresponding to the extra hole on the black glove box.
I assume I'm not the only person who's run across this. What has been other people's solution for black/tan dashes? Drill a hole in the glove box to line up with the dash's hole and ignore that it can't be covered with the square plug, drill an extra hole in the dash to line up with the glove box hole and put some sort of plastic rivet back there to thread into, or use just use the right mount up top instead of two?
Looking at the back side of the glove box, there are several screws along the bottom edge. I was thinking it might be possible to disconnect the inner box (which has the inconsistent mounting holes) and swap it over, but all the plastic seems to be a continuous piece. I can't figure out what those screws/clips are holding together, and knowing SC plastic, most of them will break from exploratory surgery.
#2
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iTrader: (5)
I once bought a 1998 SC dashboard in great condition to replace my faded 1993 dash. Sadly while it did fit I found that many things would not bolt onto/into it on the passenger side: mainly the passenger airbag, entire glove box and door assembly and the center vents were a no-go. I actually had it installed when I realized this. I took everything out and put the old one back in.
I couldn't even give that perfect 1998 dash away for free. It was eventually binned.
What's curious about your post is that you're noticing these differences on a 1997 dash. I had thought 1992, 1993-1997 and 1998-2000 represented the only dash changes.
It sounds more like it's 1993-1996 that are the same while 1997 changed and 1998-2000 changed yet again. And the later changes undoubtedly will be by the build month of the car if a late 1997 or early 1998.
I haven't encountered your specific differences... and it's been a few years since I tried swapping dash boards... but I do recall at least some things on the right side not lining up correctly. Enough such that the dash would fit the chassis OK but everything else on the passenger side would have had to be updated too.
I couldn't even give that perfect 1998 dash away for free. It was eventually binned.
What's curious about your post is that you're noticing these differences on a 1997 dash. I had thought 1992, 1993-1997 and 1998-2000 represented the only dash changes.
It sounds more like it's 1993-1996 that are the same while 1997 changed and 1998-2000 changed yet again. And the later changes undoubtedly will be by the build month of the car if a late 1997 or early 1998.
I haven't encountered your specific differences... and it's been a few years since I tried swapping dash boards... but I do recall at least some things on the right side not lining up correctly. Enough such that the dash would fit the chassis OK but everything else on the passenger side would have had to be updated too.
#3
Sadly while it did fit I found that many things would not bolt onto/into it on the passenger side: mainly the passenger airbag, entire glove box and door assembly and the center vents were a no-go.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ml#post9097923
With the airbag concern eliminated, there aren't really any other incompatibilities that I can see ... assuming you put in all the matching pieces that line up with each other! I hadn't planned on converting the lower dash to black, so that's an unexpected roadblock with the glove box.
I actually had it installed when I realized this. I took everything out and put the old one back in.
What's curious about your post is that you're noticing these differences on a 1997 dash. I had thought 1992, 1993-1997 and 1998-2000 represented the only dash changes.
#5
p.s. I know where someone can get a black driver's seat in excellent condition... (There was virtually no wear to the leather on the car, just damage done by people pulling parts improperly.) How it'll clean up after soaking up rain with no door or moon roof is anyone's guess, though, and hauling it out would be a back breaker. So weird that someone took the passenger seat but not the driver's seat.
#6
Here's the semi-finished product, with a gaping hole where the glove box uncertainty should go:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/bui...ml#post9253398
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/bui...ml#post9253398
#7
Well, I decided to go with Plan A.5 and transfer the tan glove box cover over to the black housing so it would mount up properly to the '97 dash. (I may still put up a WTT ad to swap the black glove box for a tan '97+ one, since people are more likely to be searching for a black one.) Then I had another idea to complement the unplanned look...
Too bad black window trim is so hard to come by. I might try painting it black with SEM, although it sounds iffy whether that'll hold up on the vinyl.
Also, here's a close-up of the mystery screws/clips on the back of the glove box, with the screws removed in the pic:
It looks like the top and bottom pieces should come apart, but everything appears to be a solid piece of plastic... I've yet to figure out what the screws are holding in place. There must be some sort of insert within the glove box itself.
Too bad black window trim is so hard to come by. I might try painting it black with SEM, although it sounds iffy whether that'll hold up on the vinyl.
Also, here's a close-up of the mystery screws/clips on the back of the glove box, with the screws removed in the pic:
It looks like the top and bottom pieces should come apart, but everything appears to be a solid piece of plastic... I've yet to figure out what the screws are holding in place. There must be some sort of insert within the glove box itself.
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#9
In addition paint the center console black for a more complete look.
#15
I realized today in looking at my old dash, there may have been a simpler solution. The metal bracket that the glove box attaches to up top is removable from the dash. So, assuming the newer dash connects the bracket in the same manner, which I imagine it does, the brackets could be swapped to allow either style glove box to mate up.
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