can I swap the '88 interior with '94 + ???

 

1.you can use the front floor carpets, but not the side carpets like where the hand brake is because the hand brake is in a different place, and the speakers are attached down by the floor.
2. A. you can use the rear cargo floor mat but:
B. you have to use the 90-96 rear speaker covers to cover the forward hole in the rear wheel well carpets
3. you can use the seats, but plan on getting creative to use the sport seat bladders because there are no places to put the control.
4. you can use the halo panels, but be prepared to add holes in the halo panels and plug the old holes for your seat belts because the later cars have the seat belts upper attach point in a different location. Also, you have to switch the temp sensor over the driver.
5. you cannot use the door panels because they mate with the new style dash.
6. you can use the floor mats, just be prepared to add a hook for the new style floor mats because they have a retaining hook hole with a ring grommmet in the mat.
7. you may be able to use the carpet on the center hump console sides if the carpet was cut big because the old style console doesn't drop down as far.
other than that, it's a piece of cake

 

ok good . How about dash and door panels ?

 

Since the bodies are virtually the same, the door panels SHOULD work if you transplant the dash with it. And, I'm pretty sure I've seen someone post about having done this.

Sounds like a LOT of work. You must have TONs of energy!!!

 

the problem with dash is that the controls require body control modules, and you have to swap the entire wiring harness. That also gets into swapping out engines because the later cars have LT-1 engines and computer controlled transmissions. The engine management systems are different and therefore require different harnesses. like Xing body and engine harnesses from different engines and different harnesses from different cars.
It would be possible to remove the wire harnesses from both cars, disassemble both and integrate both harnesses into one, but then there is that goo that GM fills the firewall connector with that never hardens. you have to sort of melt it off the wires, and find some more to fill it back up with.
This is not a good project. You need to sell your car and buy what you want.

Of course, if you have plenty of money, don't need a job, and you never got bored with repetitious tasks, have a love for an almost insurmountable challenge that might be worth less than when you started, have a favored car and a donor car in relatively good condition along with huge amounts of time to devote to this, and a 4 car garage, go ahead.

 

so the dash thing looks like a big pain....


how about bumpers only ???

 

No problem. I've done that. (95 bumpers onto an 89 car).

This is my 89....

 

Nice hood Gregg. Is that a Toledo?

 

Yes. It's the 2 3/4" version. It's well made,,,easy to prep. The underside doesn't even need to be painted!

I also have the M1 front spoiler, long discontinued Lawrence-Keech sidepipes, a WingsWest wing, ZR-1 chrome sawblades, and 315/35-17 rears. And, of course, the new 383.

The bumper swap was relatively straight-forward. I did it w/o a manual. You will need to get the crash structures behind the bumpers to effect the change. I used factory. Aftermarket pieces are also available (that may adapt to the crash contour behind your original bumpers).

You have to do the whole perimeter too. The "square" molding is built into everything on the early cars.

 

Wow I think that this is the first time I've seen a pic of your whole car other than the avitar shot. Looks Do the side pipes have any sort of muffler or is it basically just a pipe directly from the headers?

 

It's a convoluted mess under there.

My headers run thru Magnaflow spun cats, then into a SpinFlow dual-in/single-out muffler. The muffler connects directly to the sipepipe inlet which is a splitter. The sidepipes curve out to the sides, into a glass-pack muffler, then exit.

Because of the extra curves and single inlet, I figured this sidepipe system to be best on a car up to 350hp. That's the main reason I opted to build a TPI application....I wanted to keep the pipes.

The input connector actually splits immediately into dual 2 3/4" pipes. I could hack/weld to create a true dual setup, but the power level I'm running now can EASILY get me into trouble now. With ALL that torque, it's REALLY hard to keep the ole foot out of it! All it takes is a 2-sec toe flick and I'm 20-40mph over the speed limit (depending on the gear).

Bottom line: I can't complain about the power levels EVEN WITH using these pipes. (Also, I'd lose the center muffler if I could figure out a way to cancel out the 1700 rpm drone. Even WITH the SpinTech (psuedo race) muffler, I can still hear it in 6th on the hwy.)

 

Big pain sure.. can it be done.. Absolutely for an 89 unless swapping to an LT1/4 I suggest getting a 90-91 donor.. MUCH easier swap

my old 89, conversion was done in 2002 by me (sold it in 2008):




New dash:






Exterior: