Fitting S15 cluster in a S13 dash

[xsparc]

Ok so i got the cluster working fine in the car... now to make it FIT in the car.

First i took the dash out and striped it, it was all cracked up anyway
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/1.jpg

Then i lined up and notched the dash so the cluster would fit
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/2.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/3.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/4.jpg

Then i chopped up the bracket that is screwed to the underside of the dash that used to hold everything together
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/5.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/7.jpg

Then i trimed them and glued them in place, notice how the top is slightly angeled. the new bottom mount hole centers line up with the bottom edge of the old mount points and the little nub for the vents
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/6.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/8.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/9.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/10.jpg

Im using 3M 8005 for the glue, stuff is solid as a rock and hard to get ahold of but should never come off... and you SHOULD let it cure for 24 hours.



Stay tuned for the rest when i glass over everything and fix up the bezel

[ZenkiCam]

Nice dude! Looks Clean. great job! Keep us posted.

[origin_s135]

what a cocktease xsparc! can't wait till it's done, keep up the good work.

[mestizo]

Not to be an ass but why didnt you just cut the tab off the cluster instead of the dash itself?

[ZenkiCam]

^^ LOL. That is a good question. would have been a helluva lot easier. i didnt even think about that.

[FRoSt415]

Not to be an ass but why didnt you just cut the tab off the cluster instead of the dash itself?

i think since he wants it to be securley in. if he cut off the tab for the guage then only thing holding it in would be the tabs to the left and right. by cutting the dash he makes it so he can hook up the old vents and bezel and still have that super jdm look. correct me if im wrong please. also do you plan on fiberglassing it and painting it? i would love to see how it will all look with the instuments panles back on and it painted. i use SEM black sateen black paint in a can for my dashes. i think its for plastic heres a sample of a before and after.

BEfore
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o13/FroSt415/Bluegreendash.jpg

After:
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o13/FroSt415/Greentoblack-1.jpg

[xsparc]

because the 2 clusters are not the same shape/size. the s15 cluster is taller, narrower, thicker at the top, thinner at the bottom.

just cant do it

[xsparc]

yes i will glass it and paint it. thats the only easy way to smooth out all the curves and make the guage pod look stockish.

the covering and all the foam make it look much smoother than it really is.

jdm look... not so much. thats not my reason for doing this at least. i was kinda pissed that i can peg the speedo in 4th, i wanted a speedo that can tell me how fast im going all the time, plus i like the center tach... and it doesnt make the car seem so damn old.

for the bezel, it shouldnt be to hard to fit, i trimed the top edge of the dash a little to get some extra clearance, cut a straigh line through the top of the bezle. now im gonna spred it there about and inch or so and add a spot to secure it with the same screw holding the cluster top in. fill a little on the sides and bottom... trim the top back half off (s15 cluster is wide at the top not bottom) and it should go in fine.

[!Zar!]

All I have to say is I'm glad this is a progress thread, and not one asking how it's done.

[ZooMxxl]

Can't wait to see how this turns out. My friend and I finished putting everything together on the breadboard (with help from your sig converter thread) a couple months ago and havnt gotten back to it since (still gotta figure out the wiring). Keep up the good work and keep showing us progress.

[fliprayzin240sx]

You might wanna put some clear coat on that dash. With the sun beating on that dash constant, that black will turn doo doo brown color in a couple of months.

[S13Leprechaun]

^^^ hahaha true that.. do that asap... but try not to make it all shiny, itll look all tacky. lol.

btw this is pretty cool... never thot of anyone ever doing this.. good job!

ps-yay for 1000th post!

[xsparc]

Im so tired of every thread being a question abouot how to do something... people should just start trying new stuff to see how it works out, then post it up for others

For the paint, i dont think im gonna rattle can it, i have a spary gun so i can use auto paint, more flex and shouldnt fade

ZooMxxl, PM me if you need help with the wiring

[JRas]

nice, so far

but you said you wanted to be able to tell how fast you were going won't everything in km/h be a problem than? unless I am missing something

[SR20d2fourT]

You are....

being able to convert it in your head instantly.

Quite easy.

[xsparc]

If you search for my other threads you will see i was the one who made the s15 speedo converter, so the s15 speedo will work in a s13/s14 and read in mph, not kmh

[Petoria]

Come on man its already been a day after your first post we need more pics:naughtyd: . Good luck and cant wait to see it done.

[xsparc]

dude i did that last night, and im still at work today, ill do more when i get home

[Petoria]

dude i did that last night, and im still at work today, ill do more when i get home

I know, I know just giving you a hard time. Take your time and do a good job. Lot of people are going to be wanting to see this completed gl.

[xsparc]

Ok here is the start of the bezel

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/11.jpg

I cut a slit at the top and shaved most of the back
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/12.jpg

see how much room the foam and cover used to take up
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/13.jpg

Im using a piece from the bracket i cut up earlier for the top mount part. bent the top parts up and tirim them back to get it to fit in right
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/15.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/14.jpg

then tape it and use random stuff to hold everything still so the glue can dry
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/16.jpg

[HS13KLS]

looks good man

your smart..

anything looks good when you put time into it.. want to see it done :)

[96Turbo]

muy bien!!!!!!!!

[JRas]

You are....

being able to convert it in your head instantly.

Quite easy.
:hammer:

If you search for my other threads you will see i was the one who made the s15 speedo converter, so the s15 speedo will work in a s13/s14 and read in mph, not kmh

good shit, keep it up

[diomedes]

Great job man!! Now you need to do one for a s14.

[ZooMxxl]

[ZooMxxl, PM me if you need help with the wiring[/quote]

I will keep you in mind if I have any questions when I get back to the project again.

Once more, thanks for the help and great postings.

[ChicagoS14]

POWER and PROPS to you, because thats one hell of an undertaking but well worth it because the S15 cluster is not only purty but so much more readable and the big tachometer is much more driver oriented.

[xsparc]

Crap its been a long time. Work has really been keeping me busy and ive had to spend time on a few other projects, like fixing my roommates Camaro SS, He put his tranny valve body together wrong and fried 3rd. Lucky he didnt blow up anything else. Ive also been working on redoing my E-Gay headlights, i like the look, they just have a bad implementation. So im redoing it with a SS frame and some hella 90mm projectors. Ill update my other thread on those when im get some more progress done. The worst thing is i have to replace my steering rack this weekend. Ill put up a howto and all when i do it. I got it from the rack doctor for like 109 plus an 85 core. It has a 2 year warranty so ill put a small review about it too.

Anyway here is my update...

I put down 2 layers of glass mate and resin to smooth out the molding marks and mold in the guage pod. Then sanded it kinda smooth with 80 grit and a DA. Now im putting down a few coats of poly glaze to smooth it all out before i paint.

Oh i also epoxied all the vents in place. I did this mainly because they would crack or break if you look at them funny. seriously the top vent was like in 6 pieces. I know there are 2 or 3 bolt holes under then so ill just drill the hole back out when im done and find some rubber plug to fill it when im done.

If anyone has any idea how to keep old plastic from cracking and breaking, im all ears.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/100_0392.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/100_0394.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/100_0395.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o229/x86sparc/100_0396.jpg

[AutoKA24DE]

man the in progress pictures look crazy...i'm sure the end result will be teh awesome. i cant wait

[s13 @ fullboost]

looks clean man keep up the great work

[Dousan_PG]

not crazy about the zit on the top of your dash!

but im looking forward to the final product!!

[aa87]

What do you plan on covering it with?

[ZooMxxl]

Did you ever finish fitting it into the dash? I've finished the sig converter a long time ago (using your walkthrough), but put the project away due to school. Now I'm thinking of picking up the project again.

[holybushoffire]

I would also like to see the end result of this thread.

[palmdale_mob]

^^^^
Really though, this thread is just a tease

[xsparc]

I have most of the filler on and sanded out. I havnt been doing much on my car over the last few months because of work. Ill put up some pics when i get home.

[Paul2x]

Question. How were able to get the speedo to work?
If it's a spec-r cluster it pulls the signal from the rear end, not the trans.

??

Thanks =)

[NismoTak]

Question. How were able to get the speedo to work?
If it's a spec-r cluster it pulls the signal from the rear end, not the trans.

??

Thanks =)
+1

Can't wait to see the final pics of this completed. Been wanting to do this for a long time.

[Flicktitty]

Love the fact this is a build thread and not a "will it work" thread.

+ imaginary Rep.

Dash is looking pretty good too.

[drift freaq]

Question. How were able to get the speedo to work?
If it's a spec-r cluster it pulls the signal from the rear end, not the trans.

??

Thanks =)

I would assume he is going to pull the signal from the snout of the differential. Its what I was going to do in my RB25 powered S13 which I was running a functioning S15 gauge cluster. Its the same thing I am going to do with my VQ setup because 350Z VQ's just like S15 SR's get the speed signal from the differential. In that situation any ABS sensor on the snout differential will work. The one on the S15 diff is nothing more than a optical sensor and with either the stock s15 converter box or 350z converter box or a Dakota Digital converter box you can convert the signal. Yes its that simple. You can choose to build a converter like the OP did or you can buy one off the shelf.

[xsparc]

Question. How were able to get the speedo to work?
If it's a spec-r cluster it pulls the signal from the rear end, not the trans.

??

Thanks =)

Look at my other thread http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/164351-s15-cluster-sig-converter.html

[roninwon]

i know its been forever since u started this thead but hows your progress on it

[TaiichiSama]

:2c: Hey. I am curious to know your progress. I would definitely be interested in paying you to do this for me... sent you a message...

[singlecamslam]

Even though you bumped a year old thread, if anyone out there knows how to do this, PM me, i need an s14 cluster into s13 i think its the same type of deal but easier.

[iLagX]

I believe he has sold the car with the s15 cluster. i've seen it. looks legit.

[roninwon]

ok heres an easier update.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab48/roninwon1989/dash.jpg

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab48/roninwon1989/dash1.jpg

all you have to do is trim the cluster area thats all.