slowassR

I did some searching about putting the integra dash i just purchased in my crx.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=236054

I found some good install info informatin posted by Dustin. "(1) GSR/LS Dash, Center Console, Armrest, Gauge Cluster
(1) Underdash wiring harness for above, MUST HAVE
(1) 94+ Integra Helm Manual
(1) 88 CRX Helm Manual (in PDF format, ask me for it )
(1) Die grinder with cutoff wheel
(1) TIG Welder
(1) Drill
(1) Rivet gun
Metal stock (I bought some mild steel at home depot) -- for brackets
Sheet metal -- for brackets. I used stainless because I like it

You have to remove the steering column brace (that bent pipe that bolts from the driver side over the steering column and to the center console floor area... it holds the fuse box also). Then you have to seriously cut up the steering column itself:



This is to clear the integra gauge cluster. The steering column is not as strong now, I can kind of bend it if I hang on it -- but it's not too bad.

The top "small" window vents on the bottom of the integra dash have to be cut out. They hit the firewall. THe back edge of the dash has to be trimmed in the center, not as much at the corners. A lot of the plastic underneath has to be cut out because it hits the firewall "ledge". The area that sits near the steering column brace (gauge cluster area) has to be notched quit a bit to clear the CRX column:



I had to take apart the steering column adjustment system-- and 'adjust it' with the die grinder. Metal had to be cut out so that I could push the steering wheel as far to the driver's side as possible. I wanted the steering wheel to sit in the center of the integra dash cutout. Not too hard, but from the top you can sort of tell that the steering wheel is tilted. It is not apparent to the driver, however:




I had to make 5 brackets to hold the dash in place. 3 hold the main piece of the dash, 1 for the union between the armrest and console, and one at the rear of the armrest. I only took good pictures of two of the brackets:



The brackets are ugly -- I wasn't trying to win any welding competitions with them. I was too lazy to grind off the mill scale on the metal so the welds are ugly hehe. They bolt to stock open bolt holes on the sides of the car. The arms extend up and bolt to the side holes in the integra dash.. they bolt through this hole:


The third bracket is basically a wide 'L' shaped bracket that connects the metal sheetmetal in the dash near the stereo to the floorboard.. no pictures of it because I forgot, but it bolts to the metal piece in the bottom center of this picture:



The fourth bracket is a flat piece of sheetmetal that bolts to the 2 threaded holes in the center floorboard where the stock e-brake console was. These holes are about 2.5" too far towards the back of the car to be used for the integra dash. I made a piece of sheetmetal that bolted to those holes, and then 2.5" farther up I had 2 nuts welded behind the bracket. I basically 'relocated' the stock holes so they would line up with the integra dash. Sorry, no pics. I suck.

The final bracket is a U shaped bracket that bolts underneat the 2 bolts that hold the rear E-brake support. Each side of the 'U' has a nut welded behind it so that I could run a 10mm bolt from the outside of the arm rest into the bracket. Also no pictures here.

The wiring was not too bad. Most of the colors match up between the integra and CRX harnesses. Granted that a lot of the wiring is on the "wrong plug" so it's sort of a mess to route the wires, but it comes out looking relatively OEM. You end up with a lot of extra lights in the dash that you could use for extra things if you wanted.. ie the SRS light, "door open" light, Cruise Control light, etc.



I took the liberty of resetting the odometer to near the actual mileage of the chassis:



Nothing wrong with having a little fun though:



I also swapped the VIN plate from my CRX dash onto the integra dash, and riveted it on.

I had to purchase separately a sunroof connector from a 94+ integra because the one on the CRX harness does not match the Integra switch. I had to do some creative wiring here because the stock CRX setup uses a "tilt switch" that cuts ground to the motor to prevent it from overloading. The integra switch has no provision for this, so I just kinda ignored that switch, hehe. But the sunroof works great.

The dash dimmer has to be rewired because the connector is different. The wire colors match up, though.

The clock connector plugs right in, but mine doesn't seem to be working right now. I'll have to fix that some day.

The integra emergency flasher switch is not used right now. It has like 10 pins running to it because the switch itself contains the electronics to flash the lights. So the flasher switch on the CRX steering column actually works.

I had to lose the rear defroster. The CRX switch uses a "push on-push off" idea to turn on the rear defroster. The Integra setup is momentary and uses an electronic timer unit to run the defroster. I had it wired up and working, but the defroster only worked when I HELD the defroster button down... so I just disabled it.

The fuse box has no place to mount with the integra dash. If I weren't getting sick of working on the car I would have fabricated a nice bracket. But rather I decided to zip tie it to the bottom of the dash .. works for me. Same with the main relay.

The car had to be converted to electronic VSS. This was pretty easy.. just bolt the VSS on the tranny, and run the signal wire from the sensor to the "speed pulser" wire that connects the gauge cluster and the ECU. +12v switched and ground also have to be sent to the sensor.. I just tapped into those at the ECU.

Overall I am very happy with the swap. It is so nice to have a cup holder in the crx And an armrest. It also makes the interior look so much more modern.

Dustin
_______ "


Dustin put some great info out there. I was hopeing someone woudl have more informatin about this topic. Pics are great!!! Any help would make a big difference ... thanks Slowass

FRESH

that **** is NICE...

slowassR

Thats what im sayin

bryant

very nice, but i still like the crx dash better.

Shawn C

iTrader: (1)

*starts to buy all of that ***** wow, definitely on the to-mod list and why do you like the CRX dash better? i think i would cry if i was looking at a teggie dash again. my poor car........ oh well. props, g!

QWKPHKR

hey guys here's some pics of my ITR dash swap.. and the last 2 are when it was finished. Honestly I think this is the best honda/acura dash EVER.. i would never be able to go back to the old sqaure CRX dash.. It was a hard swap... for mine I found that the ignition on the steering column was a huge factor in not being able to center the dash in the middle of the car. So what I did was move the ignition to one of those pod things on the dash and I was able to center the cash without a problem. The thing is sold as a rock. I used the original mount in the middle with a custom mount to lower the bolt hole and then made up two other mounts on either side of the dash... But there was a lot of BS work to get it to sit correctly, wiring, vents actually blowing out with a purpose and **** like that.. but yet again.. it is f*ckin worth it..

Hope you like the pics..






















[Modified by QWKPHKR, 5:00 AM 3/11/2003]

bryant

Im not saying its not sweet, becuse it is. The cup holders and arm rest would be nice, but I just like the crx dash, its plain and simple. plus its stock. no ghettoness. still the Teg dash is very sweet.

itsallmotor

I love it, it looks WAY dope, I just can't decide which is more important, functional dash(lots of pockets) or cup holders lol

Toptul_Honda

what didu do about the door panels?

JCracer723

QWKPHKR

Well when I first got my dash in, i just cut the door panels to fit with the dash, but now I have a pair of custom made door panels on, and it looks like it was all ment to be there...

FullMetalJacket

Good Job!..the dash is too new and heavy looking for my taste..but mad props for making it looks like it came that way from the factory

EF9RacerWhoa!

do the door panals fit the crx too
and do the center fit too

iwouldHITit

man i want to do that now but im to lazy

CRXGSR

Can you elaborate on this:
"I had to purchase separately a sunroof connector from a 94+ integra because the one on the CRX harness does not match the Integra switch. I had to do some creative wiring here because the stock CRX setup uses a "tilt switch" that cuts ground to the motor to prevent it from overloading. The integra switch has no provision for this, so I just kinda ignored that switch, hehe. But the sunroof works great."

My dash is in, but I can't seem to figure out this part.

PSIKOTICcrx

nice information!!! on a scale of 1-10 how hard would you say the dash swap was.

bfrank81

Me To

Chronicsinners

My problem with swapping a dash like this one is that once it is swapped it often seems impossible to rid yourself of all the rattles and shaking noises, dont get me wrong it looks great, but i am partial to the crx dash, because a) i like its styling and b) its already there from the factory

slowassR

QWKPHKR ~

Man, your dash looks great!!!! I also have a black momo stearing wheel too . Should come out pretty tight.

Your relocated ignition is the tighest thing I have seen!!!!

sappsycho

Man, you don't need cup holders! That's what the spots next to the hand brake are for!!

QWKPHKR

Thanks guys.. at first I thought it was gonna be *** when driving around with the rattling and all but with the mounting positions I used the middle and one on each side it is solid and does make any noises that my original CRX dash made..

Ya i'm hoping to find a Momo wheel aswell can't really find anything right now..but on a scale of 1..10 on the difficulty I would say to do it right and all I would say 9, just b/c I spend a lot of time trying to make it look stock as possible and feel like it was there when it came off the lot...

I'm hoping soon that I will make a write up for the complete swap if I can remember everything that I did..

Thanks again guys..

latz

slowassR

If you felt the need to make that any time sooooon im sure someone would use it

shortyz

QWKPHKR i know you live in canada cause u got timmy hoes coffee cups in there!!
hehe
where in canada u live..

that itr dash is sweet man

QWKPHKR

Live in the Niagara Region, close to Niagara Falls..

Home of the killer Niagara CRX/Honda Meets..

Thanks,

Latz

PhatHardy

so how did you get the vents to work, everybody i've talked to said they couldn't get the vents to work. That's the main thing that makes me not want to start buying the pieces.