Pete’s GS400 Build Thread by Sevenevez

7 minute(s) of a 283 minute read

Hey Puff, This was my original concept. Black floormats would hopefully add enough contrast down below 

7-25-2013

Dear Greyhound, what ya got for me?

Whew, took a LONG time! 

I paid for the Dash over 2 months ago. Finally arrived. Hoping i will have time here soon to do the dash swap and steering wheel to complete my vision on the guts

7-28-2013

Project Two-Tone Interior: Complete! Part 1 of 2

Took me about 9 hours on Saturday Start to Finish. If i had help would probably go faster but you can do this all by yourself as you will see. At any rate, for those of you that are doing this or even just need to take your dash off, i found this pdf somewhere here on CL awhile back and saved it to be handy. Took my time and just went through the instructions

--Link to pdf--> http://straight-p.com/gs400/gs400-dash-removal.pdf --

However, the DIY's with pics always make a good reference, so here's the Walk-Through.

Step One: Disconnect your battery so you don't break your neck when the airbag explodes!

it's good to have it off so you arent draining it while you work and nothing will short out either.

On the side of your steering wheel/column, pop out the lil square plastic on the left side. and use a torx / star driver to loosen this screw

on the right side pop the little circle out and loosen the other screw

Just lightly wiggle the Airbag out of there and carefully unplug the yellow airbag connector

I use my 4-way lug wrench to break the big nut loose holding the steering wheel on

Instead of renting a steering wheel puller, just put your foot on the brake for leverage and pull on the top of the wheel, then a good hard tug on the lower part of the wheel pulled right off.

Take off the 2 piece shroud. Phillips 3 screws (left, right and under)

Flathead pry off the 3 clips holding on the ignition plastic surround

2 screws and a center clip hold the lowest kickplate. (push the OBD II connector through and untwist lil light bulb.

Next lower plastic section. Couple screws hold the hood latch on, then 2 more to pull panel and unplug these 2 connectors

I like to take pics of the placement of the screws laid out so i can remember later

Lightly pry out the clips that hold your Gauge Bezel in. ( tip, wrap a lil tape on your screwdriver tip so you dont scratch stuff up )

4 screws hold in your cluster. Lightly pull it out and disconnect the plugs

Passenger side kickplate

Be careful with that yellow plug is your Passenger Air Bag. Also disconnect the little black door light switch.

3 screws hold in your CD Changer. Then pull the connectors on it

Theres your air bag. I think you can pull the dash with it still in there, but i dropped mine first.

Take out your ashtray / center console ( pull ashray out, just clips, unplug, lift armrest, pry edge up, unplug seat warmers etc.. then pull out console cover. Then pry out the center AC vent

4 Bolts hold your Climate Control and Radio in. Then unplug all the connectors

Project Two-Tone Interior: Complete! Part 2 of 2

Almost there! Take your time here and pay attention to what is still holding it back. Double check there are no more, plugs, clips or bolts holding it in. ( it will take some good tugging to get it out )

You need to make sure the wire harness is disconnected all through the dash. It runs all through it. This took a good amount of time to me to do and understand what i was doing. 

Gadzooks! What have i got myself into?! haha, 

Ok, i'm going to stop with the reverse pics as it is just go backwards to put the new dash on.

My guest bedroom starting to look like a used Lexus Yard

SEM Black Landau works freakin great for a color match! Had a few pieces that didnt come with my dash and of course the airbag

Remember this ugly crap we started with?

BLAM!!! Check it out

ahhh.. DONE!