can this be done? how difficult would it be? would it need special built parts or mods? thanks in advance

anyone?

The dash itself will be a direct bolt in, then mounting points are the same. However the electrical connections for all the gauges will be different and may require some splicing to work. It has been done before.

would you by any chance have a link, its cuz' I remember looking something on the web, like a write up, but I've been searching the whole day and cant find it... I have a 91 MJ which has been moded from the outside, but I want to mod the inside to look 97+... so I want to change everything... thanks in advance, hope you have a link or some pics... if not I will try and go to the shop to find out if they do it.

anyone else?

@winston427 - You sure about that? I thought the shape of the IP - and therefore the attachment points - changed with the body style in 1997...

For the OP - you're going to run into a small headache with getting everything to work. Reason? 1995-earlier instruments were driven by discrete signals. One sensor, one signal, and the gage works.

1996-up (OBD-II) used a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus to drive the instruments. Sensors all reported to the ECU, which then sent a multiplexed signal to the IP to drive all of the gages. The IP had a DEMUX (DEMUltipleXer) inbuilt, which tore that signal apart and handed signals to each gage.

So, you'd probably need to switch a lot more than the IP to make it all go - you're probably looking at a full brain transplant! This doesn't make the swap impossible - just damned difficult...

I could be wrong, but I was always under the impression that the main structure stayed the same throughout the XJs production run. I know there were body styling changes from 96 to 97 that included the front sheet metal, the rear hatch, doors, and minor massaging of the body lines. As far as the interior I know it went through a complete redesign in 97 but retained all the basic mounting points for interior parts. Much the same way that suspension parts from a 84 will bolt onto a 01 with no mods. But I could be wrong on the dash mounting points. I have been wrong before and I am certain I will be wrong again.

Just checking. It's been a while since I've seen the innards of a 1997-up, but I want to remember that the IP is shaped differently - even if the mounting points are the same, will the IP fit in the hole?

Then again, perhaps I'm getting my wires crossed. Or both of us?

Anyone got a 1997-up that can take a pic of the IP for us?

I will look at the wifes 01 a little later this afternoon and take some pics to compare it to my 91.

here's proof

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/1529361757.html

another question?

my transmission has the stick on the steering column, if I change everything for a newer style dash and column, would it be hard to change the tranny stick to the floor? can it be done? I know the interior swap has been done with comanches that have the stick on the floor, but I think I shouldnt change transmission, or would I?

Get the floor shifter and all its linkage from a donor vehicle or the jy and you should be good to go. The trans tunnel will have the shifter holes already in it but just covered up with a panel. You will have to pull the carpet out to get to it.

This pic is from Bigomudders' Bare Necessity build.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/bare-necessity-30258/
The trans shifter and tcase shifter holes are the same in both the XJ and MJ.



He most likely still has the shifter and all the linkage in the junk pile in his barn because he is not reusing them.

thanks, I will look into it then... it shouldn't be easy, but now Im sure it could be done...

For the op. Why do you really want to go through all this trouble to swap everything? It's a huge hassle to just look "newer". To each their own I guess.

As far as body panels go. I'm pretty sure the main body of the xj stayed the same all the way through 84-01. The only differences are hatch, door handles, fenders, front fascia and the luggage racks. And of course tail lights were more rounded. As far as the main body, it's the same I do believe as well as the hood. So I'm pretty sure the dash will bolt right up, but I am not for sure on the wiring for the cluster and all the relays and plugs, etc.

I know its much of a hassle to look new... but My bench seat its not comfortable anymore, dash is breaking, steering wheel failing, and much else...

I already changed the front to a 2000 front, with clear headlights, which I want to put HID now on them... 2000 tailights, 97 motor 4.0... 5.5 inch lift (rubicon express)... 16 inch blakc wheels, with 33 tires... warn front fender... skyjackers shocks... so its been on a transformations before...

I am about to go and change the doors too and with the new interiors of the doors, got me thinking if I could change the whole interior instead too... and that would fix the old dash, etc...