No experience. In looking at the difference, don't underestimate the magnitude of the change differences. For example, the Camry interior shown has a manual temperature knob on the HVAC head unit. That means there are cables from that unit connected to that knob that actuate the mix door and the coolant flow valve. On the Lexus, that HVAC unit is automatic (electronic), so separate servo motors handle positioning the mix door and the coolant valve. Also, because the Lexus is automatic, there is a temp sensor located in the lower dash panel of the Lexus, where the Camry doesn't have this. So you would be talking about all the wiring from the Lexus would have to move, all the components for things like that HVAC head unit (servo motors, low vacuum ducting for the interior temperature sensor, etc.). I think this would be very major, to say the least.

 

First off take a ton of measurements before you start.

The only way to do this would be to have a donor car with a complete interior sitting next to your car. You'll go insane if you need to run to the junkyard every time you find out your missing something.

Like anything, with enough time and money it could probably be done. Your probably gonna be in for a wiring disaster. Your also going to have to gut the WHOLE interior of your car. Everything that bolts/snaps on has to be remove.

IMO not worth the money and especially not worth the time. This is something that will probably take over 100 hours to get right.

 

I dunno. I'm thinking about doing the same swap myself, but my Camry's heater controls don't look like the one pictured.

 

Honestly, I don't know if ES300 swap into Gen3 is even possible without some major modifications. ES300 platform was used for Gen4 Camry's, and things looks quite a bit alike for those two. Gen3 was different: placement and dimensions is off. Unless you want to take the entire dash apart and swap everything with the dash harness and the mounting tube. I think even blower motor assembly and placement is different vs. Gen3, from what I've seen.

I think this one might be just too much work, imho. ES300 to gen4 maybe, ES300 to gen3 I vote no. Sorry.

EDIT:Actually... I have to correct myself. According to Wikipedia:
1991–1996 Lexus ES300 was XV10 platform, which is same as 1991–1996 Camry.
1996–2001 Lexus ES300 was XV20 platform, which is same as 1996–2001 Camry.

Somehow I had things confused in my mind. Still, do check your measurements.

 

When it comes to engines and transmissions, people will go to great lengths, put in tons of time, money and effort. I4 to V6, A/T to manual, turbos, super chargers, etc.... Why would the interior be any different?

 

Thanks for the feedback. I've found a donor car with a great interior still intact. When I have time I'll go check it out and see if I can get some measurements. I didn't realize that the ES300 was the platform that the Gen 4 Camry was based upon. I thought a '95 Camry and a '95 ES300 would be more similar than not. I'll do a bit more digging and see if it is viable.

 

anything ever come of this?

 

I think it would be pretty cool to swap an es300 dash into a camry. I dont see why it wouldn't work unless the dash is a different size, which even then its possible to get it to work. Obviously your going to need to wire up the ES300 dash parts to work with the camry harness, but this seems like a very do-able modification to me

 

Unfortunately the donor car I had lined up was scrapped before I could get to it. I ran it by my father who ran it by his friend who specializes in Gen 3 and Gen 4 camrys and he said that he had seen it done before, but the owners were typically unhappy with the results as the fit was off and it created a lot of rattling noises in the cabin. If I can snag a donor car on the cheap I might give it a shot, though I'm starting to accept my UPS brown interior.

 

I had a donor es I was gonna use for this myself. But after I stripped the ES I found it was just too different. The doors are shaped completely different. Which means that where the dash ended would be way off. If you made totallly custom door panels it might work. But I just used the seats and trunk carpeting. I was gonna use the Power steering rack because its got variable assist and a quicker ratio but I forgot to yank the steering computer before it went to the crusher. So it had quicker ratio steering but the assist was all outta wack. I did use the whole front cradle and rear cradle from the es including the struts, brakes, motor and trans. I also used the fog lights. I feel it turned out nice. With the leather XLE door panels it would be pretty awesome. But I just got my SE and the LE is sold now. I think if you got es seats and xle door panels you would have a pretty sweet camry. XLE door panels arent hard to find. You might still have the spartan HVAC system but if u put a double din nav unit in the dash it can spruce it up a bit.

 

You know what might be cool? If you swapped the Lexus heater controls into a camaroo

 

1993 Camry and ES 300 parts interchangable?

might have a chance for a 1995 or 96 ES, crashed. Seats have blood on them, so I will pass on them, but I was thinking the power window motor and window switch might be the same. Anyone know?

 

might have a chance for a 1995 or 96 ES, crashed. Seats have blood on them, so I will pass on them, but I was thinking the power window motor and window switch might be the same. Anyone know?

Window motor you can grab off of any gen3 or 4. Blood can be cleaned up/sterilized with "Spray-Nine".