Installing a modern digital dash in a 1994 Mustang isn’t quite as simple as removing the factory gauges. Here’s how the Holley 12.3-inch Pro Dash and a CarChains3D bezel came together in Project Stranger Things.
Digital dashboards have become increasingly common in drag racing, and it’s easy to understand why. Modern engine management systems can monitor an incredible amount of information, but having that data available to the driver in a useful format is another story.
For our Project SN95, better known as Project Stranger Things, we recently replaced the factory-style instrument cluster with a Holley EFI 12.3-inch Pro Dash. With a turbocharged 408 cubic-inch small-block Ford under the hood and a Holley Terminator X managing the combination, having a dedicated display for critical engine information makes sense.
The Holley dash itself wasn’t the biggest concern. Making a 12.3-inch screen look at home inside a dashboard designed more than 30 years ago was where things got interesting.
Why the Holley 12.3-Inch Pro Dash?
On a high-horsepower turbocharged combination, there’s no shortage of information worth monitoring. Boost pressure, air/fuel ratio, fuel pressure, engine temperature, and RPM are just a handful of the parameters we pay attention to with Project Stranger Things.
Traditionally, that meant adding individual aftermarket gauges throughout the interior. A digital dash offers a cleaner way to organize everything in one place.
Holley’s 12.3-inch Pro Dash features a 1280 x 480 full-color touchscreen with customizable layouts, allowing users to choose which parameters are displayed and how they’re arranged. For a drag racing application, that means prioritizing the information that matters most rather than trying to squeeze every available sensor reading onto the screen.
Beyond the display itself, the Pro Dash includes configurable warning indicators, shift-light functionality, and datalog playback capabilities. The larger screen is also useful between rounds, making it easier to monitor engine conditions during startup, warmup, and troubleshooting.
Getting It Into the Factory SN95 Dashboard
Anyone familiar with the 1994–2004 Mustang interior knows the factory instrument cluster has a distinctive curved opening. It’s not exactly the ideal shape for a large rectangular touchscreen.
We wanted to retain the original dashboard rather than build an entirely custom instrument panel, which led us to CarChains3D. The veteran-owned business, operated by Cory, produces 3D-printed automotive components, including mounting solutions for aftermarket digital dashboards.
For our installation, we selected the company’s carbon-fiber-style SN95 bezel designed for the Holley 12.3-inch display. The bezel follows the contours of the original instrument cluster opening while providing a mounting area for the larger screen.
Our initial impression of the printed component was positive. The visible surfaces had a clean finish, and the carbon-fiber-style appearance worked well with the rest of the Mustang’s interior. Cory had mentioned when we placed the order that some modifications would be necessary. We wanted the larger screen, and that was something we expected going into the project.
A Little Cutting and Some Test Fitting
During our initial test fit, we identified the areas of the factory instrument cluster opening that needed additional clearance. We spent approximately 10 minutes measuring, positioning the bezel, and marking the areas to remove. Once we were satisfied with the measurements, the actual cutting only took a few additional minutes.
The biggest thing was making sure we didn’t remove more material than necessary. We checked the bezel’s position as we went until everything had the clearance it needed.
Having an application-specific printed bezel takes much of the fabrication work out of the process, especially when it comes to getting the visible portion to follow the factory dashboard contours. More information about Cory’s work is available at CarChains3D.com.
Putting the Holley Pro Dash to Work at the Track
With the installation completed, we’ve now had the opportunity to race with the Holley 12.3-inch Pro Dash, and it’s quickly become one of our favorite upgrades to Project Stranger Things.
One of the biggest advantages is being able to build the display around how we actually race the car. We made the boost pressure reading massive. While building boost on the transbrake and bumping into the beams, that number is easy to see without hunting through a crowded screen.
Before a pass, we can also keep an eye on CO2 pressure and the other engine parameters available through the Holley ECU. Once the car heads downtrack, our priorities change: we’re focused on RPM and the shift lights.
The shift lights are bright enough that we don’t need to look down at the display. We can stay focused on driving and shift when the lights illuminate in our peripheral vision. That’s been one of the most useful parts of the entire setup.
The ability to tailor the information to what matters at the starting line, and then rely on the RPM display and shift lights during a pass, has made the dash genuinely useful rather than simply a visual upgrade.
Paired with the CarChains3D bezel, the finished installation looks at home in the original SN95 dashboard. More importantly, after actually racing with it, the display has earned its place in Project Stranger Things.
