Ward

iTrader: (1)

Just thought I would post this, its a pic of my interior, with all the different parts which came from the junk yard labeled. My car is probably the most mix-n-matched car on these forums :P I would guess that about 70% of my car is from the junk yard...

My interior consists of:

- Late 80's Grand Am GT power seats
I saw these seats in a couple other grand am GT's in grey, but it looks like they only came in GT's with lots of options.

- 89 Camaro steering column, with late 80's grand am steering wheel My tilt mechanism was shot, and I found this column in a camaro. I decided to get a new steering wheel while I was at it, so I grabbed one of a grand am and put it on the camaro column, then just bought the whole thing as one piece. the column came from a manual trans car though, so it has the dumb little key release button on it.

- 85-92 shifter This wasnt quite a bolt in deal, only 3 of the 4 holes line up to bolt it to the trans tunnel. my original shifter was shot, the lockout mechanism didn't work.

- Cavalier shifter **** I like this one better than the 85-92 style shifter handle, it has the same texture on it as the steering wheel, and it has finger grips on the front of it.

- 85-92 Dash I didn't like my 82-84 ugly brown dash, so I got this whole dash for about $30 from a local junkyard. My stock 83 cluster bolted right back into it with no problems. Eventually I will put my 87 GTA 140mph cluster in.

- 85-92 Center Console This was pretty much bolt in. Note that the hole in the center of the carpet is a little wider on 82-84's to accomodate the wider console. You can just barely see the hole though, since it's between the seats. When I change my interior to tan, I'll just get 85-92 carpet. Also, you need the wiring pigtail for the cigarette lighter, and shift indicator light, its different from the 82-84, but easy to splice to the harness. The console plate I bought had a shifter boot in it, but it was ripped. Once I removed it, i used it as a pattern and made a new one from grey vinyl. Took about 30 minutes.

- Lighted rearview mirror Not shown in picture. Got this from a late 80s/early 90s caddillac. Its the exact same lighted mirror which is in my friend's 89 Firebird stock. I ran the wires for it above the headliner, then down behind the plastic A-pillar piece, under the dash to the wires for the radio. The lights draw barely any current at all, so it doesnt hurt to add to the radio circuit.


I think that's everything, but if I think of anything else, I will post it.

llvll4l2c91350

I love the way those seats look. It is very hard to find junkyard parts in decent condition around here. Almost all 3rd or 4th gens are either stripped to the bone or have parts that are just too rotted to use.

Ward

iTrader: (1)

Yea, its the same way around here, which is exactly why I go looking in other GM cars. Next time you're at the junkyard, look around at the Grand Ams, look for nicely optioned GT's and I bet you'll see a set of those seats.

llvll4l2c91350

Yeah I never really looked for parts on other cars besides Camaros and Firebirds. I do wanna change my seats so I'm gonna start looking for those. Will start tomorrow.

Ward

iTrader: (1)

One thing to note, the grand am seats are the same as the GTA seats except for one thing. They do not have the seat belt loop on the side of the headrest. If you're not very tall, this could result in the seat belt trying to be up at your chin :P Im 6' tall, so it doesnt matter in my case.

rockfourone

doesnt look too bad. im not very fond of the steering wheel though. personally i like the 3-spoke non-airbaged. it just makes it look fast.

Dante93GTZ

iTrader: (5)

From a side profile, those seats look like "ET". The wierd head rest would just kill me to look at in my car.

llvll4l2c91350

No worries here,,,I don't wear it

Ward

iTrader: (1)

Yea, I will admit that the seats do look like ET :P But they are the most comfortable thirdgen seats I have ever sat in, and the steering wheel is extremely comfortable.

TPIterror

How did you hook up the power lumbar(air bladders) for the seats? Was it difficult? I have GTA seats in my Formula, that I would like to make functional.

TimRS

Very ingenious Ward and it looks pretty good too. Nice work.

nolanr0413

your car looks awesome, it is done really tastefully, if most people looked they would have no clue and i like that . good work.

SLZ

That is flippin cool. I had no idea that the GTA style seats were in the late 80's Grand Am GT's! Another source to check on while Im at the junkyard. WooHoo!. The search is expanded. Cant you tell Im thrilled. Once the yards dont have 10 feet of snow on the cars Ill be seaching for some for my Formula hopefully in grey or black. I do have a set of real GTA tan cloth front seats available if anyone wants to trade. Check out my website for more details on how my Formula is put together from several factory sources and looks OEM. http://www.zalimas.com The seats I have in it currenly are grey Fiero seats and these hug you like you wouldnt believe. STEVE Z

82firebird

Its a hybrid! very sweet. How about some pics of your car Ward?

Ward

iTrader: (1)

I went ahead and got the seat racks with the seats too, because the drivers side one had an eletric air pump bolted to it. I had to unbolt that pump from the grand am rack and bolt my racks to the seats. You also won't be able to bolt the pump to the thirdgen rack, because it will sit too low and not clear the floor pan. I simply have mine sitting on the floor under the seat. I ran power to the pump from the radio power wires, I just ran them from under the seat to under the console, then to the back of the radio. you'll also have to run an air line to the passenger seat, along with 4 wires for the switch. I had to cut the wires for the seats from the grand am, because the harness is under the carpet. I did manage to cut them after the connectors though, so if I ever take my seats out, I can just unplug them. I ran the 4 wires and air line from the pump under the drivers seat, under the console, then under the passenger seat. The only thing I don't really like is the fact that they don't match the rest of my interior :P Later on, however, im gonna change my interior over to tan, though.

Ward

iTrader: (1)

Pics of my car

Ward

iTrader: (1)

Another

Ward

iTrader: (1)

Engine bay

TPIterror

Wow. So I guess I just have to wire them into a power source, then together, and then run an air bladder tube between them. It sounds simple and a royal pain in the a$$ at the same time. I guess thats why I've been puttin it off for so long!

GTA seats are pretty much the same as the ones you have, so I already have the air bladder pump where it should be for a thirdgen.

Nice car. Throw a TA/Formula hood on there and a nice aero wing and then some black GTA wheels and it'll look hot!...wait..I just described my car

Good luck!

Tonyrodz

Here's my set from a turbo Grand Am.
They're mint too!!!

6cycbird86

what is that a rocket ship???

Tonyrodz

You can say that!

SLZ

Exactly what years did the grand ams have those GTA style seats and was it just the GT's? This will narrow down the search. Nice! STEVE Z

86BirdSE

I've got a set of Fiero Seats in my car right now. When I get a real job, an outfit called Mr. Mikes makes leather covers for them and I love how they feel compared to the crap they put in the factory.

I also am installing a compass/auto-dimming mirror from a Full-Sized Oldsmobile Whale-Wagon. There's a lot of really cool stuff to find in the other "Luxury" GM models... I'd love to install the computer set-up in the Grand Prixs that calculates mileage, etc and make it work.

86BirdSE

I've got a set of Fiero Seats in my car right now. When I get a real job, an outfit called Mr. Mikes makes leather covers for them and I love how they feel compared to the crap they put in the factory.

I also am installing a compass/auto-dimming mirror from a Full-Sized Oldsmobile Whale-Wagon. There's a lot of really cool stuff to find in the other "Luxury" GM models... I'd love to install the computer set-up in the Grand Prixs that calculates mileage, etc and make it work.