JRods Firebird

Well the other day I got Knight Rider Season 3 from netflix and started to watch it. This was one of my favorite cars from my childhood. General LEE and the 77 Bandit TA and Kitt. Well my bird is a 91 with those ground effects all around it. Has anyone attempt this on a 91. Im looking for the look and not going to do the inside but just outside. Once I remove the effects will the car look like a standard firebird or will I have to buy or put new metal underneath those effects. I think I can get a Formula hood from the junkyard pretty cheap and might be able to keep my rear bumper and I say the most expensive part of this build will be the turbo cast wheels with those black hubs and the front end nose. Is there a way to get a 82 or 83 nose and rig it to accept the center red light because I dont want to spend a $1000 on the nose alone. There's got to be something out there. Hell If I can get the nose for around $350 then that would be great. So any help would be great.

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

Want a bit of personal advice?

Don't do it. I can't begin to count when I was looking for my Camaro (I was looking at Firebirds too) how many "almost finished" KITT cars I found. Hell, IIRC, I saw one in a junkyard. Or maybe a picture of one in a junkyard. Either way. I don't believe it will increase the value of the car, most likely severely decrease it.

But ultimately, it is your car, and you will do with it what you will, whether it be jack it up and run 24"s, or to cut out all of the suspension and "framing" and mount it on a blazer/bronco chassis and take it offroading.

96v6bird

Advice, If your gonna do it sell Your 91 and get another 3rd gen w/out the gfx... I pulled a bunch of gfx off my 87 trans am and it leaves all kinda of holes, marks and You'll have to ditch both the front and rear bumper covers...

Might as well find a 82-84 model trans am or maybe a 87-90 formula, It be much easier with a car w/out the gfx.

Oh and expect to spend some $$$ if Your gonna do an all out job on the exterior... But on the bright side all the outside consists of is the front bumper, scanner and wheels and tailight blackouts.

brandotron

iTrader: (2)

Do a quick search, there's a guy on this board right now selling a KITT nose for $400.00

JRods Firebird

Well I was thinking on finding a 82-84 bird in the 1st place. I myself do see a slight issues with the Ground effects. I say it might be kind of hard to find a 82-84 bird thats not beaten the hell of it. I have done a lot of work on my 91 and know that my engine is in good shape and interior is almost done. So I have a tuff decision to make on doing this to my bird or getting a older one. As far as resale and yes it my decrease the value but I only paid less then a grand for by bird and invested little over $500 in getting her to run the way I wanted it to. Well If I can sell her for $2500 and find a older bird in decent shape for $1000 to $1500 and have a $1000 left over to start the kitt process. ILL check on the nose for $400. Any other info that might help would be great. Thanks

brandotron

iTrader: (2)

Y'know, I had a black 91 that I planned on turning into KITT (before it got wrecked). I always thought it would be cool to make the 91-92 GFX work with the KITT nose. If you're not looking for car-show accuracy with your conversion, that might be a cool option for you.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

I did it on my 91 you will have to remove the rear bumper cover and besides having to replace the cover you also have to either cut down or replace the honeycomb absorber under it. the door, quather panel, and fender gfx all unbolt. the rocker panel gfx have a cover that unbolts but leaves a bracket that is riveted in to the car. Stock nose unbolts and the kitt nose bolts on easily. You still have to add support to the middle of the kitt nose or it will sag. Tailight replacement is fairly simple. All together I say that you will have to have 16 to 20 holes filled on each side. Then if you are going to install the dash to have to think about if your going to use the kr steering wheel cause the 91 has an air bag.

You could just modify the stock nose and cut out the middle section of the nose for the scanner.
Here is where I started and now what it looks like.

brandotron

iTrader: (2)

Wow man--looks good! You got the hub caps for those turbo cast rims?

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

brandotron

iTrader: (2)

Great conversion, though the license plate kinda kills it (damn the man). What's under the hood??

JRods Firebird

WOW sfusco3, dam that looks great. Like I said Im doing it for the look and not doing anything inside. The rebumper is it 2 piece or 1 or do I have to cut it. I dont mind the holes and how did you support your nose. Also where did you buy the lights that go into the nose. My answer is getting a hell of a lot closer on doing this to my bird. Do you have pics of the build sfusco3.
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Man Im going to the junkyard tomorrow and look for a hood and do you think I should look for a rear bumper also. Hope the weather doesnt get to crazy tonight for tomorrows hunt.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

I have a v6 3.1 under the hood but I going to put an ls1 in there in the future.
The rear bumper is 2 pieces the other cover the the absorber that is bolt to the steel bar. You can get a 82-84 absorber and unbolt the old and bolt in the new or do what I did and cut the thing down. to support the nose some people use wood attached to the impact absorber or find some other method. I got heavy duty L brackets from the home improvement store and loosened the fender bolts and bolted the l brackets to the impact absorber bar the tignted the bolts back down. I fog are just lights I got at the local auto parts store and mounted to the nose. I don't have any pics of the build unforuntaly
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If I where going to junk yard I would look for the rear bumper too. I got everything for the car off ebay and I put the car together for buying to completion in 13 months.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

if your really interested in converting it go over to www.knightfoundation.net and knightregistries.com I know that there are a few people with conversions in indiana.

JRods Firebird

Hey sfusco3, I dont understand what you did with the rear bumper again. sorry maybe its to early still. LOL

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

I removed the cover (the outer peice that is painted) under that is a steel bar that has a plastic honeycomb peice bolted to it. It's the honey comb peice that I cut down. It has to be either cut down or replaced because of the thickness of it. The 82-84 style cover is narrower from where it meets the cars taillights to the outside of it.

i have to head to work now but if you have any questions e-mail me at sfusco3@comcast.net and I will try to answer the best I can.

JRods Firebird

Hey Thank you very much maybe a bit more info on the rear bumper.

JRods Firebird

OK i see what your saying about the part that I would need to cut but the bumper itself. Are the ground effects attached my screws or did you have to cut the effects off. That's what Im trying to find out.

ohiotemplar

Damn man! where did you get that sweet dash?! I WANT IT!!!!!!

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

The gfx are molded into the rear cover. the quarter panel gfx are removed using a 10mm socket (2 bolts per side). the rocker gfx are removed by the screws that sit in the lip below the door are have 3 bolts as well (2 in the fender 1 behind the plastic trim piece. door gfx you have to remove the door panel from the inside of the door and remove the various nuts that hold it. front fender gfx removed by 2 bolts.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

the dash is molded off one the the show molds by rob louisell then I modified it and added want I wanted. the electronics are made by a guy in canada. The voice box and countdown areas I had made by called knightdriver. (the voicebox had 20 colored pieces one each side of the 10 labeled things) I then fiberglassed it into the dash and filled the edges, and then painted it.

JRods Firebird

Man I know you had to spend some serious dole to get your car to the way you wanted to be.

Dale

iTrader: (12)

I always thought it would be cool to have that dash in my camaro

JRods Firebird

It would but we might be talking just a little over $7000 grand to do and thats not including changing the interior if isnt the kitts color.

96v6bird

Nice conversion dude, Makes me wanna do it to my 83... Oh the torment.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

To get that set up heres the break down

Dash $1000 unfinished
electronics $1400
If the above bought as a package with dash finished $6500

Steering wheel $300-400

Seats $500 then I bought a recovering kit $350

Touchscreen monitor $250

Overhead console with electronics $150

Center Console and knight console $400

Thats just to make it look like kitt

Then there more money spent on making work my way.

I budgeted $16000 for the project that what was to buy everything I needed new. Like I said before I bought almost everything used on ebay so I spent between $12000 and $13000. Included in this price was the cost of buying the car and bringing to pontiac for work. The cheapest thing on the car is the reproduction hubcaps. ($190 for the set)

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

jrods I was think about what you are planning on doing and I have seen some replicas with gfx just the 85-90 style and the mounting holes are almost all the same so that would be less holes showing. I you aren't going to change the fenders to the vented style then thats difinitely the way to go. Here is also a link to a site where modified was gone to a stock nose to make it look like kitt's http://knightrider2003.tripod.com/Knight_tech/index.htm

JRods Firebird

Yes Im only trying to do the outside, no budget for the inside. Im trying to do all of this under $1500 with all the work being done by me. Thanks for the break down. Someone had a nose for $400 but I think they already sold it. ILL talk to you later Im heading to a company meeting which is almost a all dayer so talk to you tomorrow.

LATER

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Got some pics in the gallery of other KITT setups.

http://www.omnipotent-goku.com/iroc/...-Rider-Gallery

Hope it helps.

JRods Firebird

Well cutting the factory nose to accept the lights doesnt look that hard, but the part where the sheet metal was kind of just sits there doesnt look to good. Maybe the correct nose is the way to go.

JRods Firebird

I seen through all of those pics that someone cut out the part to install the light on a 91 nose. It didnt look that bad, but Im saying in order to at least get the kitt look and maybe skim on the other parts is to get the correct nose which Im going to do. So I thinking is

Correct Nose with light
Formula Hood
Get back covers for lights
Remove all ground effects
Paint car black
I might be able to find some type of vents for the fenders and cut them out which will be the best for the buck look for me.
WHeels will be my other tuff item to get and with those Hubs also.

I will begin work within 1 to 2 months once winter breaks.
Will start now on removing ground effects and start body work. Will try to get pics if possible and hope all comes out good.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

Correct Nose with light I would order those now cause it's going to take a while to get if your buy them new.

Formula Hood Easy enough to get

Get back covers for lights Easy to get

Remove all ground effects A few hours to remove them. You can still use the 85-90 style gfx if you want and just get the shorter vents pieces for the fender. If you want I have the short vents and 85-90 style gfx you can have them all you have to do is pay the shipping.

Paint car black ok

I might be able to find some type of vents for the fenders and cut them out which will be the best for the buck look for me. Go over to links I gave before knightfoundation.net and knightregistries.com and look at the message boards. There is some who did this recently. heres the link to that topic. http://www.knightfoundation.net/07_b...pic.php?t=8453

WHeels will be my other tuff item to get and with those Hubs also. You can get the 14 in version and that will same you money and just put bigger profile tires on. The caps you can get in either the 14in or 15in sizes reproduction fiberglass. Thats what you see in my pics. they run $190 on ebay.

Heres a list on vendors that are recommended for kr parts. Beaware that there are lots of recasts taking money for inferior fiberglass parts out there.

Nose Rob louisell roblouisell.com He has a license from universal to sell this stuff and he sells things from the original molds. Markscustomkits.com or Don Colie adiautotech.com it is said that his noses fit better then the the stock gm noses.

Front Side Deflectors Rear Side Deflectorswraithinnovations.com makes both of these

Rear Bumper If you can't find a good one at the junk yards rob louisell also makes a fiberglass version of this.

Scanner Light Marks, adiautotech both make these as well. You can get one from jcwhitney.com for $35 and modify it using the link I posted above. Or get the most common probably the best one out there from
from lectric enterprises http://www.knight-f2k4.com/

JRods Firebird

Thank you so much SFUSC03, youve help me out. Now for the 85-90 parts what will that do again. What part of the car will these go. Im looking at your car but cant see if you have any ground effects on it. The bumper is going to have to be off a junk firebird because I really dont want to spend $500 on that. Now the nose I hope by next thursday I can get one just got to wait on something before buying. Yes the wheels are going to be a witch to get. Im going to call a friend of a friend who owns a hub cap tire place and see what he can do for me. I wish it was spring because Im getting pissed with this winter weather but the wife is ready to move or I would be in New Mexico or Arizona and my back would love it their.

JRods Firebird

Im not seeing anyinfo on modifiy the scanner light from JcWhitney. Is it as far as how to mount it or what. That 1 from Jcw looks to work fine and says the lights go back and forth which is perfect for my budget.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

I don't have the gfx on my car cause I wanted the larger full vent instead of the small 3/4 vent, the gfx go in the stock location on the door and rocker panels under the door. here is a pic of a smaller style vent vs the larger style



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sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

go to this site and there is several articles http://knightrider2003.tripod.com/Knight_tech/index.htm

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

EBONYKARR92 LIGHTBARSee the pictures of my bar here!
So your not real electronically skilled and you feel that the knight tech plans may be a little more than you want to deal with? Well no worries. You still don't have to be a electronics specialist or spend 300+ bucks Thanks to CRAIG R. LEMBKE. You can now build a custom lightbar for about 40 dollars and a J.C. Whitney Scanner. Keep in mind that its no HPI scanner. But for most of us out there it will do the job just fine!
*NOTE* In my first attempt to build this bar I broke the JC circuit board while bending it to fit. Be careful or you will have to solder wires straight to the lights like I had to, or buy a new one.
Materials Needed: Most of which can be bought from the local hardware store.

• J.C. Scanner
• Colored Plexiglas
• 2 L brackets
• Plumbers Goop
• Acrylic Mirror
• Plexiglas Cuter (Its basically just a razor knife... in fact a Razor Knife will work well.)
  • To cut Plexiglas Just scar it with knife repeatedly until you have about 1/16 of an inch left and break it over the edge of a table.
• soldering Iron
• 10watt replacement bulbs

Please read the instructions thoroughly before attempting the build. The Following instructions have been submitted by CRAIG R. LEMBKE

NOTE: YOUR J.C. WHITNEY LIGHTBAR WILL HAVE TO BE DISASSEMBLED PRIOR TO THIS CONSTRUCTION
1. Gently pry the bubble lenses from the lightbar and save them for later if you wish to reuse.
2. Remove the three small screws found on the front. these attach the metal housing to the circuit board. Save these.
3. Measure the metal housing's exact center in length, and mark.
4. With a hack-saw or tin snips cut the upper and lower lip of the housing in order to allow bending of metal.
5. Take this housing out to your car and bend the metal to match the lines of the front of your hood. this will be the angle used for your template of top and bottom acrylic mirror material
6. Go to your nearest Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and purchase your sheet of acrylic mirror. these sheets are in the bins with the clear Plexiglas. ** Not by the regular Mirrors** Alternative part: Clear Plexiglas and replacement automotive easy stick mirror. See product in HPI modification.
7. Leave the protective film on the mirror while drawing the shapes and while cutting. Note :cutting Plexiglas is tricky without cracking it.... Plexiglas cutters are sold in a small bin right next to the mirror bin.
8. Heat up your soldering iron while you make a sandwich.
9. Locate the leads on the tiny bulbs... and unsolder them. Now solder the 10 watt bulbs that I forgot to tell you to buy at Home Depot. in the same location.
10. The best adhesive to use for assembling the mirror is " Plumbers Goop" also at home depot. seven of the dividers are going to be glued back to back (shiny side out folks) Now you have two dividers left... right? they will be facing inward when you assemble the light bar. Alternative glue: Household Goop
11. With the protective film removed... place the mirror side upward on a table. use the Whitney light bar for spacing to assemble the dividers in the mirror surface. Use as much "GOOP" as needed to assemble the light bar. the "goop" dries clear so don't worry how much is used .
12. Admire your new *** EBONYKARR92 *** lightbar... and buy me a present... LOL.
13. Attach your J.C. WHITNEY circuit board to the metal housing with the tiny screws OMITTING THE CENTER SCREW.
14. Glue the metal housing to the brand new EBONYKARR92 Lightbar.
15. Mount the two L brackets to the lower ends of the scanner to serve as the lens holder.
16. For a lens go to your local plastics store or check with some glass shops. One may have colored Plexiglas. Buy some REM plexi and cut to fit. Alternative: If you cant find colored plexiglas get a sheet of clear and paint with stain glass paint.
16. Attach all of the color coded wires to the controller and hook up a 12 volt power source and enjoy !!!

JRods Firebird

If the light bar already goes side to side and it looks like you can control the speed of it so what will the Schematic diagram do different for the light bar.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

the stock jcwhitnet scanner is not very bright so you really can't see it during the day, infact I think they are just leds in there. the schematic shows how to modify it to use lights bulbs instead.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

Here is what the gfx would look like

JRods Firebird

GOT YOU, thanks So you have those type of ground effects and how much do you want for them.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

Like I said before you can have them for free you just have to pay the shipping which I will get you a quote for on monday.

You will get both the rocker gfx and door gfx (both sides) and the vents to go in the fenders. You are probably wondering why I am willing to give them to you and the reson is that I have so many of the vents from the verious building methods that I tryed and I have the gfx cause I bought them and then decided to not use them because I wanted the full vent style.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Hey KR guys- have they made a front bumper that has ground effects to match a ground effect optioned car yet?

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

wraith innovations use to make a bumper with them http://www.wraithinnovations.com/knight.html

JRods Firebird

Hey sfusc03, DHL might be the cheapest to ship.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

You'll have to give me a few days on that shipping quote cause I got rushed to the hospital yesterday with kidney stones so I'm out of commission for a few days.

JRods Firebird

Man no problem just get better. A good way to keep them stones from happening again is drink lots of water, Cranberry juice or even a beer or 2 a day. It might sound crazy with the beer thing but a doctor told me this. Maybe he was b s in me but why would he. Get Better and talk to you later.

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

Jrods since I'm out of commission for a few days and can't get you the shipping quote is there any other questions that you have?

JRods Firebird

Right at this time no. Just hope you feel better. Like I said DHL will be the cheapest from all of the carriers just pack it well if possible. I spoke to a friend of a friend bout trying to locate the wheels and hubs and its to dam cold to go hunting at the junkyards at this time so will have to wait for better weather and we got another snow storm coming through tonight. I really want to start on my bird but with this weather my back is hurting like hell right now. Later

sfusco3

iTrader: (1)

Here is a list of things that I have incase you need anything else since I'm going to be sending you the gfx make it all one package.

1 Doeskin colored t tops headliner material

2 1 of each side tan armrests

1 85-92 radiopod

1 seat track

1 85-90 style cassette radio

1 seat recliner hinge mechinizim

2 sunvisors

1 radiopod bezel

1 85-92 center console

1 shiftplate to go with above

2 dashpad

Jrods gets first shot at these then anyone else if them want them just pay the shipping on them.

JRods Firebird

What is Doeskin colored t tops headliner material and what color visors. I already got a nice center console and replaced my dash pad already and black arm rest. The interior is almost all new or replaced. I got seats of a 30th annvis camaro with the 30th logo but look much nicer then my 91 original lt gray seats. So maybe visors and the doeskin ttop material which is like a lt brown maybe or what. You feeling better today. Did you drink a beer or two. LOLOLO