seriously, ive searched

i am thinking of swapping my firebird tails (91) to the trans-am/ gta style tails, but not the 91-92 ones.

i dont really know much about them yet, like can i use any of those earlier ones?? what years and what changes (if any) were made to these style lights?? (seems i have seen some with the reflective strip on bottom, and some with it on top??)

and of course, what exaclty is required to do the swap??? what parts, wires, harnesses, bulbs, things of that nature??


thanks

 

well I've been down this road already,so all you really have to do is change the outer turn signals to older stock perferably from a camaro and everything else should fit the same!

 

A big world of difference as you can see since I changed out the whole rear assembly!

 

everything else should fit the same!

what exactly is everything else???\

i mean waht parts did you take from the trans am?? the lights (obviously), any wiring or harnesses?? and Im not sure what you mean about the camaro turn signals??

thanks.

 

i did the swap to the 91-92 lights. basically, the wiring from your current harness will not work. you have basically 2 options to do.

1) find a harness from a T/A and cut off sockets for the turn signals and wire them up to replace your current turn signal sockets on your base firebird lights. the reverse and brake lights will plug right into the T/A lights.

2) replace the entire harness.

since you have a '91, i may be able to help you here. when i was swapping my lights out, i got 2 harnesses from '91 Trans Am's. i was about to cut up one to attach the turn socket into my 92 base bird harness. then i found a guy selling a harness from a '92 Trans Am (direct fit for me--the hatch pull down motor wiring was changed from 91 to 92). if you're interested, i'll sell ya one of my harnesses. from 85-92, the Trans Ams used 4 sockets per side for the tail lights. my harness won't give you an exact replica of the 85-90, but it would still work quite well. it'll give you:

turn, brake, brake, reverse||||||reverse, brake, brake, turn

basically the same pattern as the 91 lights but w/ the standard red grid for the turn signal where the amber blocks are on mine.

i hope that makes sense. let me know.

-Pat

 

so if i am understanding correctly, the only part other than the lights and the center filler panel i will need to get form a trans am would be the turn signal sockets???

anyone got a pic of this piece?? did you just solder it to the old turn signal wires??

seems like those gta style tails are going cheap, and i just want to make sure i get everything i need.

 

The parts that you need should only have two lead wires ,so you can get a set off of a camaro or older t/a from any junk yard, I got mine for just a buck!...and the wires are semi color coded for pos/neg hook up and you either solder it or crimp it!..but make sure you insulate it with electrical tape or weather seal!

 

I have a '92 Bird with '82 tail lights. The car came with them when I purchased it. They are three pieces blacked out.

Can I upgrade to the '85-90 tail lights; the three piece set with the Phoenix emblem in the center?

I want to know if the upgrade is a simple installation. What was described above seem complicated.

 

Since the 82 taillights were already installed when you bought the car, and I assume they work because you didn't say they don't, then whoever installed them would've already made the changes to the harness, if any, so all you'll need to do is swap to the 85-90 style. Fit and function will be just like your current ones.

 

Thank you for your input.

I want to clarify that I meant the 85-90 Trans Am tail lights with the grid pattern bezels.

Currently, the 82 tail lights give the car a Knight Rider look. Should I keep them, or replace them with these pictured below?

1985-1990 Trans Am tail lights.

 

Yes, those. They'll fit. 82-84, 85-90 and 91-92 will all fit. But whether you "should" make the swap is up to you, not us.

Since somebody has already changed yours to the 82-84 style, then wiring modifications that might've been required have already been done, so all you'll have to do is swap the taillight housings and plug-n-play.