Just picked up a 1984 Trans Am and Want to keep as much of my 1991 Camaro RS as possible on that Firebird... Ive done searches but cant get a clear answer. I want to swap anything and everything possible... Exterior and Interior... Also I was wondering if it would be possible to just bolt on a 86+ T/A front end on an 84... BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING... YES I DID SEARCHES!

 

I am confused. You are asking about a 91RS and a Firebird and then at the end you ask about an 86TA front end on an 84?!?!?

Anyway. Between the Camaro and the Firebird theres not much you can use from the outside. Everything but the doors are different. You could use the rims I suppose. On the interior everything will swap over. The dash will be a hard swap though.

You can use the 1985 and up bumper cover and ground effects on a 1984 Trans-AM/Firebird. I hope this answers things. If not I may be just confused about what your asking.

 

i was told that you cant use the 84 gfx with that style bumper cuz the bumper part will still sit lower than the rest of the gfx......was i told ??

 

Thats pretty much what I was looking for...
What I meant was aside from whatever parts I could swap from the camaro I wanted to put on a 85+ front end from a T/A...
I wasnt sure what interior parts I could swap from the camaro since the center consoles and certain things are different.
I was also thinking of throwing in 90+ Z28 gauge clusters... worth the trouble?

 

No, you were not told BS. You would have to get the Trans Am fender extensions and side moulding to match up right. Now, if you use the newer Firebird front end, then the sides would match the bare fenders...

 

You could put the , entire front end, ground effects from in front of rear tire forwards, and all of the interior on, depending on how skilled you are. The 90+ gauges require the 90+ camaro dash shell, and you'd probably want to keep with the wiring from the RS if you did the gauges / dash, which would pretty much go along with the underhood wiring also.

 

In order to swap a Camaro dash into Firebird (or vice-versa), you'll need to change over the lower dash mounts. These parts are welded to the body just inside the door jamb below the A pillar. If you remove the plastic trim panels above you feet, and look for the 10mm screw on the lower outer corner of the dash...it's the metal bracket the screw goes into. The following image shows where to look.


And then there is the wiring....

Pete

 

Its not just the lower mounts, the upper and lowers are all one piece, I was going to elaborate more on it if he's interested...

 

Nah, I just unbolted my camaro dash and bolted the Trans AM one in. Sure, some holes didn't match up, but enough did to securley hold the dash in place. All you need is the shell. Not even any wiring (except the harnesses at the gauges) or heat/AC vents. they're both the same. Oh, and the trans AM dash does bolt to my camaro right where that picture was circled. There's already something there to hold it.

Now, the wiring for the gauges....that's a completely different story. Although they are the same plugs, the wires do NOT match up. ....Without knowing what color wires goes to what, it's pretty much a guess and check thing. I just connected all the black wires together (figured they'd just all be grounds) and as many of the wires that matched up as I could. Still don't have a speedo or fuel gauge, but everything else works, including shift light, and other lights. Now, if anyone could tell me what color wires went to the speedo on an 86 TA and a 91 camaro...that would be awesome

 

The sender wire from buffer box to speedometer or ecm to speedometer, is tan.

 

On both cars? If so, thankyou so much, really aprreciate it.

 

I would keep the firebird center console and dash. Not because I like them better (and I do), but because it's a hassle to change them. If your interior is in bad shape and you have good Camaro door panels, carpet etc, then you should switch them out. Or do the same if your wanting to change the colors. As far as exterior wise you should just convert to the 1985-1990 style Trans-AM GFX and bumper covers.

That is my advice. I am not a purist but generally I don't like to see parts mixed from the two unless they are identical. IE I have a Camaro steering gear becuase the one in my TA broke. I think I have a couple plastic pieces that are also from a Camaro. You get the idea.

 

Exterior-wise the Bird is a lot cleaner and straighter than the Camaro... But the interior is so F'd up man. The Camaro interior looks only 10k miles old....pretty sure everything will bolt in...seats...center console... (like the Bird's but its broken) I was wondering about the steering wheel though... I like mine 10 times better even though the airbag wouldnt work in the Bird would it bolt in?

 

Yeah i dont wanna mix the bumper and ground EFX from the Camaro...I want a 85+ Trans Am kit.

 

Yes the Camaro wheel will bolt in. I would think the airbag would work if the Firebird was originally equipped with one. But I am not positive on that.

 

Spent the past three days swapping out ALL of the interior parts...
Front seats..... Perfect
Rear seats.... Not bad... went from split reat to full back
Carpet.... Not bad
Center Console..... @#%@@!!@ !
the lower console doesnt fit! in order for it to fit id have to move or cut or modify the heater vent behind the console in order for the 91 console to fit properly.. it is about 1/2 an inch off... which throws everything else off... not only that but the heater/ac control panel isnt wide enough for the 91s console... by about 3/4'' - 1''.. talk about f-body interchangability my *** i knew it would be a task but dayum! any hints? i still want that console in there

 

you need the HVAC panel from a bird

 

Your car will look just like mine if you do the 86 Nose.

 

Ok i dont know how stupid this sounds... but hey i dont know much about firebirds... im more of a camaro guy...

is it me or are you GFX from a 90+ camaro?
and those rims... did you need the spacers or are they the correct offset?

 

Yep, those are 91-92 Camaro GFX. I think they are the best looking gfx for the 3rd gens, so I put them on my 86.

Those rims need spacers. they are offset for a 93-02 F-body.

 

Yeah I was thinking of taking em off of the Camaro.... i love those rims man... Ive seen pics of your car all over this site and most of the time it wasnt even you posting em... all i gotta say is :hail:


how much did the spacers run you?

 

Thanks.

I bought my spacers 2 years ago from VetteBrakes.com for $353 shipped. I bought (4) 2.25" spacers with the intent of selling the rear pair when I bought my 4th gen rear. 2.25" is a little too much for the rear but it makes it easier to sell them to someone that needs a front pair of spacers.

I just recently sold those wheels to a friend of mine for some cash, Crane Roller Rockers, wheels with new tires, and a TB Airfoil.
Used some of the cash to buy an LS1 rear end. It came with 4.10 gears, LCA Relocation brackets, and the larger disc brakes.

I also picked up a set of 2001 Camaro wheels with brand new tires that I may put on the T/A temporarily till I can afford my dream wheels, the Corvette Grand Sports.
This is my dream wheel,

 

Yeah those rims are pretty bad a$$ ive seen some pics of Gran Sport Camaros Matching paint and rims and everythin. gotta love it!

Just found the pic....

 

By the way, you know for sure if a 85+ front end will just bolt on to an 84's? Cuz im startin to get lazy and ill only convert it if its bolt on... is it just the bumper cover or is the honeycomb different? i wanna know all that good stuff....
thanks

 

That blue camaro is owned by my friend Neil.
If you ever come across a picture of a white camaro that is airborne over some tires, well, that blue car used to be the white one.

I am not sure if the honeycomb piece is the same or not, never took my bumper cover off.

 

Anybody know?

 

you mean these

 

Ya, that's him. The airborne picture is amazing. Looks like the car is going to land nose first and get totalled.

 

Did you have to do anything different to the bird to get the GFX to fit... The two studs on the Camaros GFX... where the hook into the front quarter... are further apart than the two on my T/A's... id have to drill into the firebird.... dont really wanna do that.

 

I am not using any brackets on the fender or the quarter panel.
I just have the rocker attached under the body and on top of the side rail.




In the above pics, you can see the holes where the bracket mounted to the fender, I have one hole on the quarter panel exposed as well.

 

Where's the airborne pic of that GS Camaro?

 

cant find it

 

so has anyone put a 85+ front end on an 84?

 

PLEEEEEASE find that pic!!!!


Airbonrne Camaro pics aren't just for kids anymore!!!!

 

I'll see if i can find it.

 

Anybody?

 

How are you dealing with wiring? Taking everything from the Camaro or are you going to use the camaro engine wiring and mate it to the firebird interior wiring?

 

3.1 Wiring doesnt mate to 5.0 wiring

so far the the only things I've done are swap the seats, the carpet, the steering wheel, GFX, stereo, interior paneling and seatbelts

 

 

that's the one.
It only had moderate damage after that crash. It landed on it's wheels.

 

so 85+ bumper cover... do i need the honeycomb? any other mods necessary