There is a hole in my driver's side taillight and it needs replacement. I can either replace the defective light with another 85-90 taillight, or buy a set of 91-92 taillights. Opinions needed.

85-90:

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/pics/GTA2.JPG

91-92:

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/Spotlig...gee91gta10.jpg

 

Personally, I'm trying to find a set of the '91-'92 tails for my car, though I like the ones I currently have too. I'm not really looking too hard for the '91-'92 ones, but if a pair comes along at a good price, I'll take them and throw em on my car.

Does anyone have any pics of a '91-'92 car at night with these lit up? I'd like to see what the running lights, brake lights, turn signals, and reverse lights look like when lit up at night.

 

I love this car... Except for that damn plate.

 

Definitely gives the car a different look. Kinda cool.

 

My fav

 

Ick, not me

Then again, it just doesn't go with my body style. With the earlier TAs (how the front fender had those grill-like things), it would seem okay, but my car doesn't have those.

 

Closeup pics

85-90:



91-92:

 

go with the 91-92,those are nice.82firebirdta,Do you think the 91-92 will look good on our cars?

 

they'd update the look. My 85 bird had the 82-85 bird taillights (T/'a lights came out in 85 also, and was the first year for the difference.) i've still got my old bird lights in the basement as they were in perfect and beautiful condition, really did like the looks of them, but i like the updated look of the 85-90 T/A bulbs. Something to consider however is turn signals on the 91-92 lights, theyr'e placed on the corner, while the 85-90 lights are the two inner brake lights. I guess you could use the 85-90 harness and just have the two inner setups blink like stock, however, you'd have the yellow piece on the corner doing nothing, which would kinda suck. So , if you find yourself a 91-92 setup, see if you can nab a wiring harness w/ it.

And for 82-84 T/As and 82-85 birds, you can swap lights with 85-90 T/A's directly, as our wiring harness is exactly light theirs, two bulbs on each side for brakes, one bulb at the corners for nothing, just gives light, turn signals are in the middle, w/ two center mounted backup lights.


Another issue i guess would be that the corner lamps would always be on w/ the others, unless u pulled the bulbs out of them (quick fix) if not, your yellow marker lamps on the rear of the 91-92 setup would be a dull yellow all the damn time...now that'd be annoying.

 

You sure the 85-90's don't blink the outter bulb for the signal?

 

Yep they blink the inner 2.

 

Keep yours!

 

So there is a different taillight harness for 91-92?

 

uh huh, like i'd give you incorrect information...i'm hunting for 91-92's myself....lol.

 

Details... Details... I could probably wire it up myself come to think of it. Either way, time to hit the junkyards!

 

Keep the ones you got!

I was shopping for new taillights myself, had the standard firebird ones. The 91-92's have a couple of issues with them which made me decide against them, altghough I dig the "pontiac" lettering. First thing is that stupid seam, right in the middle of your center and the lettering! And it's made even more visible by going around the keyhole. bad design imo.

But the second and most important thing, It's Only Got Two red Lenses!! WTF? All cool cars, many american cars, and especially the trans am, have always had a three bulb arrangement! 3 red lenses is where it's at man. And now two?!?
Nah, that blows.

I don't care if it's mandatory with a yellow turn signal where I live. I went with the 85-90 ones anyway. And yes, it's only the two inner ones on them that has a duel filament bulb holder. If you get another such holder, you could make them all blink. I converted the harness myself, it was easy. And I can still just throw in my old ones with the stock connector if needed.

 

i voted for these

get 'em,,,if you can find 'em that is.

best mod i have done to the car so far.

 

I just realized the 91-92 dont have the bird,I wouldnt sacrafice my tail bird for anything.But they still look cool but not as cool as the ones with the birds IMO.I think the ugliest were the all red ones ,I think 85-90 formulas got them,But their still 3rd gen so Im not hatin.

 

I've decided on the 85-90 units. The 85-90 tail light looks blacker than the 91-92. Here's a pic of 91-92's on a dark car:



If you look at my sig, you can see that with my current setup the taillights blend into the car very well with their darkness and smooth face. Far better than the 91-92 IMHO. Thank you for the input.

 

Wow. You guys are all crazy.

85f-bird; TA's and base birds tailights have always been different (in thirdgens). And as for the blinking the inner two lights; on my old formula I swapped to 85-90 tails and when I spliced in the harness I just moved the plugs so that the outer two blick for the blinker. My buddy did the same on his 84 stock bird tails (he didn't splice or cut them, just moved them) right after he spray tinted the tails. Looked good.

tilstad; Would you rather have one seam or two? and as for only have two red lenses, How many do the vettes have? Camaros?

r3pp3r; I think they look darker because the grids are thicker so there is less lense material showing through.

Yikes... anyways. I like the 91-92s if you guys couldn't tell.

 

I think that two seams with a center piece looks more proportioned. And especially since there is a bird in the middle. The eye tend to go to the middle og a car when looking at it, and on the 91-92's it's just nothing there.

THe stock -87 fomula ones actually have four bulbs on them, which makes the car look really wide and mean from the behind.(compared to a regular beater) But the yellow part on them where hideous. I think the outer most lense should be red on any car, so that the car don't look realy narrow from behind in the dark. It's all about preferences I guess, but newer isn't always better.

Take for instance a whole other part of our cars, the gas and brake pedals. Don't the old -70 ties style with chrome framed rubber look better? It's like the fake plastic ones they sell today, only alot better.

But wheren't there some 91-92's with "pontiac" lettering in the middle also?

 

yup all 91-92 T/A taillights came with "pontiac" in the middle.

 

I don't see it in the above pictures...

I'm not saying that newr style always suck, the front for instance of the 91-92 is the best one for these cars. Also the 85-90 rear ligths, hatch wing and rear bumper + ground effects looks good. 82-84 ta Hood, or -87 formy is also the best imo.

 

thats cuz its faded off. on mine you can still see the outline of where the letters once were.

 

I prefer the 85-90 myself, i don't like the amber signals on the ends of the 91-92's.

 

Here are my 86 taillights at night..



Those are my favorite type, IMO.

 

why're are your middle lights out? or do they just come on when using the brakes and turn signals? mine are on all the time, with the corners being the dim ones, then the middles come on bright w/ braking and signals.

 

i say stay with the pre 91's they look a lot better. I dont see what everyone sees in the 91-92 style i cant stand the way they look.

 

I think the pre-91 firebird bodykit looks better as well. The lights are somewhat on the same level between the 2 tho.

 

Good Choice!

 

You know, I dont actually know.. I assume they come on when I step on the brakes..

 

Here's my '88 TA rear lights. I actually like em more now that I look at them more

All lights across the back are lit up. Sorry you can't see the outline of my car, I had the flash turned off to grab the light better. If I had some batteries for my camera, I'd have taken another pic tonight.

I think these lights are mean -looking from the back on my car even more since I removed my rear spoiler. I gotta get a pic of it at like dusk.

 

Maybe he likes the look of missing a couple of teeth...

 

I voted for the 91-92 style too,