I have a 91 GTA that I'm looking to get repainted. (I'm also planning an LS-1 swap, but SHHH)

While I'm at it, I figure I'll convert to an 87-90 style GTA body.

What do I need for this swap?

Front Bumper Cover
Rear Bumper Cover
Air Damn?
Front Fender ground effects
Rear Fender Ground effects
Door Panel Ground effects
Side Skirts

How different is the spoiler?

Anything I'm forgetting? What about Headlights?
Can I keep my fenders and doors? The way the door meets the body on 87-90 cars looks a little different. Are these body panels the same on GTAs and regular trans ams? I know that the T/As had vents in the fenders.

If anyone has an 87-90 style GTA and wants to convert it to a 91-92 style, I'll swap parts with you. But, my car is in excellent condition. So, I'd like to trade parts that are in similar shape.

 

As far as I know the doors and fenders are the same. You'll need to drill new holes in you're hatch and patch the old ones to change to the 85-90 spoiler. It's probably easier to just get a whole new decklid though. The headlights themselves should be the same, but you'll need the plastic bezels from 87-90 GTA. The drivers side headlight door is different too. Yours has PONTIAC on top of it and the earlier headlight doors are blank. Are you changing the tailights to the earlier style as well? If you are, I'll trade my perfect tails for yours.

 

mike,

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately, I'm keeping the taillights. I like the PONTIAC on top of headlight. Can I keep this and install the bezel from a 87-90 GTA?

 

this makes me sad.

 

I vote for keeping the 91-92 body style

 

thanks for the opinions, but I'd like to know how to do the swap!

 

 

Most people wanna swap in the opposite direction, mainly, I think, because of the updated look of the front bumper cover.

You'll need to change:

front bumper cover
front impact absorber
front impact bar
turn signals
fog lights
headlight covers
headlight bezels
headlight buckets
headlight trim rings(retainers)
headlights
headlight connectors
some wiring modifications
front fender gfx

I think I've covered this pretty well, but it's possible I've left out something because there is a lot. But since this is a popular swap for people doing the opposite that you're doing, you just might find someone willing to trade parts with you. Otherwise, you're left to scrounge for used parts online and at junkyards.

 

Here's one half done. '92 Trans Am

 

hmm... 91-92 gfx with older front bumper. didn't consider that! are there any other pics of cars like this?

What's been done there, just gfx on the front half of the fenders and the bumper covers?

 

Take a look at my car. It has the 91-92 nose with the ground effects off of an 87 GTA. However, I've currently put the nose of that 87 GTA on the car because the ground effects just don't really line up well with the 91-92 nose.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2074746

 

Me too

LAFireboyd is right on all points. It would just be easier to get a set of headlights from the older body style though and swap them as you will need to realign them if you get new buckets anyway. Also you will have to drill new holes in the door for the GFX piece, the holes are completely different IIRC but the rest of the parts should be similar if not the same.

PM or email (notchbackgta at hotmail dot com) me if you would like to trade. I have all of the parts from my 88 when I junked it except the rear bumper cover, it had a tear in it and I threw it away with the car. I have a lot of the little stuff you would need too, and I am looking for a set of the 91 rocker pieces that are in better shape than mine for the winter rebuild/repaint.

 

Hopefully I can clear a few things up for you.The 91-92 headlight buckets and headlights themselves are different from the older models(85-90)might be possible to make the different styles work together but decided not to attempt it on my 89 2 91-92 style swap.If you have a bezel from an 85-90 and lets say a 91-92 headlight lid with the pontiac logo,you will notice the slight difference in the mounting tabs.Trust me,already been down that road.On to the gfx. If you want a 87 look,I personally don't think that mixing the 91-92 with the 85-90 style looks good no matter which style you decide to use.Use the newer style if you like it or the older style,whatever your preferance is.In your case,if you want to use the older style gfx,you can get away with just removing removing the originals drilling new holes for the older style and mounting them without the filling process because the holes will be covered by the older style gfx. and you won't need to change doors or fenders.The rear spoiler is a different story.If your 91-92 spoiler is in good shape,I vote to leave it alone.The mounting between the two styles is way different,and requires welding & or filling with body filler no matter what what you do.Good luck man,Timmy

 

I vote you lose the rear wing. How much ya want for it??? I have an 87 formy with a wraparound wing on it, not cracked or anything, just needs to be stripped and painted. Wanna trade plus cash???

 

Ive got an 85 trans am, ive put a 91-92 trans am bumper and rear ground effect on, I can see the door and lower ground effect does fit, so assuming will need to drill holes for that. Will a 82 trans am bumper with 82 front fender ground effect match up and work okay?