I am rebuilding my 87 Formula. I like the body not having the ground effects that is on the TA, but I HATE the bumper covers on the 87 Formula. I can't stand the black bar insert things. I love the flat look of the TA bumpers but the ground effects are molded into it as a part of the bumper cover, you can't remove them.

So I am wondering, are there any custom bumper covers for Firebirds? I see custom bumpers on all kinds of rice burners, what about birds?

 

they make a few but they all look like the crappy ones that u hate nothing good ive ever seen stock is by far better looking

 

The few aftermarket bumper covers or body kits available usually added some form of gfx anyway. That was kind of their point. And their stylings tended to be a bit over-the-top... so probably not what you'd want.

I'd have to agree that the best-looking bumper covers were the stock ones from throughout the generation. So have you considered swapping to either the '82-'84 style or the '91-'92 style? Both periods had a non-gfx cover.

But none of the covers are available new from GM anymore, so you'll have to find used parts, either thru ads, from vendors, or in junkyards. Good ones are out there, but they're not easy to find.

The earlier style would fit with few(if any) modifications. But the later style would require a full front-end swap(structurally and cosmetically) to go with the cover.

 

I hate that bumper too... Have you considered maybe taking a stock Trans Am bumper and trimming it down? It sounds do able and simple. Maybe you can experiment with fiberglass?

 

The 84 in my opinion is the best TA nose of them all, I was considering it once. I was also thinking of trying to find someone that can either take the black inserts out and somehow fill the spaces with fiberglass and make it smooth, I would like that. Or hack up two covers, cut the ground effects off the TA nose and the bottom of the Formula nose and swap them. I guess there is a way to stick the two together and smooth it out. Luckily I have both covers

 

you may not like the inserts but it looks like **** without them. Maybe your really a GFX (GTA, TA) guy!

 

No I didn't mean take out the black insets and leave the holes. I meant take them out and have it filled and smoothed. I have seen bad attempts at it but I'm sure it can be done right. I like the flat smooth cover but was never too crazy about the ground effects, to me it makes the car look more bulky and less pointy in the front, more square like the camaro. That's why I have always liked the Formula more. I just hate the black bars. I'm too picky I guess.

 

I always hated those black inserts on my Formula, since the day I bought it.
So I swapped the Bumper Covers off of my old 84 Firebird onto mine.

For the rear: the 82-84 Firebird Bumper Cover is a direct swap, and is the same as the stock cover, just without the inserts:


The front was a little more work:

First, the plastic bumper support is not the same for the 85-90 as the 82-84 Making it NOT a direct swap.

I just ended up swapping the entire bumper assembly (as a bonus I happened to have a Aluminum one), then you will also need to swap the 82-84 Headlight trim rings, as they are shaped different as well.

Now, you can either just put in the standard Firebird/Trans Am grilles or, I used the 84 T/A Aero Package grille inserts, and filled in the Trans Am lettering on mine:


Any questions, feel free to PM or E-mail me, plus there are lots more pictures on my web page - Link in my Sig

 

I'm considering going the knight rider route. For one, a fiberglass front bumper isn't going to do the stupid things that the stock bumpers can do over time. I'm in line to get one of the KR bumpers with ground efx even. Just an option I'd thought I'd bring up...

 

Wow I love that. So I know I've seen tons of 84's with that nose, but they also had some ground effects under it, although they were thinner and shaped different that the later TA ones. But on the TA the effects are a part of the bumper. On yours they are not there at all. On the 84 are they removable?

 

Im not endorsing Showcars body parts, they have a reputation for needing work when you get their parts but you could always go this route:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=006
and fill the openings with 'glass.

 

all 82-84 Firebird's had the Covers I used.

Also on the 84 T/A's the Ground Effects were an Option.

 

I put 85-90 bumpers and GFX on an 83 and the 85-90 TA nose bolted right up and the plastic/metal crash support fit great. Maybe it works one way and not the other way around (85-90 fit 82-84 support, 82-84 nose don't fit 85-90 support)