To start off I have done many searches through many different forums and sites and haven't quite found what I am looking for. Ok with that being said if there is something out there please let me know where to find it.

Alright so I have a 90 firebird formula and I have always wanted a trans am but finding a 5 speed v8 with t tops was next to impossible so I thought I could convert my bird into a TA. I have found it to be a little more complicated than previously thought. I found a donor car for $250 and robbed it of all the TA parts I needed, now the hardest part will be the support frame for the lower side skirts along the rocker panels. I was unaware there was this support frame and in taking it off of the 86 TA donor car I had to drill out all the spot welds to remove it. Now I will need to weld it to my car and drill holes throughout the door and lower body.

If there is anyone one out there who has turned their firebird into a trans am replica, please let me know what you did and how you did it, as well as any complications I need to be aware of. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!! Oh and pictures wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks.

 

Im in the exact process as you right now. I literally just swapped on a TA door today. I had done all the body work and painted them the past few weeks. I just put on all new weather stripping and new locks. I had attached the GFX to the door, Them Im going to paint the TA fenders and install them. THen I will mock up the TA side skirts and figure out the mounting of the side skirt frames. you could tack weld them on your use self tapping screws (easiest and removable) but not the strongest I guess. a lot of people use the galvanized steel brackets from home depot to make the mounts for them as they don't really support any weight.

Hardest part is the side skirts and getting it all lined up. I still haven't figured out how to mark the bracket with the side skirts on since they envelope the whole support.

Let me know what you figure out as well and post pics!!

 

When I put ground effects on my son's Camaro, I pop riveted the mounting brackets on for the rocker panels. Make sure to use steel pop rivets. Just took a little patience and time to get them mounted right, worked out the first time, both sides.

 

I did that to my '88 Formula I used to have a long time ago. It wasn't too difficult.

BTW, if anyone has an '88 Formula with T/A GFX, shoot me a PM. I traded it in for my current car in El Cajon (San Diego area) back in 1999.

 

Luckily the previous owner made the swap before I bought the car. I heard it was a tedious chore but it sure makes a Formula look better

 

Thanks for the reply guys. I would agree that it could be a tedious task to get everything lined up perfectly to get flawless seams. I was lucky enough to get the fenders and everything too. Its gonna be a long process but I plan to document everything and note any difficulties that I encounter. I think I might use some galvanized self tapping screws to secure it or to at least mock it up. The Trans Am ground effects change the car completely and couldn't agree more that it makes the formula look way better. That's a great looking car too man, I can't wait to get mine converted over, and for anyone else that has done this before and that also has any little tricks that'll make it easier I'd love to hear it. I plan to start swapping and adding the parts to the car in the next couple weeks.

 

I did this when I was restoring my '84 bird. It wasn't to difficult. I found TA doors and fenders that had all of the mounting holes for most of the ground effects. I mocked them up on the car so I could get the mounting plate in the correct spot. This was the difficult part as you previously stated. I ended up finding a cracked pair of bottom skirts at a junkyard and I think I paid $10 for both sides. I cut holes in them because they were trashed already so I could easily see the mounting brackets. Mocked them up and I drilled holes and used self tapping screws to temporarily keep the plate on the car. Once I was happy with the positioning of the I welded them on to get a stronger bond then just the screws. I tried to find some pictures but didn't find any yet that show you exactly where they are mounted. I will keep looking and post some if I find them. Hope this helps a little.

 

Thanks topspeed. That's a great idea, I'm gonna keep looking for some cheap busted side skirts to do exactly that. That was going to be my biggest delima but I like the way you did it and it doesn't sound like it will all that difficult, just a little time consuming to ensure a good quality job. Thanks for the advice, I just started tearing down my car today to replace the bumpers and fenders and mock it all up before I take it back off to prep for paint.

 

I like them better w/o ground effects, but I have to admit, this looks great. Very nicely done! I'd drive it proudly!