So while in the middle of getting my car redone I bought a nice set of Trans Am taillights to go back in because I like them better than the amber colored Formula tail lights. After plugging my bulbs in the tail lights would not fit. Upon further inspection comparing the two different pieces I could see the offset in the back of the tail light housing was different. I'm just wondering if the wiring harness plugs in different and is that what I need to make these Trans Am tail lights work or am I stuck with my originals? Has anyone else run into this swapping Firebird tail lights over to Trans Am ones? The taillights I got came out of an 89 Trans Am and my car being an 89 Formula You would think they would interchange.

 

I don't know your answer, but autozone sells the new bulb holder that will snap into the taillight like factory. not sure if you want to cut and wire them into your harness or not. pretty simple to do.

 

I'm thinking it may just be the bulbholder itself being a bit different and causing that lil bit of real estate to not let it bolt rite in.

 

I swapped the same taillights into my formula, and I had to swap the turn signal socket with the same style as the brake lights socket.


Then I wired it to come on with the taillights as well.

 

I think this will be the best route- thanks

 

It's been awhile for me,.. but IIRC the best way to get the TA lights installed in a Bird/Formy is to also get the TA rear Tail Light Harness along with the Lenses so it's a plug and pay installation. ( Harness must be from a similar year donor car)

I know you can cut and splice sockets too,.... but would only do that to customize the lights with sequential or something else custom.

 

there was a site called Austin 3rd gen that provided instructions on what to do. I have an 88 formula and got an 88 trans am harness and swapped out the harness. The main thing will be the wires coming from the brake switch and tying them into the turn signal since the trans am shares brake and turn signal and the firebird has separate brake and turn signals. IIRC it's a one wire splice under the dash but that site will show it if you google it. It's the first thing shown.

 

That sounds more like it !!

 

can I append a similar query. I have a 91 Trans Am that I'm interested in putting firebird/ formula lights on (T/A lights are pristine and I want to store them whilst taking the car to the track).

Plug and play or will require chopping the harness?

 

91/92 Firebirds have a different harness in the back and the intermediate connector is different that the other years. I have a Firebird harness I can sell you that I don't need. I put in the TA/GTA tail lights in my 92 by swapping out the harness

 

All I had to do was disconnect the lil peanut bulbs and do away with those and take the turn signal socket and swap it out for a different socket that was shorter and allowed for more clearance. A lil sanding and polishing and I was in business with some better looking tail-lites.