air deflector or air dam
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: mid missouri
Car: 82 z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto th350
Axle/Gears: stock
air deflector or air dam
I notice my entire front air dam or deflector(under the nose of the car)was broken and was told it was essential to get it replaced or I would have overheating problems. I noticed on E-bay a 3 piece OEM kit but it looks like mine was 1 piece. Anyone ever change one and know what an 86 T/A came with?
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 647
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, CA
Car: 86 TA
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4 - 2200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
the 3 piece should work for your TA. probably your two end pieces had already broken off and only the middle section was left.
i ended up fabbing one up from some lower wall guard stuff (4" strips) from home depot with some brackets. now its mildly flexible rubber so if it hits anything it doesnt rip off. so far so good.
i posted a pic a while back if you search.
i ended up fabbing one up from some lower wall guard stuff (4" strips) from home depot with some brackets. now its mildly flexible rubber so if it hits anything it doesnt rip off. so far so good.
i posted a pic a while back if you search.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Mays Landing New Jersey
Car: 1988 Pontiac Formula 350TPI HARDTOP
Engine: 04- 350 Crate Motor with Crane Cam
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt Posi 3.73:1
Air Dam Assembly
This is a PIC. Of a Pontiac Firebird 2 PIECE Air Dam Reflector Without the TRANS AM Wrap Around Ground Effect Body Molding . This is For FORMULA's and Stock Firebirds . The TRANS AM Air Dam Reflector is Different , and has 3 pieces . Hope that Helps .
There is another Piece to this deflector that Bolts to the frame About the Middle section of this Picture
There is another Piece to this deflector that Bolts to the frame About the Middle section of this Picture
Last edited by Meinherr49; Jan 28, 2006 at 09:44 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Mays Landing New Jersey
Car: 1988 Pontiac Formula 350TPI HARDTOP
Engine: 04- 350 Crate Motor with Crane Cam
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt Posi 3.73:1
Air Dam reflector
This is a Picture of a TRANS AM Air Dam Reflector . It is different then the one above . it is Used in Trans Am's with the wrap around Body Grounds effects . NOTICE the Difference ?
Last edited by Meinherr49; Jan 28, 2006 at 09:46 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Mays Landing New Jersey
Car: 1988 Pontiac Formula 350TPI HARDTOP
Engine: 04- 350 Crate Motor with Crane Cam
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt Posi 3.73:1
Air Dam Reflector
Here is another Pic. of a salvaged Air Dam Reflector . This came from a 3RD Gen. Camaro .
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: mid missouri
Car: 82 z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto th350
Axle/Gears: stock
There is nothing even remotely similar to anything like that on my car. I went to the local GM dealer and had them order a part that they hope is correct. Their book shows it as 1 piece. I am really confused now because my car has the G-FX and the air dam bolts to the plastic piece that is bolted to the radiator support which ties the ends of the front G-FX in place. The thing I am not sure of is the pic of the 3 pc Jennings outfit as it doesn't show the edges on the side piece and how the bolt on and I am not sure if the center piece will fit. I think I am going to need a pic of a factory airdam on a car similar to mine if anyone has one intact .
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Mays Landing New Jersey
Car: 1988 Pontiac Formula 350TPI HARDTOP
Engine: 04- 350 Crate Motor with Crane Cam
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt Posi 3.73:1
Air Dam Reflector
The Last picture I showed you was a Air Dam Reflector from a 3RD Gen. Camaro . If you have a 1986 Trans Am , that is not the one you need . Try a Salvage Yard , and look for TA's in the 86,87, 88 Years . Those Cars have the Part you need .
P.S. By the way Pontiacsteve , do you know where I can get my Hands on one of these ? Been looking , but No Luck So far . they are a RARE Factory Stock Part that Nowadays is Hard to be Had .
P.S. By the way Pontiacsteve , do you know where I can get my Hands on one of these ? Been looking , but No Luck So far . they are a RARE Factory Stock Part that Nowadays is Hard to be Had .
Last edited by Meinherr49; Feb 1, 2006 at 09:37 PM.
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Air Dam Reflector
Originally posted by Meinherr49
they are a RARE Factory Stock Part that Nowadays is Hard to be Had .
they are a RARE Factory Stock Part that Nowadays is Hard to be Had .
JamesC
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
From: Woodland Hills, CA USA
Car: Yes...
Engine: Last time I checked...
Transmission: See "Engine"...
Originally posted by pontiacsteve
There is nothing even remotely similar to anything like that on my car. I went to the local GM dealer and had them order a part that they hope is correct. Their book shows it as 1 piece. I am really confused now because my car has the G-FX and the air dam bolts to the plastic piece that is bolted to the radiator support which ties the ends of the front G-FX in place. The thing I am not sure of is the pic of the 3 pc Jennings outfit as it doesn't show the edges on the side piece and how the bolt on and I am not sure if the center piece will fit. I think I am going to need a pic of a factory airdam on a car similar to mine if anyone has one intact .
There is nothing even remotely similar to anything like that on my car. I went to the local GM dealer and had them order a part that they hope is correct. Their book shows it as 1 piece. I am really confused now because my car has the G-FX and the air dam bolts to the plastic piece that is bolted to the radiator support which ties the ends of the front G-FX in place. The thing I am not sure of is the pic of the 3 pc Jennings outfit as it doesn't show the edges on the side piece and how the bolt on and I am not sure if the center piece will fit. I think I am going to need a pic of a factory airdam on a car similar to mine if anyone has one intact .
Detailed info:
www.gmpartsdirect.com:
GM PART # 12395557
CATEGORY: Radiator Air Deflector/Baffle
PACK QTY: 1
GM LIST: $33.45
OUR PRICE: $19.74
Here's the exact same GM kit on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-90...spagenameZWDVW
Shots of the 3-piece deflector on my '88.
Last edited by BretD 88GTA; Feb 2, 2006 at 02:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: mid missouri
Car: 82 z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto th350
Axle/Gears: stock
You guys that help out are just way too cool. Thanks for the pics and info to all that answered. Sorry I can't help much on answering questions about parts and finding stuff. One thing I am sure of and that is as long as I own this car(until my grandson can drive) I will have question. LOL Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 647
Likes: 1
From: Orange County, CA
Car: 86 TA
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4 - 2200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
see my pic here at the bottom:
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=257785
my car is lowered 1" so the middle piece always scraping and eventually ripped off too so thats what i came up with.
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=257785
my car is lowered 1" so the middle piece always scraping and eventually ripped off too so thats what i came up with.
Want a title? Post!
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Canton, MS
Car: 1988 GTA, 2017 Ram 1500
Engine: 350 T.P.I.
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: air deflector or air dam
Sorry guys for resurrecting a necro thread. But I am new and just got a 1988 TA GTA.
The shipper damaged the air dam either when loading/unloading the car or the strapping was against it during transport. The link BretD gave was super helpful and I’m going to order a new air dam. I just wanted to know if that factory one is better than an aftermarket or if there I still no difference. They also tore that filler piece between the air dam and the front of the ground effects.
i wanted to know if this part (#5 in the diagram) is the correct replacement?
Latch Support - GM 10037735
I’ll also need some of the retaining/trim screws to fasten it. Anybody have the part # or size I can get down at a hardware store? Is this part as necessary as the air dam?
i want to thank you ahead of your help. Again, I didn’t mean to resurrect an old thread but it was the most pertinent to my question and I know to try the search function before staring a new thread.
The shipper damaged the air dam either when loading/unloading the car or the strapping was against it during transport. The link BretD gave was super helpful and I’m going to order a new air dam. I just wanted to know if that factory one is better than an aftermarket or if there I still no difference. They also tore that filler piece between the air dam and the front of the ground effects.
i wanted to know if this part (#5 in the diagram) is the correct replacement?
Latch Support - GM 10037735
I’ll also need some of the retaining/trim screws to fasten it. Anybody have the part # or size I can get down at a hardware store? Is this part as necessary as the air dam?
i want to thank you ahead of your help. Again, I didn’t mean to resurrect an old thread but it was the most pertinent to my question and I know to try the search function before staring a new thread.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 46
From: North East GA
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
Re: air deflector or air dam
Has anyone ever installed the 3 piece on a '89 formula, The flexible one piece part is actually in good shape on my car its the part that it mounts to that mounts to the lower radiator support that is broke... I'm ok with modifying the part or the car to make it fit but if its too much mod I would probably just make a new mount out of aluminum or fiberglass.
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 4,174
Likes: 569
From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: air deflector or air dam
Has anyone ever installed the 3 piece on a '89 formula, The flexible one piece part is actually in good shape on my car its the part that it mounts to that mounts to the lower radiator support that is broke... I'm ok with modifying the part or the car to make it fit but if its too much mod I would probably just make a new mount out of aluminum or fiberglass.
Last edited by NoEmissions84TA; Jun 22, 2018 at 10:53 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
Re: air deflector or air dam
This is what the car looked like after his front tire, came off on the highway doing 60 mph , trying to put back stock .Time for new air dam and front nose piece.
Last edited by savage56; Jun 13, 2019 at 01:22 PM.
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