I was wanting to convert to T/A tailights. SO I go to a junk yard and pick up:

'89 T/A tailights w/center piece
wiring hardness (the wire was CUT right above the driver's side wheel well.)


PROB:
As I was removing the old Firebird lights I noticed that bulb sockets were different. There were more. THe '89 bird has a seperate light bulb for the turn signal(s) while T/A lights didn't. I compared the wires from the hardness of the T/A and the Firebird's. All were the same but for ONE. it's blue. I don't know what this blue does. So i decide not to mess with it.


Question:
Can I make those T/A tailights WORK with my Firebird. All the wires are the same but for ONE and it's BLUE. Can anyone help?
Thanks.

 

Can anyone suggest anything about converting?

Purty Please.


Maybe anyone who has wiring diagrams?

 

Yes, you can use your base model tail light harness for the 87-90 GTA tail lights. I have a 91 formula, but I'm assuming our harnesses are the same... One socket per tail light you will not use. Yes, I belive it was a blinker (but cant be fore sure) Simply lay it along the bumper behind the light. The other sockets; moreover, are very snug to fit into the new tail lights. I had to cut the notch a hair wider on the tail light in order to accomodate the sockets. I also had to clearance the two outside sockets (make them shorter) so that they would not hit the body. I'm sorry, it has been quite a while since I changed the lights. I hope that gives you at least a hint of what you're in for. It's really not very difficult and can definetly be done in an afternoon.

 

if need help , let me know. done this swap, bbad night, too bummed to type it out right now.

 

One thing you will have to do is make a connection up by the driver side kick panel. The brake lights on the T/A's go up through the turn signal so that the brake signal is interupted when the turn signal is in use. Otherwise the only thing that will work is the high mount brake light. I used the T/A Harness for mine but I thought I would throw this in. I'll try and scan the diagrams tomorrow for you .

 

I did the swap a couple years back, put 87' transam taillights a similar year bird with the base model taillamps.

At the time, thought the salvage yard transam lights looked better than what i currently had on the bird. So i popped the hatch at the junkyard, unscrewed the taillights from the car and cut part of the harness too. Was suprised when i got home and pulled the taillights off my car only to discover that the transam ones used a different size bulb sockets, then noticed that the transam ones also had a different number of bulbs per taillamp than the base model firebird ones.

After looking at the electrical schematics, i dug out the soldering gun and heatshrink tubing. Haven't had any problems with the taillights since the install.

Before you start the install, you may wish to purchase a set of replacement bulbs for the taillights. Good excuse to replace the old bulbs while you have everything apart anyways.

 

I have done this, and if you want them to look like the TA tail lights when they light up, then you will need to do a little more the replace the wiring.
I can't remember exactly what, however, but I can go look if you'd like to know.
Douglas