History / Originality Got a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!

Trans Am taillight turkey

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-28-2002, 01:38 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
Trans Am taillight turkey

So the 86 T/A I picked up a couple months ago was missing the taillight turkey. I went ahead and ordered a silver one from GM since I figured it would match the car best. Since then I've seen an 85, and an 86 both with red turkeys. I've got a red turkey now too, but which is correct for the car? I imagine I'll probably use the silver turkey either way since the car is white with red/silver trim.
Old 11-28-2002, 02:21 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member
 
darbleinad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 84 Trans Am
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
those are some interesting rims you have on that car...what kind are they? anymore pics of that car?

oh and about the colour of the "turkey" on the tail, i cant tell yeah which is correct, but the silver would probably look better
Old 11-28-2002, 07:47 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (2)
 
MNformula350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 10 Posts
Car: 1990 Formula
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3:73 Posi
If ya don't need the red one i would like a red one for my car.
I put T/A taillights in my Formula (red) and have been wanting a red bird.
Old 11-28-2002, 10:13 PM
  #4  
Senior Member

 
David M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 856
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: '84 Z28
Engine: L69
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Nice find Drew. LB9, WS6, hardtop, score!
How many miles on her?
Old 11-30-2002, 08:46 AM
  #5  
TGO Supporter

 
MdFormula350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Maryland; USA
Posts: 11,634
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
yeah nice looking car!
Old 11-30-2002, 08:53 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
84TAProject's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FWIW, my 84 has a silver turkey.
Old 11-30-2002, 09:28 AM
  #7  
Senior Member

 
Freeze's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Austria
Posts: 800
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Transmission: 700R4
i think trans ams hat the silver chicken and firebirds hat the red one, i'm not sure though
Old 11-30-2002, 06:32 PM
  #8  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
kizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fletcher, NC, USA
Posts: 960
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1982 Recaro T/A
Engine: LU5 CFI 305 V8
Transmission: TH-200C
Axle/Gears: 3.23 F-body Fanatic: Yes
1984 is a whole different ballgame and does not apply here. that was the last year before the 1985 update. All 84 T/A's would have a silver taillight eagle, except black & gold T/A's would have a golden eagle. Firebirds were all silver. Firebird S/E's were color-coded according to body color.

85+, who knows. On that particular car I'm guessing silver would match a while lot nicer than red. A Parts & Illustration book would tell you what it should be, but I don't have one..

Last edited by kizz; 11-30-2002 at 06:35 PM.
Old 11-30-2002, 09:48 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
Oh boy, where to start...

those are some interesting rims you have on that car...what kind are they? anymore pics of that car?

They're aftermarket, 15x7's. Aluminum. Not sure what brand, they were on the car when I got it. They're on my 91 V6 Firebird now since they had good tires (tread wise). They're 205/60R15's a little too short for a Firebird. They're for sale if anyone wants them. The car is supposed to have the convex 16x8's.

If ya don't need the red one i would like a red one for my car.

Try GM, I think I paid $12 for the silver one I picked up. I'm probably not going to use the red one on my T/A, but I'm thinking about putting the taillights that the bird is stuck on, in my 91 V6 bird.

Nice find Drew. LB9, WS6, hardtop, score!
How many miles on her?


Would you believe 179,000? The suspension is nice and tight, the car has few rattles, all the original hardware is there. All original unrestored. I traded an 85 Fiero SE for it... Two days later the LB9 developed a knock. The guy I got it from was driving it with no airdam, no cooling fan, etc... I think he just got it too hot. I've already acquired a 4 bolt main 350, now I just have to build it up a bit and drop it in. It'll be tpi, etc... I plan to rebuild the 305, but its difficult to say if it'll go back in the car anytime soon.

I'm going to go with the silver turkey unless I find something that shows that choice to be blatantly wrong. I still need to find a perfect center piece for the taillights though, since both the one on the car, and my extra set of lights have ripples in the plastic.
Old 12-01-2002, 02:35 AM
  #10  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (2)
 
robertg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: northeast ohio
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 2000 astro
Engine: 4.3
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 7.5 with 3.42 gears
nice score, Drew. an 86 t/a that i looked at 2 years ago didn't look nearly as nice, and had 83,000 on it.

is the aerowing seperating? the 86 i looked at was splitting right at the mid point. i'm presuming that's where the mold would have come apart to remove the rough piece?
Old 12-03-2002, 08:38 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
The aerowing is actually in really good shape, except the textured surface is starting to fall apart. I'm not sure how I'm going to work around it if I restore the car since the aftermarket fiberglass wings are probably smooth.
Old 12-04-2002, 11:21 PM
  #12  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (2)
 
robertg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: northeast ohio
Posts: 1,878
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 2000 astro
Engine: 4.3
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 7.5 with 3.42 gears
hey drew, here's a thought...

i wonder if the canned truckbed liner stuff would give a textured finish like the rubber on the aerowing...
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1992 Trans Am
History / Originality
27
05-10-2023 07:19 PM
Hawk312
Firebirds for Sale
36
08-22-2017 08:55 PM
Hello, Michael
Engine Swap
8
08-20-2015 03:19 PM
mizz0313
Transmissions and Drivetrain
3
08-12-2015 06:45 AM
Leggman1
Transmissions and Drivetrain
3
08-06-2015 04:15 AM



Quick Reply: Trans Am taillight turkey



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:45 PM.