Hey guys,
i'm starting to restore my 83 black&gold T/A and i've got a few questions.

The car has those gold turbowheel and the previous owner installed GTA lights in the back.The rest of the car is original.

The way it is,it looks weird to me and since i'm new to 3rd gen world,i need some advice.

Should i buy night rider style back light and keep the car original or make a GTA clone style T/A?

The bird needs a new paint job anyway and i might put some cragar wheels soon.I like the snowflakes of the 2nd gen but does it fit?Anyone ever tried it?

And what about the back window louver?I've never seen that on GTA...should i keep it...i think it looks mean...

Any advice would be great....i'm new here...so don't go to hard on me!!THANKS!!

:hail:

 

I say buy the stock 82-84 T/A lights because the 85-90 T/A lights look out of place on a 82-84 IMO.

The louvers looks like the ones that were on my '83 T/A. They are made by Shadow. I'd keep them unless you are going for a more modern look.

2nd gen wheels do fit on a 3rd gen. If you do go with snowflakes go with the WS6 15x8 ones. They look better IMO.

The Trans Am decal on the rear bumper is wrong. '82 and '83 didn't have anything on the rear bumper except the stripes going along the bottom.

 

Nice car by the way.

I would restore it back to original. why turn it into something that its not? The louver does not go well with the car in my opinion.

So my advise to you is to keep it original. You'll appreciate the vehicle even more when its original.

Chevypower91

 

82FirebirdTA, is right about the rear bumper decal, it started in 1984.

But I do have too say, I am a big fan of the later style taillights, as you will see!

Oh, and I also liked the TransAm decal for the rear bumper, and the fourth-gen tips.

I have no problem with original looking cars, I have just changed things to suit my taste that can be easily switched back.

On the other hand, doing a GTA-clone make over on a slowly disappearing EARLY third-gen, would not be a good thing, in my opinion. You would need both front and rear bumper covers, hood, ground effects, rear spoiler, dash/instrument panel, console, seats, steering wheel, 16in wheels, and door panels, to pull it off.

You will have a car that will stand out just as much, if not more, if you restored it as an 83 year model, and then maybe personalize it form there, with some wheels and the like.

You'll find out soon, that we who own the early ones, really like the appreciation from others that have seen them.

Good-Luck with your car, I always wanted a Black T/A:hail:

 

Nice car. I would restore it back to it's original condition too. I would also remove the louvers. I think they don't go too well with the trans-am's flowing lines. It might look alright on some camaro's though. Do you live in Montreal region?

 

You want to sell the louvers?????

 

go baqck to original, thats what im doing with my 82, they were perfectly beautiful the way they came out back then, im actually glad mines not a recaro or anything else other than a regular t/a

like it just the way it is, just if i could only find the rest of the factory parts for it

good luck and nice bird you have


84L69TA, did you find buildsheet in your 82 ?

 

Yes, I did. It was under the drivers seat.

 

Keep it original. From what I've read there are too many knight rider nightmares out there. And less and less of yours.

A lot of people want your car in it's original form. No, I don't mean that they want you to keep it that way , I mean they just want your car for themselves as it is. I look forward to having one some day...


Here's a site I seen today that has some info you might like:

http://www.ohok.com/82recaro/miscellaneous.html

Nice ride !
:rockon:

 

I'd keep it original. The early 3rd-gens just have a classic style to them. It seems like there is less and less early 3rd-gen T/As that aren't hacked up.

There would be nothing cooler than a black and gold '82 Recaro T/A sitting in my driveway!

 

Id get rid of the louver,dont get it twisted though,I like louvers but only the 1 piece kind,but thats just me .Get the smoked 82-84 louvered taillights,but you can still swiych up you taillights.I want to get some taillights like 1tinindian so I can switch it up once in a while.

 

Smoked '82-'84's =

 

Thanks to all for the replies!

So a early 3rdgen seem to be a rare vehicule in good condition...i diden't know that..lol...i tought that because they mostly have underpower v8,3rd gen fans diden't like these bird.Cool!

I bought this car for 500$can,gave it a good tune-up and repair the rust damage.Mechanic is in good condition and the interior is mint and the t-top don't leak...what a ripoff!

About the rear bumper decal and light,i diden't know that is was as 84+ cover,maybe the guy crash the back and change it

I think too that the louver seem a little out of place,i removed it and sandblast it so its ready for paint.Does the louvers worth anything ?84L69TA,is this model hard to find in your area?


Tongi,i live in the north shore of mtl.Very nice T/A i like your ride awesome.

I'm glad,i haven't seen a lot of interest on my bird around here lately:lala:

 

If you ever think about selling those tailights you have there let me know.