Greetings! I just picked up my second Third Gen F-Body, an 85 Trans Am. It's in relatively good shape and needs very little. I do have a few questions though and I hope someone can answer them.

1. Was the rear hatch latch motorized in 85? My 87 was and this 85 doesn't seem to have it. Perhaps it's disconnected, etc., I haven't pulled the access panel off yet, but I was curious.

2. Does the fender need to come off to replace the power antenna? The one in the car is shot, it will not retract so it's either getting replaced with another or modified to stay down and a hidden antenna installed.

3. The rear panel in between the tail lights looks distorted, like it has been affected by heat. The car did come from Southern FL, but I doubt it gets that hot there. My 87 got badly discolored and warped, but not like this. Is this a common problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

1. Does it have the release switch on the dash? If it does the motor, release switch or entire unit could be bad or un-plugged

2. No but you have to remove the inner fender plastic. You can get more room if you remove the wheel/tire but not completely necessary.

3. Yes fairly common for what ever reason from what I have seen.

 

It does have the release switch on the dash, it releases the lock, but that's all. No motor can be heard. I'll check for blown fuses etc when I get the chance.

My main issue at the moment is getting the heat to work. I ran the car for a good 5 minutes and the temp gauge barely moved. I was thinking it was busted but when I touched the upper radiator hose, the hose was cold. I'm thinking the engine doesn't have a thermostat installed. Possible?

Another question. Is the 85 a base coat / clear coat paint?

 

The fender-mounted power antennas on 80s GM cars are a complete PITA to get to. So much so that I finally gave up trying to replace one in another '85 model year Pontiac vehicle that I used to own.

'86 was the first model year for base/clear factory paint as well.

 

I figured out the paint this weekend when I used some polishing compound to remove a stain and saw the cloth turn red, no clear coat there.

I gave up on trying to get the antenna to retract so I can put the cover on the car at night. I snipped it and pushed the remainder of the mast down into the unit. I will seal it up so it looks like the antenna is retracted and install a hidden one under the dash.

 

Seriously? A little patience and we could have walked you through getting this fixed the right way. There is a single bolt inside the fender that holds the antenna in place. The top of the fender has a nut at the base of the antenna. The hardest part, and I say that sarcastically, is unplugging the antenna from the back of the radio so that all wires can be fished out the inner fender opening. You could have fixed this for about $3, but you chose the wrong option cutting the antenna!

 

We were getting bad weather here on Long Island, snow and sleet, and I didn't want the car left uncovered, the antenna had to be retracted or it would of bent even more and probably damaged the cover as well. With no time to really take everything apart, I went the quick route. I doubt the unit could of been saved as the mast was all bent and wouldn't even retract into itself. Either the unit will be replaced with a better one or I'll install an amplified hidden antenna in the car. I could care less about the radio, I'd rather hear the cool Magnaflow exhaust note.

 

My 85 doesn't have the motorized latch which kind of makes me sad cause when I saw one it looked really cool and I have jealousy :P Need to fix my antennae too, it's stuck up about 2 inches and the motor is long dead. A project for the summer since it's in the car port for now.

 

I spoke the PO and he said the car didn't have one, it says nothing about it in the owners manual so I guess we're out of luck. My 87 had it and it was cool, at least I thought it was. My antenna will get replaced in the spring, my buddy has a replacement.

Does your 85 have a heater control valve? I need to replace the heater core and run new hoses because it was all removed when the engine was done and I can't find a listing for a heater control valve in any of the parts catalogs.

 

From what I understand, 1986 was the first year for the motorized hatch.

My 85 has the power release as well. Not motorized. Hope this helps.

Post pics of your 85!

 

Here are few pics that the dealer had posted.

 

Either the motor was swapped or that isn't an '85. The TPI didn't become available until '87.

 

1985 was the first year for the LB9 (305TPI) in the Trans Am.

 

Yeah, my 85 has a bone stock TPI. Even says "Tuned Port Injection" on stuff like its a big deal. And has "Fuel Injected" on the door handles.

 

Some pics of my 85 TA!









And here I am installing the overhead console :P

 

Genesyn - nice 85 dude! I love the Recaro seats. I was looking for a set when I came across a set of seats from a 91 GTA in near mint condition. That will solve my reupolstery problem and save me money at the same time.

 

Yeah I scored on those, even the mesh is intact! I need to find someone to fix a couple tears in the drivers seat though, and replace some plastic bits on the levers.

 

I was quoted $300 to fix the tears on the 2 front seats on mine, I bought the front and back seats for less than that. Maybe you can find someone to do your repair.

 

I'm sure I can find someone eventually, but I need to fix my power steering leak first

 

No 87 was the first year of the 5.7 TPI

85 was the first year of 305 TPI and has a different wiring harness and computer then any other year. It's the worst TPI setup out of any year.

 

It seems to be a trend for the 1985 model year. The 85 Corvette's TPI is also a stand alone system, different from any other year (I should know) as it utilizies a MAF burn off relay, the only year to use it. I believe the 85 F-bodies share the same burn off relay as well as the ECM in 85.

 

Yup, 85's have their own ECM, and use MAF. It is different than the other year TPI systems.

 

I noticed in the following picture you have the H.O. fender stickers. If you have the LB9, I don't think that's factory correct as the L69 (4-bbl) was referred to as the H.O.

Regardless, the black and gold Trans AMs are sharp.

 

Huh, I wonder if the stickers were replaced at some point then, cause I just checked against the VIN and you're right, it's LB9 305 TPI. Guess I need to fix that in my restore process, I would've never noticed that! I know the engine is TPI, no carb so its just the wrong sticker. How strange.

EDIT: Just sourced a 5.0 F/I sticker which it should probably have there instead

 

I've seen some kits only have the HO sticker available. Maybe someone replaced the decals with one of those kits.

 

Vans Upholstery in Enumclaw

 

one other thing, not to be picky or anything but i believe that small "chicken" decal is on the wrong location. Instead of the decal being on the hood, it should be on the nose. The only time i remember seeing a hood bird on a thirdgen firebird, i believe is on the 85-86 model years with the LARGE "Chicken" decal. Which i believe is a rpo option.

 

Besides the large decal option on the hood, which was DX1, there was a smaller decal in that exact location as D53 but I believe it was no longer available after 1984. It measured about 10 1/2 x 10 and so it would be slightly larger than the one pictured but it was in the same location (tip of the hood).