I've been searching through the board for information on swapping my 1987 GTA middle console. I found all the info needed, but it was spread over multiple threads. Hence, I wanted to post this single thread with a good title, so hopefully in the future it will save someone the time, and pain, of searching several posts.

The following info is for Third Gen Firebird's only, not applicable to Camaro.

·Any 3rd Gen Firebird will work
oCamaro consoles are one piece, unlike the Firebird (2 pc)

·4th Generation Swap
o93-96 Camaro – No good
o93-96 Firebird Great
o97+ Firebird or Camaro are direct fit

·4th Gen manual or auto will work

·3rd Gen manual or auto will work

·Unless getting a 3rd gen 87-92 Firebird direct replacement automatic, will need to ensure we get the shifter boot

·If you use a 4th Gen Auto console, the 3rd Gen auto shifter will need to be moved to align with the 4th Gen Auto Shifter plate


Please correct any wrong information. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the other threads!


Joe

 

I've heard now that 82-85 Firebird consoles will not work in 86-92, can anyone confirm?

 

yes they will i've done it

 

Great, so the original post stil holds true. Thanks for the input!!!

 

My vote for a stickie. Someone please Sticky this thread.

 

Sticky!

 

If you guys need some pics, I do have a few consoles here, including:
-stock 87 TA console
-93-96 camaro console (hey, we all make mistakes, right?)
-93-97 'bird console

 

Post em up if you can, all in the same position so we can compare them.

 

If you can hold out a couple more days, I'll post em up Friday. Working long past sunset means no pulling parts from the shed. That place is a death trap after 7pm

 

I come bearing photos, quite a few. To spare you all from an extra long post, feel free to check out the album on photobucket here: http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...%20am/console/
I also redyed (Krylon Fusion) the bird console with photos in there too.

The consoles in question:
-87 Trans Am automatic
-LT1 Camaro automatic
-LT1 Firebird standard




Fitment of Camaro console


Fitment of Bird console



Any other questions, you know where to find me

 

nice!!! What of the other firebird console, does it fit as well as the first firebird console ?

 

The original console fits very well, since it was stock

The first 4th gen I test fit was an LT1-year Camaro one for auto transmissions. you can see the big gap between the console and the radio section; gear indicator plate does not work what-so-ever

The second console tested was an LT1-year Firebird, manual trans. Had to cut off the "horn" at the front of the console, but otherwise fit very well. This is the one in the last picture and may look different than the comparison shots because I sprayed it black before installing it.

 

ahh... okay.. thats what I was trying to figure out, which one was it that you had installed that looked so flush ( the one you painted) . That makes sense now.

Thank you very much sir, you have definitively answered my questions on the topic. I now know that I can scoop up both of these pieces (firebird radio pod and 4th gen console, and get to work in my interior.

 

glad I could help. It helps to have all the info in one place with pictures ahead of time. I should have searched before I spent $60 at the junkyard pulling the Camaro console to find out I got a chunk of useless plastic

 

actually the thirdgen camaro console will fit with the slightest trim job to the top. i know this because i have one in my 88 t/a

 

My 87 GTA auto console, has a manual style boot, yet the slider letter indicator on the left of the boot.

At first look, my car appears to be a T5, because of the boot, but it isn't. It's a 700R4.

 

I have an 1985 firebird, are you saying a 97+ console will fit perfectly???

 

they will work with a little bit of work, but about a 90% fit.

bolts in place , may have to trim up front (horn-thing I mentioned), need to be creative on how you mount your power switches. need to use a manual console as well.

 

How do you mount the power window switches into the fourth-gen bird console??

 

ashtray

 

Im trying this now and i cant see what my console is hung up on. 1985 TA. with a 1998 firebird console. console and car are auto. i moved the console up as far as it will go and even moved the shifter back some. It fits until right before it closes and i cant see whats in the way. any help thanks

 

what year is that out of? I want a new console for my 89 firebird w/ 5 speed, and I love how that looks

 

Good to know. I really like how my LS1 has the spin out cup holder and dual accessory plugs (cig lighter +1). I'll be happy to have that as a nice add in to my 89 Formy.

 

nice fitment for a future project.

 

Hey I got a 89 firebird with a pretty beat up center console I found a 85 iroc console for a decent price but don't want to buy it unless it would fit , I like the look and style of those any1 know if thatl fit good even with having to mod it a little?

 

I just but a 02 console in my 87 ta looks great and im thinking of putting the window switches in the tray so when you open it they are right there on the front of it so i can still use my ashray for change as i drive to chicago alot and there are alot of toll booths

 

yeah what year console is that.I'm looking for a console for my 91 TA T-5 and thinking of doing this swap,That looks sweeeet!!

 

so basically a 99+ manual console will do the trick?Thats awesome.I"m redoing my interior for a winter project so now I have to find bird door panels and one of these consoles...Great info on here..I vote! for a sticky also

 

So if using a manual 4th Gen firebird console in my automatic 3rd gen....What becomed of the shift indicator? or is it all just covered up and drive by touch?

 

Hello if someone could help me I would really appreciate it. I have an 88 firebird and I'm thinking about putting in the fourth gen console and I have a few questions after reading this thread.
1. Does the new console have to be a manual in order to fit on an automatic 3rd gen shifter without moving or modifying the shifter?
2. Do I use the shift plate from the 3rd gen console or do I use the 4th gen one?
3. Is there anything else that will be a hassle to get it to fit properly?

I've seen posts that people say the whole shifter won't fit and there's posts like this one that say that it's a great fit except for the horn tabs or something easy to get rid of. It's just really how the shifter fits that confuses me. If anybody could answer any or all of these questions it would help me out a ton. Thanks

 

The new console CAN be an automatic, but that requires moving the shifter around to get it work right. With a manual only some trimming of the console is necessary.

You cannot reuse the 3rd gen shift plate. The auto has a shift plate, the manual is by feel.

It is a fairly straight forward install. Cut the little thingys in the front that stick out off, and use the 2 bolts in the compartment to bolt it down. done.

 

In the picture you posted is that a stick or auto and what type of console did you use?

 

It is a console out of a 2000 Firebird.

The trans in the car is an auto. But I used that shift **** (out of a camaro IIRC) to make people think at first glance it is a manual.

 

Ok thanks man that helps I found a console like that on third gen ranch but it doesn't have a shifter plate so I'll have to come up with something for it. Your car looks awesome by the way.

 

Thanx for the compliment. I am really pleased with how it turned out, and it is 100% reversible should I need to do that.

 

What kind of shift boot did you use is that an aftermarket one or did you use one from a manual firebird?

 

Its a new replacement. Not aftermarket.

 

So what console would fit in my t5 91 camaro? Since the stock console is a whole single piece...

 

Third Gen firebird radio pod and fourth Gen manual center console.

 

Does it matter if is the 2 cup holder console or 1?

 

As long as it is a firebird console.. (See Post 10)

 

Can somebody tell me what it means to move the shifter? Do I have to cut a bigger hole in the floor board?

 

So I bought what i believe to be an automatic bottom 4th gen console (I thought it was manual when I ordered it) and I need to buy a shift plate. Does anyone know if a manual shift plate will fit in an automatic console?

 

Console Bases are the same, its just the top piece that is different. So, yes it will fit.

 

If you have an Auto, it means removing the stock shifter mounting plate and moving it so it aligns with the shift plate, then rewelding it back down.. If you use the manual shifter top part to the console, no mods (except a little trimming) are required.

 

Great now I can order the shift plate, thanks a lot.

 

for those that want an alternative to putting your switches in the ashtray as I use mine for change and don't want to flip up my ashtray lid to access my switches.

 

Ford Taurus window switches makes a nice clean install as well. If you want to do a little extra work.

 

Late '90's Monte Carlo ones too, but they tend to wear out over time.

 

Where do you need to trim the plate if you have a manual trans?