I just noticed that the 1987 -1989 TA's come with much better-looking door panels that 1990 -1992. I want to swap my 1991 GTA with these. Anyone know if this is a straight forward swap or will I need anything specific besides the obvious?

 

There is a different support on the door for the arm rest, but I believe they are a straight swap if you have the support piece.

 

It's not all T/A's in that year range, or even JUST T/As. Those door panels were optional on all Firebirds in the years they were available, GTAs came with them standard up until 90 when the cup holders came out.

 

That's it. You need the mating support for the arm rest, everything else is a straight swap. Done this myself years ago on my ex-92 Firebird.

 

Those do look good. Has a touch of modern without looking out of place.

Will the features clear a crank window handle?

 

Biggest issue i've seen with these panels are the adhesive starting to detach behind the cloth insert in the middle of the panel. No real easy way of fixing them. Something i'm going to have to figure out sooner or later.

 

Are they metal support tabs that bolt to the door and the arm rest secures to it with the bolts?

 

Ok good to know. Is there a good way to reference the mating supports when I'm looking around on eBay? Model year or ”type” specific?

 

I'm sure this can be easily resolved by any local upholstery shop.

 

Yes that ”modern” look is exactly why I like them.

 

Good to know!

 

I believe they are riveted to the door, and the arm rest bolts to it. I've never had my panels off so I can't be sure, but I seem to remember someone who did this swap on the forum in the past who posted pics.

*EDIT* pictures of brackets in post #5 - https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...oor-panel.html

Probable. I've just never seen anyone post about getting them professionally recovered on here that I have found. I'm still a long ways away from dealing with little cosmetic things like that so hopefully between now and then information will come to light.

 

They were available with crank windows. Some have the map pocket, some don't. Not sure that the map pocket would clear window cranks.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

They look good in those pictures because those all appear to be low mile cars. If you find a set make sure they come with arm rests, the screw button covers and the plastic bezel the top of the arm rests goes on. Other wise it's going to nickle and dime you

 

I have been chasing after a set of these for a long time. I wonder if the company that made these for GM is still around, and if so, do they still have the fixtures to make them. It would be really nice to see somone make reproductions.
Anyone know what company made them?
DR.K.

 

Probably a subsidiary of GM based in Michigan. Considering the auto industry in the US has been eviscerated by the scramble for the all-mighty dollar, outsourced to Canada, Mexico, and China, there's a good chance that the people involved have long since retired or moved on to other jobs, the tooling is probably likewise long gone.

At this point, a person would probably be just as far ahead to make a set of molds and lay up as many sets as they want in fiberglass composite. Wrap the new form in vinyl and cloth, and away you go. The hardest part would be fabbing the door pull handles.

 

Looks like there's a set in the classifieds, in one of the piles pictured. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exte...tch-glass.html

 

I don't think the map pocket door panels came with the manual windows as it would cut into the handle. But the map pocket-less door panels was available:

 

There are a few sets on eBay as well.

 

I'm pretty sure you are absolutely correct in your assessment of the situation. My skills with fiberglass are good for small and medium items, but I don't know about doing these panels. I might be able to pull off a limited run of them (say, 10-15 sets) but the door pull/armrest would be a problem, for sure.
DR.K.

 

GM has often been hammered over door panels made with cheap materials, But some of the Trans Am ones really were nice. My '88 GTA doors do look really good and would compare well even to modern cars.

 

They certainly do compare to modern car panels. I think these panels were the inspiration for the 4th gen panels.
Either way, they look great!
DR.K.

 

Just another Euro flare from Pontiac in the age when being Euro was cutting edge stuff.