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I just purchased an 86 Trans Am and I’m beginning my long journey turning it into a KITT replica!
I’ll have parts to sell in the future (hood, wrap around spoiler, recaro seats) but for now I have an interior question.
Being my center console is shot and I need to replace it, I want to be “screen accurate” and obtain a good condition or refurbished 82-84 center console and glove compartment. My question is will this properly fit in my 86? I know the power mirror switch is not on that console and no big deal for me, but before I hunt one down I want to make sure it fits my interior.
Also I’ve found an 82 style NOS shifter but no stick, would I be able to install that in my current shifter stick?
Stop the KITT genocide. Turning a Recaro Trans Am into the gayest thirdgen ever to grace celluloid is a crime against humanity. You should be ashamed of yourself for even considering what you're talking about.
Edit: To answer your question, everything on an 86 Trans Am is different from an 82. You're not even close. All the gfx, bumpers, hood, fenders, seats, dash, console, door panels, all of it is dead wrong for an 82 T/A clone. You'll have to completely destroy that car in order to make it a convincing KITT clone.
I'll echo the other's statements, that car is too nice and too wrong year wise to hack into a KITT.
I think a well done KITT replica is kinda cool, but it's been so overplayed at this point I would rather see a nice original or restomod T/A any day of the week.
I agree it's your car and you have the right to do with it whatever you want, but I also agree it really would be a shame to hack up such a nice car, if it was a total basket case it would be easier to watch. I wouldn't get offended from others opinions, it's just really hard to find these in nice shape anymore. Good luck with whatever direction you take it.
Glad you guys like the car but at the end of the day it’s my decision to make what I wish and I rather have an answer than opinions.
I thought the point of the forums were for assistance and community vibes, but I guess I’m wrong.
Thanks anyway.
You got an answer in the second post from Drew. You have the wrong car to do what you want to do without throwing a lot of money away trying to make an '86 into an '82.
You got an answer in the second post from Drew. You have the wrong car to do what you want to do without throwing a lot of money away trying to make an '86 into an '82.
I know what I need to change, I have it all already even the impossible to find 15” turbo cast. I asked if the console will easily fit in the 86 since mine is in rough shape, didn’t get that answer.
Just to be clear I am a huge Trans Am fan and would’ve done an 82-84 but I wanted a newer one with better suspension, latch t-tops, and better motor. I’ve been looking for a long time and as you all know it’s been harder and harder to find a decent shape car. I rather use this and do what I need then a junkyard find and ground up restoration. This car has had the engine and transmission remanufactured and so much work put into it already that it would be a shame not to take it for the offer that I got it.
So back to my original question, is it easy to swap the console that desperately needs replacement and can I just use the 82 style **** and use my stick from shifter?
Your car has the 4th gen console. You need the 3rd gen style. Yes, it will bolt right in.
Thank you so much. Just need to see about the shifter. I can get the **** NOS but no stick. So I’m wondering if I can retrofit the stick from my shifter like in the pic to the correct ****.
KITT is the best looking thirdgen to ever have existed, PERIOD. The reason it gets so much hate is all the half-assed, inaccurate "replicas" out there that are hacked up abominations owned by clueless nerds who want everything as cheap as possible.
With that said, while a KITT replica CAN be made from '85-'92 Trans Ams and Firebirds, the '82-'84 is the easiest. It is a lot more work and expense to convert a '85-'92. You're gonna spend a LOT of time (and money) looking for the correct year parts in good condition; they are not as plentiful as they were 20 years ago. Do what you want with your car, but be aware of what you're getting yourself into.
Guys here are urging you to keep your car original, but I urge you not to build a deplorable looking KITT. In other words, do it right, or not at all. Talk to Don Colie at Advanced Designs in Virginia (540-484-0753). KITT replicas is his full-time business for the past 20 years...
KITT is the best looking thirdgen to ever have existed, PERIOD. The reason it gets so much hate is all the half-assed, inaccurate "replicas" out there that are hacked up abominations owned by clueless nerds who want everything as cheap as possible.
With that said, while a KITT replica CAN be made from '85-'92 Trans Ams and Firebirds, the '82-'84 is the easiest. It is a lot more work and expense to convert a '85-'92. You're gonna spend a LOT of time (and money) looking for the correct year parts in good condition; they are not as plentiful as they were 20 years ago. Do what you want with your car, but be aware of what you're getting yourself into.
Guys here are urging you to keep your car original, but I urge you not to build a deplorable looking KITT. In other words, do it right, or not at all. Talk to Don Colie at Advanced Designs in Virginia (540-484-0753). KITT replicas is his full-time business for the past 20 years...
Thank you! Couldn’t have said it any better! I agree KITT is the best looking car, and for me it’s go big or go home. Being a big Knight Rider fan I’m doing this the right way, like Chris Blasius. I’ve found all the parts in good or great shape needed to convert properly except the rear 82-84 bumper. However I saw JEGS makes an OER version so I may do that.
I've heard of Don Colie and I’m glad you gave me his
contact info. I’ll reach out to him with questions.
I might do a separate post explains my conversion and what I have or what I need, maybe I’ll get less hating haha.
That car is way too nice to do this to in my opinion. It will be a ton of work to turn that 86 into an 82. This forum is not a Knight Rider forum. Those forums are all gone. You will get very little respect here. You can find some information pertaining to replica building on here, but not much. You are far better off seeking out the hundreds of Facebook groups in your quest. Good luck.
If you do decide to take that car on, I'd be interested in the hood.
That car is way too nice to do this to in my opinion. It will be a ton of work to turn that 86 into an 82. This forum is not a Knight Rider forum. Those forums are all gone. You will get very little respect here. You can find some information pertaining to replica building on here, but not much. You are far better off seeking out the hundreds of Facebook groups in your quest. Good luck.
If you do decide to take that car on, I'd be interested in the hood.
Thank you! Couldn’t have said it any better! I agree KITT is the best looking car, and for me it’s go big or go home. Being a big Knight Rider fan I’m doing this the right way, like Chris Blasius. I’ve found all the parts in good or great shape needed to convert properly except the rear 82-84 bumper. However I saw JEGS makes an OER version so I may do that.
I've heard of Don Colie and I’m glad you gave me his
contact info. I’ll reach out to him with questions.
I might do a separate post explains my conversion and what I have or what I need, maybe I’ll get less hating haha.
Thanks,
Joe
By the way; Don's KITT replica components do not require hacking up your car. You can always return the car to its stock original condition if desired. To say that the car is "too nice" really makes no sense. You WANT to start with a car that's really nice. That's ideal, instead of having to do a full restoration before you can even put the replica parts on. It's sad that so many Trans Ams HAVE been hacked up to make an abominable KITT car. In my opinion, that's the reason the idea of a KITT replica gets so little respect.
And no, I am not a David Hasselhoff fan. I just always thought that car looked awesome, and it is THAT car that made me always want a black thirdgen Trans Am...
If you do the exterior exactly right, it'll look good as a KITT. To me, it's just been done to death, but it's your car. To each his own. IMO, even done exactly right, it doesn't really look any better than a stock early 3rd gen Trans Am. And not as good as an 1987-1990.
Personally, I think duplicating the KITT interior would get old very fast. In that case, I wouldn't go for an exact replica. You could probably put together a really nice, functional, electronic interior. But the KITT look is going overboard. I wouldn't want a lot of non-functional crap in the car. Heck, I didn't even want to get a new radio for my GTA because the steering wheel controls then have been just a dead set of buttons in front of me. (Unless you can push a button and really make the car launch off the ground or zoom up to 300 mph.)
It's your car right? Well do what you want with it. Don't listen to others here. Like these cars are going to be worth big money someday. Enjoy it in your own way.
In 2003 someone sold me a nice, running and driving, 86 Trans Am with a 305 TPI, WS6, etc for $200. Go find me one now for $200 and then tell me the values aren't already on the way up.
The problem isn't so much liking or disliking KITT or the show, it's that Trans Ams are made to be DRIVEN, and that stupid gullwing steering wheel makes them into a really shitty to drive car. It defeats the entire purpose. It's turning a functional vehicle into a movie prop. It's fiction. You can add all those lights and buttons, the tv screens, etc and at the end of the day you don't have the hero car from the show, you have a visual representation without all the special effects, camera people, writers, etc that made it look good on screen. I mean if that's what you want, then that's your choice, but it goes against what 95% of the users on this board are into these cars for. They're great, affordable, and performing cars. We appreciate their heritage, the value, etc. KITT may be a part of that, but it's pretty far removed from a lot of typical thirdgen owners interests. I'm not so much telling you that your opinion is wrong, as much as I'm suggesting you might learn to appreciate the car the way it is, or pass it on to someone who would, and keep looking for a more appropriate car to destroy... er, I mean turn into a clone.
Like these cars are going to be worth big money someday.
Who's to say? I look at the prices that nice original 3rd gens are currently bringing at some of these nationally-televised auctions, and it makes me wonder where the ceiling might be.
The mid-'80s- era performance cars are the bridge between the pitiful smog-era cars of the late-'70s and what is on the market today, and that gives them a place in the history of the automobile in the US.
It's your car, OP. Do with it as you wish, but give it some consideration first.
In 2003 someone sold me a nice, running and driving, 86 Trans Am with a 305 TPI, WS6, etc for $200. Go find me one now for $200 and then tell me the values aren't already on the way up.
The problem isn't so much liking or disliking KITT or the show, it's that Trans Ams are made to be DRIVEN, and that stupid gullwing steering wheel makes them into a really shitty to drive car. It defeats the entire purpose. It's turning a functional vehicle into a movie prop. It's fiction. You can add all those lights and buttons, the tv screens, etc and at the end of the day you don't have the hero car from the show, you have a visual representation without all the special effects, camera people, writers, etc that made it look good on screen. I mean if that's what you want, then that's your choice, but it goes against what 95% of the users on this board are into these cars for. They're great, affordable, and performing cars. We appreciate their heritage, the value, etc. KITT may be a part of that, but it's pretty far removed from a lot of typical thirdgen owners interests. I'm not so much telling you that your opinion is wrong, as much as I'm suggesting you might learn to appreciate the car the way it is, or pass it on to someone who would, and keep looking for a more appropriate car to destroy... er, I mean turn into a clone.
I and you will be dead and gone when these cars go up in value. There are so few that go for alot you can count them on 2 hands. I paid $7500 for mine in 1997 with 50,000 miles on it. What's a car like that worth today? 15,000? So 23 years to double in value. A car is not at all a good investment. And if you are going to be a car collector for a return in investment, thirdgen camaros/ firebirds are at the bottom of the list. Getting to the point. Mod it, swap it, paint it, do what you want with it. Make it your own, or one of a kind. Dont listen to the keep it stock and enjoy the heritage,lol. The cars are slugs by today's standards. There is no enjoyment driving a 305 tbi car around when a Mom driving a Maxima can leave you in the dust. I love these cars like any member on here, but they are not fun at all to drive stock, in 2020.They are slow as **** and underpowered by today's standards. Maybe that's why the LS swap is so popular with these. OP your better off not getting attached to the car, maybe Drew can buy it off you to save it from the evil hands of change.
Who's to say? I look at the prices that nice original 3rd gens are currently bringing at some of these nationally-televised auctions, and it makes me wonder where the ceiling might be.
The mid-'80s- era performance cars are the bridge between the pitiful smog-era cars of the late-'70s and what is on the market today, and that gives them a place in the history of the automobile in the US.
It's your car, OP. Do with it as you wish, but give it some consideration first.
I'm saying it. Would I unless my heart was set on a thirdgen camaro dump 20 or 30 grand on one to have stock? Maybe if I was loaded with money to burn. I'd rather put that towards a new vette or a ZL1 camaro. And you have to put it in perspective here. Cant get all excited for a Iroc going for $25,000. I still have my window sticker. It was around $19,000 brand new loaded in 1989. 1989 money converted to 2020 is almost $40 grand. Auction car has actually lost value. When you see one taking in 40 and 50 thousand let me know. I can bet those will only be the firehawks and maybe low mileage 1LEs, doubt the latter. I wouldn't be impressed seeing a Iroc go for $25,000 in the year 2020. They were $19000 new in 1989 with zero miles.
