Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

I have noticed that the trans-am models, specifically, the 1989 trans am that i am looking at, has a large ground effects kit that i am not a big fan of. Would it be possible to remove this ground effects kit to make it look like a normal firebird or formula? Or are these ground effects actually part of the side panels and would require replacing every side, front, and rear, body piece? Thanks.

1) you would have to replace the facias and the backing plates.
2) to remove the panels you would also have to modify the body where the ground effects attach. THey are not part of the body panels

John

I don't understand what your saying okfoz, what "backing plates" have to be removed? I did the exact opposite of what he wants to do. All i have to do to INSTALL them was dril moutning holes in the body panels. The front and rear bumpers were as simple as remove and install.

there is a hole in the side panel behind the door for one mount their is holes in the front fender and rear quarter and tabs on the doors for mounting the gfx. and the front nose is diffrentr and the rear bumper would also need changing. better off selling it and buying a firebird if you want a base model firebird. i for one would keep it a trans am.:crazy:

The front facias have a backing plate with studs that are different for a Trans Am and a non-ground effects firebird or formula. The rear backing plate with the studs should be the same. Its just a minor observation. The other items like the metal between the headlights and all of those pieces I believe are the same from 85-90. ITs not a big deal but kind of a PITA, it would be better to find a Formula to start with. Consideing a Formula hood is double than a Trans Am or a Base plain hood...

Sorry for the confusion.

JOhn

You dont like the Trans am ground effects? Is like, you like Pam Anderson but
you are not a big fan of her honkers.Nahh I'll respect your opinion but personally I dont see the point of taking them off.

Unless theyre aftermarket ground effects, which I dont like either.

.

Wow 3 posts in 3 minutes :lmao:

It a pain in the butt to change all that stuff man. If you were to take the side GFX on the doors, you have to patch a bunch of little holes. And you have to do the other stuff with the back plates. You'd probably be better off just gettin a Formula, or a Firebird. Unless you're willing to change all those things.

Thanks for the replies, reason why i was considering this is because finding firebirds in my area are not easy to come by, not to even think of a formula, and finding third gens, camaro, or firebird, is not an easy task. This one i went and looked at was totally trashed, so i'll just keep looking.

Hey!, I resemble that remark...

I am not a fan of the ground effects either on firebirds. My personal tast is keep it simple, like the Formula.

Oddly enough I prefer the ground effects on the 87-90 Firebird convertibles though, because of the subframe connector that they installed it just looks a little better... BUT I am not puting the ground effects on my car...

Oh, those pam anderson Honkers... I am a legs and butt guy...

JOhn

After wondering for maybe an hour and smoking some weed(lol)I finally relized why so many people dont like the T/A's gfx . It makes it look heavy, when u guys like the "corvette" kind of front end, which yeah , looks more aerodynamic.But as I said before I love em and I cant help it.

:iagree: i think our cars look funny without ground effects.

I think firebirds look funny with them and camaros look funny without them...

Personally I think thats why so many of the 85-90 Trans Ams were two-tone, Red/Silver etc. because they looked bulkey... On the other hand I think the 83-84 Trans Am ground effects worked well... not sure what is different though.

John

91-92 formulas look so sleek and simple...i love the look without ground effects so much. the 87(?)-90 formulas are cool too but not so much because of those black things on the front bumper

Wow I didnt realize how many people share the same feeling.

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

I tend to agree with everyone here...to a point.

The 91-92 Firebird ground effects....not a big fan of those at all. They are the first thing coming off my bird.

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

ni ce comeback on a 2 year old post!

but i would rather have ground effects, but if there was a good deal on a firebird with no ground effects i would take it!

i really hate the front end of the 91&92 firebirds, so if i got one of those, i would switch it out.

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

It grew on me.. I used to hate them, but really.. It looked like a Plymouth Superbird from a distance, which is pretty cool..

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

Well, here's the deal:

I just picked up a 91 Firebird last Friday for $750 cash. Interior is as close to perfect as you can find on a daily driver. It really is in good shape. Mechanicly it's in just as good condition. A real bargain for a 5th F-body project for me.

Probelm is, the nose is crunched pretty bad on the bottom and the left front ground effect has been rivited on. It's awful.....

I've never tried to take the G/E's off, so I wasnt sure how hard it was. There is actually a thin metal strip that runs the length of the car under the doors where the side skirts screw into. Those thin sheets will have to be knocked off after the ground effects are removed or it will look like @$#%$...and I'm not sure if I want to go that far or not.

I'm going to hop around to a few salvage yards this weekend and see what I can come up with. If I can find a descent 90 or older nose (I'd REALLY like to find an 82-84. I really like the look of the 82 T/A) then I'll take it and the rear fascia and pull all my stuff off...and do the sheet metal work...and the bondo...etc. If not, well, we'll just see what happens.

It's good to be here in the forum. I've been working as a tech for GM since 2003, and as I said, this is my 5th F-body...and I've been waiting for YEARS to get another one. I'll keep everyone here posted on the bodywork progress.

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

I would just use some panel bonder and glue some metal on the back side of the fender and door holes

use some good filler on the outside and presto

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

So all the ground effects on these cars, have a skinny metal trim inside of them, used to mount them to the car's body. What happens when the small metal trim is destroyed? so rusted, it's worthless? Is there a company that sells this simple piece of metal? or what would be an easy way to make one?

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

Might have to make them out of sheet metal. Im not sure what I would use... Steel would rust, Stainless might be hard to work with as would aluminum. But they would not rust. Might try some of the advertisers IE www.hawksthirdgenparts.com

John

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

Kinda wondering about this myself. My gta is missing that metal piece too that's why I want somebody to post a pic of what the gfx are supposed to look like under the body. Mine sag a bit but I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like.

Re: Transform a trans-am into a normal firebird by removing ground effects?
 

I am repainting a 1986 T/A and not putting G/FX back on it. Big storm right now maybe later I could get a pic... There is a z strip that is spot welded on the rocker and a sill support that attaches to the strip (supports the G/FX) and some struts (strips of metal) extending down with screws.

I have the parts but the z strips are still on the car as of now...