There's no kit for 87 trans ams?! Wth!!
Member
You just aren' t trying hard enough!
Buy a leafblower.
Buy a leafblower.
A kit for an '88 model year might work if you swap the accessory v-belts over to a serpentine system.
Supreme Member
Yeah, it's only because the 86-87 cars used the oddball serp + v-belt accessory drive system. Convert to an 88up full serpentine system and buy a kit designed for an 88.
Sounds like a lot of work (and it is) but, believe me, it's the easiest route to victory. I tried to fight the stock 87 accessory system using an 88 kit one time. I lost. It wasn't even a contest. Got my butt kicked.
Sounds like a lot of work (and it is) but, believe me, it's the easiest route to victory. I tried to fight the stock 87 accessory system using an 88 kit one time. I lost. It wasn't even a contest. Got my butt kicked.
Quote:
Sounds like a lot of work (and it is) but, believe me, it's the easiest route to victory. I tried to fight the stock 87 accessory system using an 88 kit one time. I lost. It wasn't even a contest. Got my butt kicked.
Do they sell the serpentine bolt on kits for the 87 or would I have to find a donor car (88)Originally Posted by Damon
Yeah, it's only because the 86-87 cars used the oddball serp + v-belt accessory drive system. Convert to an 88up full serpentine system and buy a kit designed for an 88.Sounds like a lot of work (and it is) but, believe me, it's the easiest route to victory. I tried to fight the stock 87 accessory system using an 88 kit one time. I lost. It wasn't even a contest. Got my butt kicked.
Quote:
You can:Originally Posted by Brianbajnuth
Do they sell the serpentine bolt on kits for the 87 or would I have to find a donor car (88) - Find a doner car.
- Go to the wrecking yard and pull the individual parts (the most cost effective method, IMO).
- Buy a GM kit with new parts from Summit or Jegs.
I think Hawks used to sell a kit of parts removed from doner cars.
Supreme Member
I would find a donor car. An F-body, not a B-body or truck. They looks similar, but they aren't. F-body TBI engines use the same serp system as TPI cars, and they are a lot more plentiful.
The A/C lines will need to be redone because the serpentine system puts the compressor and alt. on opposite sides of the engine from where they are now (if you care about having functional A/C). Also, you NEED the supporting braces that go from the back of the alt. and compressor to their respective exhaust manifold studs. Lots of little nitnoid stuff. That's why I prefer a donor vehicle. All the little braces and bolts are there.
Alternator wiring you can simply cut and extend. Your existing PS lines should work with an 88-up pump OR you could remove the pulley from your 87 pump and press the serpentine pulley from the 88 onto it.
Oh, and don't forget you need to use an 88-up reverse-rotation water pump (and the metric bolts that is uses to retain the water pump pulley).
The A/C lines will need to be redone because the serpentine system puts the compressor and alt. on opposite sides of the engine from where they are now (if you care about having functional A/C). Also, you NEED the supporting braces that go from the back of the alt. and compressor to their respective exhaust manifold studs. Lots of little nitnoid stuff. That's why I prefer a donor vehicle. All the little braces and bolts are there.
Alternator wiring you can simply cut and extend. Your existing PS lines should work with an 88-up pump OR you could remove the pulley from your 87 pump and press the serpentine pulley from the 88 onto it.
Oh, and don't forget you need to use an 88-up reverse-rotation water pump (and the metric bolts that is uses to retain the water pump pulley).



