Formula8r89

Hi, I just had a quick question please.

I had purchased a set of tail lights and center panel for a 1982 Trans Am to be put on my 1989 Formula Firebird.

The taillights obviously fit on the vehicle physically despite having to be mildly rewired to restore functionality.

The problem I am having is in the center tail light filler panel. The Trans Am piece has a lot of extra plastic on the back of it which prevents the panel from sitting flush against the rear body. This also makes the taillights themselves sit unevenly against the quarter panels.

I have tried removing as much of the plastic as possible but if I remove any more, all that will remain would be the clear lens and bird.

I guess my question is, is there anything I can do with this thing to make it work? Has anyone else run into this? Is there a later year/model that will have the same fit as the Formula piece but the same look as the T/A?

My car does have the power pulldown but I'm not even sure that would make a difference. From what I can tell in the GM catalog the rear body panel (20456042) is the same for the whole third generation so I'm not sure why there would even be a difference.

Thanks for your time!

kentuckyKITT

iTrader: (4)

Can you post pics of the tailights and center piece and the rear of your car? I've fitted an 82 set to a 91 in the past and had zero fitment issues. Every year thirdgen Firebird / Trans am I've come across has the same metal tail panel and mounting points. I currently own a 89 Firebird which has the same body and tailights as the Formula and I've "test" fitted 82 tailights to it before and they fit the same as my 82 Trans Am.

mmadden55

^

Formula8r89

Hi,
Unfortunately it's all put back together now but if I think of it next time it's apart I'll get some pictures (if I can post them here with my status).


The best way I can explain it is, the black plastic is much thicker on the back of the 82 panel (at the top, it's fairly thick, then steps down as you get closer to the opening for the lock cylinder). This seems to interfere with a bulge at the middle of the rear end panel. I have tried removing as much material from the back of the filler panel as possible without removing the black plastic (which would leave just the clear lens) but it still won't sit flat. With it installed, the LH tail light sticks out from the 1/4 panel about 1/2 inch, while the RH sits flush.


The original 89 Formula piece was just a single layer of much thinner plastic, with much more clearance. It looks like just a shell whereas the Trans Am piece has a lot more guts, for lack of a better term. If I combine the Formula center piece with the Trans Am tail lights everything falls into place perfectly... but it kind of ruins the look, IMO.


Then again, I wouldn't be surprised to be the only one having a problem with something that should be ridiculously simple... that is my way, after all. LOL


Thank you for your response!

Formula8r89

Hello again
There is an auction up on the 'Bay that shows a good view of the back of a tail light that looks like mine. That business up the top is what needed to be removed and it still won't fit. The rear panel bulges out right in that spot. Maybe I'm wrong about where the interference is but that's the only spot I can see.


I don't know if it's bad form to post an eBay item # but the auction is obviously not mine because I've hacked the back of mine to death, LOL. If it's OK to post the item # is
113122114876