mark wells

I was recently involved in an accident in my 85 TA that was not entirly my fault. Body shop quoted $2700 in repairs (Drivers fender, front bumber, cover, headlamp assy) This was considered by them to be a total (NOT TO ME). Keeping car Received $1500 from the insurance co. Purchased an 88 GTA (late model) In descent condition with the insurance money. This was really a blessing in disguise for I needed a lot of parts for they were not in the best condition (Doors, seats ect) and the 88 had them.
Chose the 85 over the 88 (85 is a T-Top car and well I am attached) Here is the delema...

85 uses speedo cable 85 MPH - 88 is electric 140 MPH not sure exactly how to make this swap for the clusters are diffrent (Already pulled the entire dash from the 88 without cutting a single wire though)

Not sure what would be easier a repin or replace the harness for the 165 ECM (Have already seperated the harness at the bulk head and removed without cutting any wires) There is a black box on the firewall to the right of the wind shield wiper motor which I have no clue what it does and wires run into the Headlamp wiring harness from it.

Current motor in the 85 is a sb350 with Holly Stealth ram 24 lb injectors(ESCM, knock sensor from a 350 and small cap dizzy). Not sure what type of problems to expect without running an EGR with the new ECM. Running a Lunati cam just under 500 lift (push in studs or would have gone larger). And the Rhodes variable valve timing flat tappet lifters (all purchased through Summit Racing). Not sure if I would get better performance going back to the stock TPI set up or not. Have a friend who installed the HSR on his 88 and it ran like poo, granted he was using stock injectors.

Already fixed body from the 88 and replaced driver door for the pins an bushings were bad in the 85 and there was some rot at the bottom of the door jam. Needed to adjust the windows for they went up past the T-Top roof rails (Adjusted using the info in the tech section) The other problem with this was the door sits back further than the other and I needed to shave off the edge of the door so it would not hit against the body. Swapped mirrors and needed to solder the old connector back. Fortunatly no matter which way I go this will be unaffected for a different part of the harness.

for the interior I have already pulled the seat harness and installed in the 85, cleaned the copper connectors inside the seat switch and they both now work perfect. Located another bulk head/body connector that the seat wiring attached to so again no wires cut.

Biggest delema is with the wiring, dash and speedo cable differences and how will the current engine work with the new ECM. The 88 ECM does have an aftermarket EPROM (chip) but the only mods on the car were the headers (emission complient with air tubes) and a K&N filter.

mark wells

Well I will make the electric swap 1st and see what happens.

mcgrath627

ok, somethings got me a little confused. you said the doors sat back further and you had to shave them to keep them from hitting the body? are you sure you didnt have a hinge adjustment issue. i believe the 82 through 92 models all use the same doors. i could be wrong since im not overly educated on firebirds myself( i have camaro's) but as far as i knew if you bought a door for a firebird it was sold to fit 82-92 so i dont understand why you would have to shave the door to make it fit

mcgrath627

actually just looked it up and its the same door for all 82-92 camaros and firebirds