Pontiac 87' Firebird help?

[brandokid25]

Hello all!

Glad to be here at the Pontiac forums! I have a question about my beautiful Pontiac.

During the fall I picked up a mint condition Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 for 1200$ Unfortunately when my dad brought it home I didn't see any door handles on them. Which led to some other problems.

Since the door opener on the keyring won't open either doors (You can hear the klink sound but nothing opens) leaving me to leave the driver side window rolled down slightly so I can even enter the car. The doors open and lock just fine from the inside but it leaves me quite irritated that I can't have door handles like the rest of the damn world. Any advice on that? My last resort is buying new doors which pains me the most to do, is there anyway I can re-install handles on the car at all without major difficulty?

Secondly, I would like to know how to fix the driver seat, I can't adjust it, like it's jammed or something and won't go forward or backward.

Lastly, I just need to buy the rear spoiler, a weathering strip and fix a crack in the dash and she'll be running in the spring.


Anyone that can help me through this would be greatly appreciated. I really want to get cracking on this soon!

Thank you, if anyone needs pictures for reference I'd be happy to supply them!

[Ghost]

$1200 and mint? sounds like you scored on that one. pics? anyways, back to your issue. im sure our very knowledgeable FP family will chime in on this when theyre awake. and pics are always helpful. so, the handle, can it be repaired/reattached from the inside by removing the door panel? the seat isnt simply seized/rusted closed or damaged?

[notallthere]

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-77027-Passenger-Replacement-Exterior/dp/B000B6CVW8/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1420911694&sr=1-2&keywords=77027

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-77028-Driver-Replacement-Exterior/dp/B000B6CVWI/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1420911721&sr=1-2&keywords=77028

Dorman part numbers 77028 and part 77027 are the Left and right exterior handles. Pull apart the interior of the car and connect these up. For those model year cars they are a prone to fail part. Probably why they are so cheap.

Take the drivers seat out. Take the seat tracks off and soak them in Simple Green for a couple days. Once done then hit them with some PB blaster and start working the slides back and forth. This could take a few minutes. Once they moving freely dry them and apply some lithium grease and they will be good to go for probably 5 or 10 years.

Rear spoiler check Craigslist or junk yards would be your best bet.

http://www.firebirdcentral.com/1985_1992_Dash_Pad_Assembly_Original_GM_Used_p/das-2045.htm

The dash pads are not cheap but a member here by the name of Frosty had repaired dash pads before. I can drop him a line to chirp in. It would also help to see the size of the crack to see if it is worth repairing.

Good luck

[Frosty]

Hello all!

Glad to be here at the Pontiac forums! I have a question about my beautiful Pontiac.

During the fall I picked up a mint condition Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 for 1200$ Unfortunately when my dad brought it home I didn't see any door handles on them. Which led to some other problems.

Since the door opener on the keyring won't open either doors (You can hear the klink sound but nothing opens) leaving me to leave the driver side window rolled down slightly so I can even enter the car. The doors open and lock just fine from the inside but it leaves me quite irritated that I can't have door handles like the rest of the damn world. Any advice on that? My last resort is buying new doors which pains me the most to do, is there anyway I can re-install handles on the car at all without major difficulty?

Secondly, I would like to know how to fix the driver seat, I can't adjust it, like it's jammed or something and won't go forward or backward.

Lastly, I just need to buy the rear spoiler, a weathering strip and fix a crack in the dash and she'll be running in the spring.

Anyone that can help me through this would be greatly appreciated. I really want to get cracking on this soon!

Thank you, if anyone needs pictures for reference I'd be happy to supply them!

Welcome to FP brandokid25. I own a '72 Lemans convertible and a '86 Trans Am, so I am very familiar with your '87 Firebird.

Clear up something for me right away on the door handles. Are the door handles simply missing or has someone shaved them off and the door lock off completely and covered them over to give a clean custom look. notallthere's advice is solid if the handles are simply missing. I have a different answer for you if they have been intentionally shaved. There are kits that classic hot rodders use for just such a situation. So my answer depends on what has been done to the doors.

BTW - posting pictures always help us with your situation too. So please show us what you need help with.

As an alternative to buying new Dorman parts via Amazon as notallthere suggests, you can always try your local salvage yards to see if they have any '82-92 Camaros and Firebirds (doesn't matter if they are Z-28s, T/A, or base cars). The door handles should be interchangeable, but you may have to paint the door handles you get to match your car, Ditto for interchangeability for any missing lock or attaching hardware like nuts, bolts, and other misc. hardware.

Which rear spoiler are you trying to get for the car? There were a couple of different styles as options in '87. The two most common was the wrap-around aero wing spoiler that was painted body color and the second was a more traditional spoiler with the 3rd brake light in the middle that was also painted body color. Again salvage yards are your cheapest alternative to new, but you take your chances with the condition they are in. What you see is what you get.

Weather stripping - again where? Two major companies produce most of the reproduction weather stripping for these cars and hundreds of others, Soft Seal and Steele Rubber Products. I've used both but I've used more by Steele Rubber Products and I do recommend their products.

Cracked dashes are tricky. Repairing it depends on how big the crack is. Eastwood Company has a dash repair kit that I have used on my Lemans to fix small cracks. I had to completely remove the dash out of the car to repair some parts of it and then I had to re-dye (e.g. re-paint) the entire dash black to make it look consistent, but it worked for me.

However, if there are several long cracks like I've seen happen to several old Mopar dashes that have (say) a 4-8 inches long gash, then these need to be professionally repaired. A company called Just Dashes can do it, but it will mean that you send your disassembled dash to them and they will completely strip the pad and foam off and re-apply new. It won't be cheap, but it will look OEM new and original when you get it back.

Later on I will post a bunch of Pontiac Firebird parts dealers for you.

[JUSTA6]

Good call on the handles Frosty. Was going to ask him if he checked the underside of the rockers for hidden switch to open doors. If the handles were shaved.

[brandokid25]

Thank you for the help Frosty, I apprciate it I will get some pictures of my Firebird tomorrow! Thank you.

[Frosty]

Great, I have not forgotten to post a list of links to some suppliers for you either. I have just gotten busy with work and I have Boy Scouts tonight. I promise to get you a list. I an anxious to see your pictures.

[brandokid25]

Great, I have not forgotten to post a list of links to some suppliers for you either. I have just gotten busy with work and I have Boy Scouts tonight. I promise to get you a list. I an anxious to see your pictures.

Haha good to hear on that, just got in from taking pics. If you need to see more specific areas I can always take more.

[brandokid25]

Also found a pic I took when I first got her. Here she is.

[Ringo64]

Yup, those are definitely shaved door handles.

Think it goes back to what Frosty is saying and if you like the look than you can have an adapter made to access the doors easier or if you just want door handles then you'll need new doors.

[brandokid25]

Yup, those are definitely shaved door handles.

Think it goes back to what Frosty is saying and if you like the look than you can have an adapter made to access the doors easier or if you just want door handles then you'll need new doors.

Could you give me a few more details on the adapter? Like I've mentioned above my last resort is to buy new doors for my Firebird, But I'm definitely interested in that adapter you're talking about.

[Frosty]

Could you give me a few more details on the adapter? Like I've mentioned above my last resort is to buy new doors for my Firebird, But I'm definitely interested in that adapter you're talking about.

OK - now that I know that you have shaved door handles, I know what you need. Street rodders and hot rodders have been shaving door handles for well over 50 years and they install either a mechanical or electric shaved door handle kit. You need to a couple of basic things, one is a mechanism that unlocks the door and pulls on the door latch mechanism. These days that is usually a wireless key fob. The second is a spring loaded door "popper" to push the door open enough for you to grab it and pull it open.

There are lots of kits out on the market but these are generally universal kits and it will be your job to make it fit and work in the Firebird doors. There is no kit made to fit the Firebird.

Another thing to consider, especially if you purchase an electric kit, is what happens if the car battery goes dead? Does the kit allow for any sort of remote manual release mechanism like a cable pull or push button (most street rodders hide something like this under the frame somewhere). So do your homework, ask questions of the companies that make these kits or who sell them. Calling hot rod shops would also be a good idea to see which kits they recommend, sell, or install themselves.

Here is one such kit and the associated door popper from Summit Racing - as an example

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/eli-99800

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/eli-99520

You can Google shaved door handle kit and find lots of these type of kits on the market.

Here are some videos to give you an idea of what you need to do to install a kit into the doors.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECVXw3Qqe8

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecdQEx2fAP0

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR9OZlAtTAE

Your dash pad is beyond the help of a simple Eastwood repair kit. I would contact Just Dashes and see what the cost is to have it rebuilt.

http://www.justdashes.com/

Based on your picture, it looks like your window felt weatherstripping needs to be replaced. Anymore weather stripping you need to replace? Steele Rubber Products has you covered.

http://www.steelerubber.com/beltline-weatherstrip-80-0687-57

What is the situation with the rear spoiler? Which one are you looking for?

[brandokid25]

OK - now that I know that you have shaved door handles, I know what you need. Street rodders and hot rodders have been shaving door handles for well over 50 years and they install either a mechanical or electric shaved door handle kit. You need to a couple of basic things, one is a mechanism that unlocks the door and pulls on the door latch mechanism. These days that is usually a wireless key fob. The second is a spring loaded door "popper" to push the door open enough for you to grab it and pull it open.

There are lots of kits out on the market but these are generally universal kits and it will be your job to make it fit and work in the Firebird doors. There is no kit made to fit the Firebird.

Another thing to consider, especially if you purchase an electric kit, is what happens if the car battery goes dead? Does the kit allow for any sort of remote manual release mechanism like a cable pull or push button (most street rodders hide something like this under the frame somewhere). So do your homework, ask questions of the companies that make these kits or who sell them. Calling hot rod shops would also be a good idea to see which kits they recommend, sell, or install themselves.

Here is one such kit and the associated door popper from Summit Racing - as an example

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/eli-99800

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/eli-99520

You can Google shaved door handle kit and find lots of these type of kits on the market.

Here are some videos to give you an idea of what you need to do to install a kit into the doors.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECVXw3Qqe8

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecdQEx2fAP0

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR9OZlAtTAE

Your dash pad is beyond the help of a simple Eastwood repair kit. I would contact Just Dashes and see what the cost is to have it rebuilt.

http://www.justdashes.com/

Based on your picture, it looks like your window felt weatherstripping needs to be replaced. Anymore weather stripping you need to replace? Steele Rubber Products has you covered.

http://www.steelerubber.com/beltline-weatherstrip-80-0687-57

What is the situation with the rear spoiler? Which one are you looking for?

Uhm for the spolier I'm not quite sure about that just yet, Thank you for the information so far, I'll get back to you on the spolier, Again, thank you for everything Frosty

[Frosty]

No problem, I still owe you a list of parts suppliers too. Its still on my to do list. What is the shape of your current spoiler? Or is there no spoiler?

[brandokid25]

No problem, I still owe you a list of parts suppliers too. Its still on my to do list. What is the shape of your current spoiler? Or is there no spoiler?

It didn't have a spolier when I purchased it, I would like to know what the stock spolier was used on the Firebird and purchase that one. Take your time on the part suppliers list, I understand if you're busy Thank you.

[Frosty]

OK, here is my list of suppliers. Some are used parts / salvage yards and some sell new / OEM / OER parts.

Classic Industries http://www.classicindustries.com/

East West Auto Parts Inc http://www.pontiacpart.com/

The Fbody Store http://www.fbodystore.com/servlet/StoreFront

Firebird Central http://www.firebirdcentral.com/Default.asp

Frank’s Pontiac Parts http://www.frankspontiacparts.com/

GM Sports Auto Salvage http://www.gmsportssalvage.com/

Hawk’s Third Gen Parts http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/

Indiana Pontiacs http://www.indianapontiacs.com/

YearOne http://www.yearone.com/

Desert Valley Auto Parts http://www.dvap.com/

CTC Auto Ranch http://www.ctcautoranch.com/index.html

Your '87 Firebird Formula used the same spoiler that was stock to the Trans Am in '87, so that would be aero wrap around spoiler. In '86 the third brake light was at the top of the rear window, in '87 the third brake light moved into the middle of the spoiler. In '86 the spoilers were black regardless of the color of the car and were a black leather vinyl, in '87 they are all plastic/fiberglass and painted body color. Many of the new/OER supplier have new replacement aero spoilers but they are not cheap and you will have to paint it to match your car.

[brandokid25]

Thanks for everything Frosty I really appreciate your help!

[Frosty]

Glad I can help. I also double checked notallthere's link on the dash pad - it was to Firebird Central as well for a used dash pad. Depending on what Just Dashes charges, it might well be worth it. At least you have options now.

So what is your game plan with your car at this point?

Also, send us some photos of your door and rear deck lid.

The more I think about the fact that someone went to the trouble of shaving the door handles makes me think they might have already installed all or part of a shaved door handle kit and either they didn't finish the job or it quit working. I can't imagine someone would be silly enough to shave the door handles and not have any way to open the them from the outside with the windows rolled up. Still stranger things have happened...

One last question about your car, do you have the documentation to verify that this is a '87 Formula, like the original MSRP sticker or an original build sheet? You can verify what your car was built with by contacting Pontiac Historical Services (PHS) Online. It is the authority for all things Pontiac on how they were originally built. Just give them your VIN # and credit card.

http://www.phs-online.com/

Good luck with your car.

[brandokid25]

Glad I can help. I also double checked notallthere's link on the dash pad - it was to Firebird Central as well for a used dash pad. Depending on what Just Dashes charges, it might well be worth it. At least you have options now.

So what is your game plan with your car at this point?

Also, send us some photos of your door and rear deck lid.

The more I think about the fact that someone went to the trouble of shaving the door handles makes me think they might have already installed all or part of a shaved door handle kit and either they didn't finish the job or it quit working. I can't imagine someone would be silly enough to shave the door handles and not have any way to open the them from the outside with the windows rolled up. Still stranger things have happened...

One last question about your car, do you have the documentation to verify that this is a '87 Formula, like the original MSRP sticker or an original build sheet? You can verify what your car was built with by contacting Pontiac Historical Services (PHS) Online. It is the authority for all things Pontiac on how they were originally built. Just give them your VIN # and credit card.

http://www.phs-online.com/

Good luck with your car.

Alright, I'll get to that this weekend!