i was thinking of using my 86 gt to convert a 88 formula with a blown motor into a gt. transfering the rear and front clip, motor and all the power options over to the formula. Will those parts swap between these years? Are there any links to simular projects I can use as a guide? Opinions about doing this swap are welcom too.

You can swap all the parts form the 86 to the 88 Formula. I converted my Formula to a semi GT. I replaced the rear clip with a GT rear clip. I left the front clip as the Formula (don't like the Aero nose). The power mirrors, door locks amd power windows can be moved to the Formula also. Took mine from a base Formula (no power) to fully powered a step at a time. Power windows then power mirrors then power locks one at a time as I found them. Should be straight forward if you have a donor car.

Joe Sokol

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85 SE 2.8 - beater coupe-
86 SE 3.4 -in progress 3800 II SC -
88 Formula GT 4.9 5 speed beast
Enough parts outside for another one
-And a 3.4 push rod for sale in the mall Go and look-

Been there done that...

More pics at > http://www.fastfieros.com/projects/loyde_3800/index.htm

Loyde

There's a pic around somewhere of a white Formula that had a GT rear clip. The front and rear fascias were still the coupe style, and it didn't have the GT ground effects. Really nice looking set-up.

I'll see if I can find that picture when I get home.

I too have done that. Wow, I like how the GT looks with the formula front end. Where was that pic when I was converting mine?!? I really wanted to see how it looked as I was considering that

Been there done that as well

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Soon to be a Northstar

If you are just looking for the handling improvments it may be easier for you to just swap the 88 cradle into the 86 GT and put the GT's motor in the cradle. But it all depends on what is easier for you and what your preferance is I guess.
-Zack-

Pictures of our transformation are located at http://64.17.190.253/

Inlcudes Formula to GT, V8 install, front battery, flush headlights, oil cooler, race seats, etc., etc., etc....

Great stuff. Thx for the replies. I do like the idea of leaving the formula nose clip on with the gt rear. Guess I'll have to put some thought into it.

Working on it...

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Raydar
88 3.4 coupe...........

Praise the Lowered!
Read Nealz Nuze!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-14-2005).]

Nice wing ray whats it off of?

This car was once an 88 4 cly coupe:

You will need the brackets to hold the fastback engine vents from an 88 GT. They are 88 GT specific, or you can just delete them and the vents will stay put just fine (been that way for 3+ years).

The 500 connector (car side) needs a minor wiring mod for the fastback tail lights - if you use a real GT rear wiring harness. In coupes the turn and brake lights are in the same curcuit, but on the GT's they seperate circuits, so 1 wire must move. Your can splice on the extra lights for the GT into the coupe rear harness, but then your Orange and Red lights will light up and behave as one.,

quote Originally posted by JussTry: Nice wing ray whats it off of?

thanks! That's the fastback whaletail that Fiero Warehouse sells.

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: This car was once an 88 4 cly coupe: The 500 connector (car side) needs a minor wiring mod for the fastback tail lights - if you use a real GT rear wiring harness. In coupes the turn and brake lights are in the same curcuit, but on the GT's they seperate circuits, so 1 wire must move. Your can splice on the extra lights for the GT into the coupe rear harness, but then your Orange and Red lights will light up and behave as one.,

Interesting... I used a GT tail light harness on my Formula and didn't have to change any wiring. All the lights work as they should. (Just went down to the garage to verify.)
The harness must have been an 88 harness, since it didn't have the wiring for the alternator and coil blower, although I was told it was for an earlier year. Wouldn't an earlier harness have the blower wiring?

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Interesting... I used a GT tail light harness on my Formula and didn't have to change any wiring. All the lights work as they should. (Just went down to the garage to verify.) The harness must have been an 88 harness, since it didn't have the wiring for the alternator and coil blower, although I was told it was for an earlier year. Wouldn't an earlier harness have the blower wiring?

Did you check the brake lights? Those are the ones you lose. The 3rd brake light will work, but the brake lights in the tail lights won't. I did this with an 86 GT harness into an 88 coupe chassis, so maybe if you match 88 harnesses it will work.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 10-14-2005).]

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: Did you check the brake lights? Those are the ones you lose. The 3rd brake light will work, but the brake lights in the tail lights won't. I did this with an 86 GT harness into an 88 coupe chassis, so maybe if you match 88 harnesses it will work.

Sure did. They worked perfectly.

Did your GT harness have the blower wiring? If we can confirm that mine was an 88 harness it might be useful, at least to the people who are swapping 88s.
I was under the impression that I was going to have to do the rewiring that you mentioned, and was pleasantly surprised that everything worked.

Edit - If I can verify that mine is an 88 harness, I'll scan the pinouts from the manual, so that the older harnesses can be modded without a lot of guesswork. That's assuming that GM actually changed the pinouts in the diagrams. Seems like they still mentioned the blower wiring.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-14-2005).]

I heard there was differences between the 85-87 and 88 2.8's such as internal and external balancing. Since I will be using the engine from my 86 gt is there any do or don'ts I should know about?

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Did your GT harness have the blower wiring? If we can confirm that mine was an 88 harness it might be useful, at least to the people who are swapping 88s. I was under the impression that I was going to have to do the rewiring that you mentioned, and was pleasantly surprised that everything worked.

Yes, the 86 GT harness I used had the blower harness wires in it.

quote Originally posted by JussTry: I heard there was differences between the 85-87 and 88 2.8's such as internal and external balancing. Since I will be using the engine from my 86 gt is there any do or don'ts I should know about?

Yes, use the flywheel/flexplate that came with the motor. The 85-87 motors must use the counterweighted flywheel or flexplate and the 88 motors use the neutrally balanced flywheel or flexplate.

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: Yes, the 86 GT harness I used had the blower harness wires in it.

Okay. Cool. Mine must have been from an 88.

I'll see if I can dredge up the diagrams and post them. Might not be until Monday, though. I'm working 36 hours this weekend.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-14-2005).]

quote Originally posted by Steven Snyder: Yes, use the flywheel/flexplate that came with the motor. The 85-87 motors must use the counterweighted flywheel or flexplate and the 88 motors use the neutrally balanced flywheel or flexplate.

Thx steven thats good to know. I'm new to the fiero scene so I could use all the help I can get.

quote Originally posted by JussTry: So lets see if i got this right. The 86 wire harness I have will need to be modded but if i got a 88 it would not.

It appears that that is the case.
I didn't have to do anything to mine. As soon as I plugged it in, it worked.

It shouldn't be too ugly, though. All the wiring should already be there. Probably just need a wire or two re-pinned.
I'll try to post info within a couple of days unless someone beats me to it.

Were you going to try to do this, this weekend?

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-14-2005).]

Here's that pic I mentioned above. Don't know whose car it is, but I really like the look:

quote Originally posted by Raydar: It appears that that is the case. I didn't have to do anything to mine. As soon as I plugged it in, it worked. It shouldn't be too ugly, though. All the wiring should already be there. Probably just need a wire or two re-pinned. I'll try to post info within a couple of days unless someone beats me to it. Were you going to try to do this, this weekend?

Most likely gonna get started next weekend but im not sure if I'm gonna start with the body or motor first.