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84 vs 86 Body Panels by Bahrbarian
Started on: 08-15-2013 03:10 PM
Replies: 12 (418 views)
Last post by: Bahrbarian on 08-19-2013 10:32 AM
Bahrbarian
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Report this Post08-15-2013 03:10 PM Click Here to See the Profile for BahrbarianSend a Private Message to BahrbarianEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I'm thinking of buying an 86 SE V6 parts car (a notchie) and swapping over some parts that I need to my 84 notchie SE 4 cylinder, such as front fenders and door skins and front bumper. My question is, are the more "aero" style front bumper an unbolt and rebolt type of thing or or is the mounting different between the two years and aero bumper and ground effects type of body? How about the fenders and door skins? I'm thinking of buying the car for $325 and parting out the stuff I don't need. Any thoughts or wisdom would be very much appreciated!
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92wastheyear
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Report this Post08-15-2013 03:28 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 92wastheyearSend a Private Message to 92wastheyearEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I think you can swap them directly. They used the Aero stuff on the 84 Indy, so it should work
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Fiero84Freak
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Report this Post08-15-2013 03:31 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Fiero84FreakSend a Private Message to Fiero84FreakEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
The forward most part of the front fender and the extreme bottom parts of it have slightly different mounts for 1984. Not sure why honestly. After 1984 it was re-designed. I think it had to do with accessiblity in removing the front fender.
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TONY_C
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Report this Post08-15-2013 03:35 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TONY_CSend a Private Message to TONY_CEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
84 door skins are different from 85-88 door skins. They attach differently at the upper edge.
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olejoedad
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Report this Post08-15-2013 04:14 PM Click Here to See the Profile for olejoedadSend a Private Message to olejoedadEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
You could swap the whole door assembly....
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Bahrbarian
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Report this Post08-16-2013 01:14 AM Click Here to See the Profile for BahrbarianSend a Private Message to BahrbarianEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Okay, so the fenders are different and swapping the whole door would be a possibility. I'm starting to wonder if I should even invest the $325 into the parts car when a lot of what I need may be different. The parts car has been sitting for years and the V6 turns but has not been started. The interior is better than mine but it's a different color so I would have to change out EVERYTHING. Anybody have any opinions on whether or not it would be worth buying and parting it out? I know that's about impossible to answer without seeing it, but again, any opinions are welcome! I do know that the engine cradle and underbody are rusted pretty bad so the only things that may be worth anything would be some interior items, maybe some engine parts, etc...
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fierofool
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Report this Post08-16-2013 01:58 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fierofoolClick Here to visit fierofool's HomePageSend a Private Message to fierofoolEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I actually think the only difference in body panel mounting points is the door skins. The Indy had the same body panels as the 85 GT, and the 86 and 87 SE. Only difference as noted was the way the door panels attached at the top of the door. You could substitute a pair of Indy door skins if you can find them or as recommended, swap out the complete door.

Edit to add that in order to attach the lower aero rocker panels, you would also need to transfer a metal plate that's attached inside the bottom of the door sill. You would also need to swap out the fender well liners

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 08-16-2013).]

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Patrick
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Report this Post08-16-2013 03:26 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by fierofool:

...in order to attach the lower aero rocker panels, you would also need to transfer a metal plate that's attached inside the bottom of the door sill.


The metal plates/brackets would probably offer some support if you were to accidently step on the rocker, but they aren't required in order to simply mount the rockers.

My '84 has had aero trim installed without the metal brackets under the rockers and I've experienced no issues.
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fierofool
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Report this Post08-16-2013 06:58 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fierofoolClick Here to visit fierofool's HomePageSend a Private Message to fierofoolEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Patrick, did you find anything aside from the door panels that was different, other than the door skins? Or did you do the conversion?
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Patrick
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Report this Post08-16-2013 07:27 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by fierofool:

Patrick, did you find anything aside from the door panels that was different, other than the door skins? Or did you do the conversion?


The '84 already had the conversion done. Aside from those rocker supports that weren't swapped over, the only other obvious thing that's noticeable is the ribbed verses rounded moulding. The rear bumper (with twin exhaust cutouts) and rear side marker lights are rounded while the rest of the side moulding is ribbed. It's never bothered me, but I suspect it would choke a true die-hard Fiero fanatic.
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Bahrbarian
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Report this Post08-17-2013 12:14 AM Click Here to See the Profile for BahrbarianSend a Private Message to BahrbarianEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks for the input everybody. I think I'm going to go ahead and buy the car. The owner dropped the price to $250 to try to get me to give it a good home instead of send it to the scrap yard. I think I'll try the body panel/door swap, grab any other parts I need for my 84 and part out the rest and try to break even. Thanks again everybody!
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Report this Post08-17-2013 11:48 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Rodrv6Send a Private Message to Rodrv6Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
If it's a late 84, you may find that the door skins will work. I had 2 84's back in the day, one was built in January 84 and had the "84 only" door skins. The other one was built in June or July of 84 and had the same door skins as the 85-88 models. I knew the original owner and the doors were original to the car, so Pontiac must have done a design change part way through the production year.

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Bahrbarian
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Report this Post08-19-2013 10:32 AM Click Here to See the Profile for BahrbarianSend a Private Message to BahrbarianEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Aha! The plot thickens! As luck would have it, I found another 84 parts car for sale and luckily it even had the same interior color as mine. $300 later and I now have an 84 parts car that will hopefully be more compatible for me but I didn't look at the build dates. Hopefully I won't run into the design change issue. Thanks all!
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