TA Hatch and TA Rims

[Smoke Panther]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

unbolt hinges
unplug accessories
undo shocks
remove hatch

reverse for install

[CamaroJeff™]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

personally id save the unbolting the hinges for last. it kinda sucks unplugging wires and removing shocks with the hatch flopping around.

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

What tools will I need?

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

I got it in the mail today. Here it is.

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

The "arms"


The hinges

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

Some wiring thing


The hook thing


Some of these things I don't even think that I need. Like the thing atached to the hook that locks the hatch. Looks like I'd only need the hook part. I don't think I need the arms. 'Cause my hatch has arms, but maybe it'd be easier to just replace the arms. I have no idea how the wiring part attaches. I hope easily. Then there are the hinges. How do they go on? There are no indentations on the heads. Help please?!

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

I've installed it. How does it look?




Thanks for your advice guys. It really helped.

PS I figure that its worthless to block out the license plate number here because any random person that sees me on the road can see my license plate just as easily anyway.

[3.8Fury]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

Looks great. All I suggest is u get some nice exhaust tips and ur set!!

[phoenix_rising]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

Oh if you are doing the TA hatch mod you will also need the TA hatch struts. The TA hatch is much heavier than the V6 one and therefore the V6 hatch struts are not enough to keep it up. I should know. I smacked myself in the head many times before I buckled down and ordered a set of TA struts.

You will need (3) people to install at least, one on the inside of the car to bolt it down to the brackets near the roof, and one on each side holding / adjusting it into position. Trust me these hatches are heavy to lift too! :(

The wheels would be interchageble. Althought the tires are not, they are two different tire sizes.

As far as paint it depends. I have replaced body panels and they match up good as gold. But I have also had some that were a bit lighter or orangier (if that is a word...). Say for instance my buddies 94 Formula and my 97 Firebird are both GM Bright Red paint code. But in person his car appears lighter than mine by a few shades.

The other option you've got is to have the hatch tinted to match the car and have it cut into the quarters. It should cost you around $100 to have that done professionally.
A new paint job may not be necessary unless the rest of the car is bad. I had my drivers quarter replaced last summer and you can not tell it was ever done because of the quality of the work cutting it into the door and rear bumper panels.

I would also suggest if you are going to a new paint job, just have them paint the outside of the car with the same color as the car is now. It will cost you about $2000 rather than $4000+ to have the jambs and under hatch, and such painted.

I went with a custom metallic color on mine recently and it will cost me about $2000 but also the color I chose is so close to the original color that it will look like it came that way. A lot of cars now a days are painted twice, that being once in the jambs, under hood, engine bay, and trunk area with a satin base coat and then either a two stage or three stage pearl or metallic paint on the outside. I did not realize this until I looked at a newer Cadilliac at the body shop.

Edit: Ooops! Looks like I did not read far enough. You work quickly. Good show! :)

[crushedout]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

looks nice, now go get some exhaust tips

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

Thanx for your comments guys.
I have another question. Since I've switched hatches. The release mechanism doesn't work so well. When I hit the yellow button that unlockes the hatch, all that happens it that it makes the release noise and the hatch raises a little but not enough to be unlock. I kept my stock Firebird release mech in. Is that not powerful enough? I still have a Trans Am release mech that came with the hatch. Am I to switch those as well?

[Smoke Panther]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...sity/index.htm
look for the hatch release fix

[PontiFireFalcon]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...sity/index.htm
look for the hatch release fix

So all I need is a more powerful spring? Sweet, that's easy enough. I'll try just swapping my Firebird spring with my Trans Am spring and see if that works first. Thanx.

[Smoke Panther]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

So all I need is a more powerful spring? Sweet, that's easy enough. I'll try just swapping my Firebird spring with my Trans Am spring and see if that works first. Thanx.

No, just do the piggy-back method. Much cheaper cost and time wise
http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...ease_fix_2.htm

[unvmyrs]

Re: TA Hatch and TA Rims

that hatch spring piggyback thing is a great idea. no fbody ive ever owned actually released on the first push, id have to push it, then pull up on it, then push again. great idea!