Grand Am Door Panels On Alero!?

[1WhiteOSV]

Okay....so I am sick of our door panels...they're uglier than crap compared to just about every other car. I had this idea while putting in door speakers into a 2001 Grand Am tonight at work (I'm an installer at Best Buy). Since Alero's and Grand Am's have the SAME doors (handles, locks, and all) as far as the structure goes....shouldn't the door panel of a Grand Am fit right up to the Alero door? I know the switch panels are all different and I havn't paid attention to the actual plugs to see if those are the same but if I had to re-wire something, that's not a problem...that's all I do is work with wiring. By the looks of things though....everything should line up fine. If I can get my hands on some decently priced door panels of a Grand Am...I just might do this. I can't stand the 2 tone tan/gray Alero interior...I want all gray/black. I have a couple friends that have Grand Am GT's and they said they'd let me borrow a door panel to test fit it to see if I wanted. If this doesn't work I will probably just use some Vinyl Dye to dye my doors gray/black. At least they wont be tan..yuck. Oh yea, also the running boards/kick panels are dark gray in the Grand Am's and those are IDENTICAL to the tan ones in the Alero so I will be swapping those out from a GA also.

http://www.a1electric.com/install/grand/02.jpg
http://a904.g.akamai.net/7/904/506/v0011/images.autobytel.com/view/aic/OLDSMOBILE/ALERO/cpe/usa_2004_oldsmobile_alero_cpe_2_x_indrvrdoor_x.jpg

[AftermathAlero]

the thing is that you'll need to swap out dash board if ya swap out the door panels. wiring should be the same, you'll need to swap out the inner door handle too.. thats it. it should be a direct swap.

[1WhiteOSV]

why would I have to swap dashes too?....granted it'd look awesome...but that'd be too much of a PITA. And yea...I knew about the handles as well.

[AftermathAlero]

for the contour lines, your door panel will have gaps cuz the grand am dash comes out in the driver side, while the aleros goes straigh smooth down.

[99BLKALERO]

Adam,

Start calling some junk yards.....get the full thing....door panels and dash.....

[Redog]

At first I though you ment the outside which isn't a good idea, but after reading, really really cool idea :thumb:

[Pimpalero03]

why not just buy a grand am

[sound_xtreme]

you're nuts if you think the grand am interior looks better than the alero's. grand am's are f***in ugly. alero's are nice and smooth.

[Oldsman]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 09:31 AM
you're nuts if you think the grand am interior looks better than the alero's. grand am's are f***in ugly. alero's are nice and smooth.
Quoted post


agree

[Crolero]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 03:31 PM
you're nuts if you think the grand am interior looks better than the alero's. grand am's are f***in ugly. alero's are nice and smooth.
Quoted post


another reason i didnt get a GA was because the interior looked cheezy, the aleros got more of a classy interior.

[1WhiteOSV]

Originally posted by Pimpalero03@May 12 2005, 12:44 PM
why not just buy a grand am
Quoted post


don't even comment if that's all you're going to say....that's so ignorant.

[jlm2000]

olds has always been known for class the grand ams are just basic, but the red circle grand am gauges would be cool

[Alerofan84]

Originally posted by Oldsman+May 12 2005, 10:52 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oldsman @ May 12 2005, 10:52 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 09:31 AM
you're nuts if you think the grand am interior looks better than the alero's. grand am's are f***in ugly. alero's are nice and smooth.
Quoted post


agree
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]

roger that

[1WhiteOSV]

I don't know about the lines.....they are VERY similar if you look at the 2 doors........

[jlm2000]

arent all alero dashes and door panels the same color tan and gray which i like because my car is black

[1WhiteOSV]

I agree the alero's are more classy...but I want a sportier look and I don't think the GA's look "cheesy" or "basic" at all....there's a LOT more to the GA interior than the Alero's....i think the Alero's interior is more basic by far

[1WhiteOSV]

Originally posted by jlm2000@May 12 2005, 05:14 PM
arent all alero dashes and door panels the same color tan and gray which i like because my car is black
Quoted post



Yea....they are 2-tone...which I DONT like so instead of painting everything I think I'll try for a more custom look and go w/ GA doors cuz I think they're more sporty and better looking....


and for the record...I'm not arguing with anyone...these are just MY opinions...

[sound_xtreme]

they dont fit with our dash

[1WhiteOSV]

I don't wanna do the dash too because then I have to get gauge cluster/center consol/and a whole lotta other stuff that I dont want. I DO like the center consol of the Alero better..that's for sure.

[1WhiteOSV]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 05:18 PM
they dont fit with our dash
Quoted post



Have you tried?...I am asking because I'd rather know now than spend ass loads of time just to find out it wont work....

[jlm2000]

not arguing either and i agree the ga's panels are more sporty but then if you switch door panels you got to die or switch the rear panels

[sound_xtreme]

if you've ever looked at em side by side in person, you'd know. they might actually fit to the point where the door will close, but it'll look like ass cause they wont fit together when closed.

[AftermathAlero]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 05:24 PM
if you've ever looked at em side by side in person, you'd know. they might actually fit to the point where the door will close, but it'll look like ass cause they wont fit together when closed.
Quoted post


agreed! that what i was trying to say in the 3rd post on the first page..lol cept it was 5:30am i couldn't think of words cuz i haven't been to sleep yet. lol

[1WhiteOSV]

hmm.....well the rear is getting done in black crushed velvet cloth so I don't have to worry there......I just bought some SEM Vinyl Dye today and dye'd some interior pieces...it works GREAT and I think I might just dye my panels....

[pawzbear]

i know the quarter panels and doors from a GA fit perfect for the Alero by personal experience, i just had to pop off the louvers on the sides. I had to replace both drivers side doors and the quarter panel on my car after a wreck, and i got them cheap from the junkyard- GA parts all the way, it is much cheaper. They sell doors and panels seperately, of course, but i wouldnt recommend switching them, ick =/ GA's are way tacky.

[smlzalero]

I think you should dye the Alero's panels rather than put GA pieces in. GA interiors are way too busy and cluttery-feeling. Plus.. look at the 'pocket' on the door panel.. wtf is that for? It looks bad and you can't use it if you wanted to.

[eag182]

Our doors suck. Do what you gotta do, man.

[bigd6983]

i think he was talking aesthetically(sp?).......but im with you 1whiteosv i think it would look good, and although i agree a full dash and door panel swap would look awesome its a lot of work, i dont think the interior on the grand am's look cheezy, i definately agree that they look sportier and the lines look pretty close....

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

I can tell by looking at it that it won't fit. The GA panel curves in a bit more than the Alero's right where you circled. And even if you do manage to get it to fit, you'd have to dye everything anyway to get the colors to match. The dark gray in the Alero interiors is a little lighter than the gray in the GA. A former co-worker had a GAGT and I could easily tell the difference.

[Alero04]

i personally like our doors. GA have nice doors too...meh. do whatever u want man!
gl :) :thumb:

[dark_n_evil]

honestly i think if some one took the time i think that it would be a great custom look for the alero

[dark_n_evil]

i was at a dealer ship today checking out a 04 grand am GT and decided to meassure the dash and door panels and with very few modifications they will swap out nicely!!! so i am going to do a full swap out of dash front and rear door panels and shifter column.
any suggestions or commients?

[AftermathAlero]

ummm.. yeah its a full bolt on swap.. no one said it wouldn't work.. just that mixing alero dash and with grandam door panels ya might have some misaligned panels.

you can swap front ends too on the alero.

[Alero04]

if u do, make sure u show the end result :)

[natedawg9640]

of course you can swap the front end... look at the newest GAs... it's like an alero with the front and rear end... er atleast the GA without the lines on the sides... personally i think they are ugly ... but the whole dash swap will defiately be interesting... very few and far in between... are you gonna get the parts from a junkyard of what?

[RAVAGE214]

Originally posted by Alerofan84+May 12 2005, 12:10 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alerofan84 @ May 12 2005, 12:10 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Originally posted by Oldsman@May 12 2005, 10:52 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 09:31 AM
you're nuts if you think the grand am interior looks better than the alero's. grand am's are f***in ugly. alero's are nice and smooth.
Quoted post


agree
Quoted post


roger that
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]


I second, err forth that?

Other than being a lot classier and making the car look begger on the inside because of the lighter tones, it seem sto me a lot more ergonomical, as far as the layout of everyhting.


althou the doors might look cool if they matched your interior.

[doubleN0alero]

hey, do what you gotta do...do what you wanna do...if you like it, then go for it....personally not my style, but to each their own.

[dt_freak1]

you know....the reason i didnt buy a grand am gt is because i HATE the tacky body cladding. my parent's 02 Montana looks ok with it but for sure a grand am gt would attract MORE cops then an alero gl or gls with the v6. and besides.....its soooo TACKY!!! :wtf: :wacko:

[kwhauck]

Originally posted by RAVAGE214+May 23 2005, 05:07 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RAVAGE214 @ May 23 2005, 05:07 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Originally posted by Alerofan84@May 12 2005, 12:10 PM
Originally posted by Oldsman@May 12 2005, 10:52 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-sound_xtreme@May 12 2005, 09:31 AM
you're nuts if you think the grand am interior looks better than the alero's. grand am's are f***in ugly. alero's are nice and smooth.
Quoted post


agree
Quoted post


roger that
Quoted post



I second, err forth that?

Other than being a lot classier and making the car look begger on the inside because of the lighter tones, it seem sto me a lot more ergonomical, as far as the layout of everyhting.


althou the doors might look cool if they matched your interior.
Quoted post
[/b][/quote]

lol.........I FIFTH IT!!!!! ga interiors are just plain nasty......if i had a ga dash i would put a victorias secret bra over the dash at all the car show.......damn booby dashes........

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

LOL @ "booby dashes"

[sound_xtreme]

they are! i love titties and all but i dont want the dash of my car to resemble em.

[dt_freak1]

ROTFLMFAO! call VS n see if they can special order something that damn big? prolly talkin about $1,000 LMAO!

[Alero04]

boobie dashes?! lol!! :lol:

[dark_n_evil]

i am probably going to pick the dash door panels and middle console from a junk yard.
And yes alero04 i will keep you posted once i start on it.

[Alero04]

why i thank thee :)

[BLK03GXS]

yea im kinda interested in this as well... at least in the dying black part... i hate tan...

[Hawk8228]

I personally have been thinking about doing the whole conversion..
Dash, Gauges, Radio, Center Console, Door Panel front and back... im just fed up with the cheap third world country materials my alero interior is made of... i mean im sorry but they suck bad
1. the door panels come loose and make noise when u grab the door.
2. the big pile of dog crap i deal with everyday i get in my car... Dash assembly is horribly pulled back and crinkled... and i know im not the only one.
3. aleros just flat out are a terrible un-realiable, uncomfortable, pieces of terrible american automotive history.

OPTIONS: Is it a possiblty to remove the entire Dash Pad and swap out with a non-f'd up one from my junkyard... cuz honestly if i could get that fixed my re-sale would be a hell of alot beter than if i had a half pulled back dashboard on a f'n 2000 with 60,000miles yaaa..!! i love it

Oldsmobile Alero ... all the way.... all the way to draining your wallet dry!

[Oldsman]

sorry to hear about your problems. my alero is built very well. always seems to be a hit or miss with any car.

the GA door panels aren't much better. but to do the whole conversion would not work because you would have to swap the BCM and maybe the PCM because the gauges and wiring is completely different and you can't just swap the computers.

so your best bet would be to get good ones out of a junkyard.

[forbidden]

Mine is a 99 and i have never had any of these problems that alot of people talk about. Maybe i am just lucky or something..

[Whitetigerboi83]

Originally posted by 1WhiteOSV@May 12 2005, 12:13 PM
I don't know about the lines.....they are VERY similar if you look at the 2 doors........
Quoted post

the handle where the swithes are is curved out on the grand am door and the aleros is not as curved so your gonna have a problem closing the door .. the panel with being curved and not fitting like a puzzle piece to the dash wont let the door close.. but the door panel style other then the aleros is ok looking... but not something i would go for