1988 Trans Am/GTA???
08-25-2016, 01:30 AM
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1988 Trans Am/GTA???
I've been around cars my whole life and love them, but am just starting to actually work on them. I currently own a 77 Nova SS with a 383. My dad had actually found a 1988 Trans Am and I had gone and looked at it. The vin is 1G2FW21F0JL203868. Now the tags for the car list it as an 86. So we figured maybe it was a late model in 86 and stamped as an 87. But I found multiple VIN decoders saying it's an 88. It has the 305ci 5.0L F.I. TPI LB9 in it. Originally out of Van Nuys (according to the VIN) it made its way to Michigan and was owned by a friend if my dad's sister. She passed, and he ended up driving it for a bit, then letting it sit for 2-3 years. Has a rod knock but only 60,000 original miles. An automatic car, has very little rust issues, original wheels, everything. I guess I'm posting this because I'm wondering what kind of information I could find out about it from people who have owned these cars, and are knowledgeable about them. Thanks.
Last edited by V1nc3MC; 08-25-2016 at 01:37 AM.
08-25-2016, 01:47 AM
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Re: READ ME! Before asking "Is my car rare/Desirable?"
I've been around cars my whole life and love them, but am just starting to actually work on them. I currently own a 77 Nova SS with a 383. My dad had actually found a 1988 Trans Am and I had gone and looked at it. The vin is 1G2FW21F0JL203868. Now the tags for the car list it as an 86. So we figured maybe it was a late model in 86 and stamped as an 87. But I found multiple VIN decoders saying it's an 88. It has the 305ci 5.0L F.I. TPI LB9 in it. Originally out of Van Nuys (according to the VIN) it made its way to Michigan and was owned by a friend if my dad's sister. She passed, and he ended up driving it for a bit, then letting it sit for 2-3 years. Has a rod knock but only 60,000 original miles. An automatic car, has very little rust issues, original wheels, everything. I guess I'm posting this because I'm wondering what kind of information I could find out about it from people who have owned these cars, and are knowledgeable about them. Thanks.
08-25-2016, 04:11 AM
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Re: READ ME! Before asking "Is my car rare/Desirable?"
I've just recently posted about an 88 trans am I've found with my dad. I've been looking around and (I obviously could be wrong, which is why I'm asking) but every "regular" trans am has the weird kind of 5 spoke rims, and the tiny little spoiler. The one I am looking at has the honey comb type rims (WS6 I believe?) With the big rubber spoiler that attaches at the side of the hatch. Is it a GTA or were there regular trans am's with these two options? As I said before it's a 1988 with the 305ci 5.0L F.I. LB9. Thanks. (P.S. It's originally white, so if GTA's weren't produced in white then there's that.)
Last edited by V1nc3MC; 08-25-2016 at 04:20 AM. Reason: More info.
08-25-2016, 05:46 AM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: READ ME! Before asking "Is my car rare/Desirable?"
I've just recently posted about an 88 trans am I've found with my dad. I've been looking around and (I obviously could be wrong, which is why I'm asking) but every "regular" trans am has the weird kind of 5 spoke rims, and the tiny little spoiler. The one I am looking at has the honey comb type rims (WS6 I believe?) With the big rubber spoiler that attaches at the side of the hatch. Is it a GTA or were there regular trans am's with these two options? As I said before it's a 1988 with the 305ci 5.0L F.I. LB9. Thanks. (P.S. It's originally white, so if GTA's weren't produced in white then there's that.)
85-90 big rubber mess of a wing, then design change on 91-2 trans am-formula GTA to the plastic wing.
16" wheels started on some 84 trans ams and then 16x8 were standard with WS6 which was standard on 87-92 formula and GTA, optional on Trans am with WS6.
84?-87 Used the concave 16x8 wheel on Trans am and Formula,
87?-92 Trans am used the crosslace wheel,
88-92 formula used convex wheel and late 91-2 was optional crosslace wheel.
87-2 GTA used the crosslace wheel.
Last edited by TTOP350; 08-25-2016 at 05:54 AM.
08-25-2016, 06:01 AM
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Re: READ ME! Before asking "Is my car rare/Desirable?"
www.compnine.com, enter your VIN, and then use the rarity calculator at the bottom to figure out how many where made with what options you want to see. That is about as accurate as you'll get.
08-25-2016, 06:16 AM
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Re: READ ME! Before asking "Is my car rare/Desirable?"
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08-26-2016, 11:25 PM
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Re: READ ME! Before asking "Is my car rare/Desirable?"
09-02-2016, 11:12 PM
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Car: '88 GTA, '89, '94 Firebird, '84 T/A
Engine: 5.0L TPI (GTA); '89 -2.8; '94 -3.4
Transmission: 5 speed (for all 3),auto for T/A
Axle/Gears: 3.45 (GTA only)
Re: 1988 Trans Am/GTA???
What hasn't been mentioned so far, and if you have the SPID sheet in the centre console, look for Y84. That RPO confirms GTA. Many of the standard GTA options were readily available for the Trans Am.
You can also check gtasourcepage.com
You can also check gtasourcepage.com
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