History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
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hey guys i tried searching and i must be search-tarded but i'm kinda still new to trans ams. I have an 85 Trans AM, and was just wondering where to look to see if this car was originally a WS6.
Thank you so much.
__________________ ____________________________
Jeremy Guzman
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - For Show
1985 Pontiac Trans Am - For Go (Restoration Project)
EMT-Intermediate / Stony Creek Fire-Rescue
AIM: RedLightsBlazing
thank you i know it is an option dealing with suspension, etc... however i am trying to figure out WHERE to look... i know the code, but where do i look? where are all of the places i can look?
thank you i know it is an option dealing with suspension, etc... however i am trying to figure out WHERE to look... i know the code, but where do i look? where are all of the places i can look?
RPO code list for options:
Under the center console lid/inside the rear hatch compartment. Otherwise the previous owner ripped it out.
The WS6 package in 1985 included 16 inch wheels, so if your center console RPO sticker is missing, look on the driver side door for the sticker with the tire information. That sticker will say something like 245/50R16 if its a WS6 car- it will also have your build month and year. Also there should be a small "performance suspension" emblem on the passenger side of the dashboard, below the map pocket. If its missing the emblem and had 15 inch wheels, the car was not a WS6.
I hope you don't mind me butting in i just posted "WHAT IS THIS????????????????????? HELP "
Talon
asking info about my 1991 firebird formula,, I am curious, what does "WS6" mean, stand for, is it an option most everyone wants,??????
The WS6 package in 1985 included 16 inch wheels, so if your center console RPO sticker is missing, look on the driver side door for the sticker with the tire information. That sticker will say something like 245/50R16 if its a WS6 car- it will also have your build month and year. Also there should be a small "performance suspension" emblem on the passenger side of the dashboard, below the map pocket. If its missing the emblem and had 15 inch wheels, the car was not a WS6.
My 1985 Trans am was definalty a WS6, had the rpo sheet and all, but had 15 inch wheels. It also had the performance suspension emblem. The 15" wheels were verified by the door sticker so maybe not all 85TAs had the 16" wheels. Maybe something to look into.
yea so my babay just matched all that so she must be . But I think i have 15 in tires. i no i have the performance emblem uder the map pocket!
He was just giving those items to say that a car that DIDN'T come with 16" wheels can't be a WS6 car. A particular car can have 16" wheels and not have the WS6 option package. The best way to find out is to track down your RPO code list. you can be relatively sure your car was a WS6 if you can confirm that it has every option in the package. Also, you may be able to find out all your car's original options from Pontiac Historical Services.
1985 was an interesting year for the Trans Am- the 1984 WS6 package specs were made standard on all 85 TAs but the new for 85 WS6 package included 16 inch wheels with the new Goodyear Eagle GT "Gatorback" tires, as well as slightly larger diameter sway bars. WS6 was retuned (in regards to the shock stiffness) to take advantage of the leap forward that the Gatorbacks offered over other tires- these tires were state of the art in 1985. The ride was a bit less harsh and crisp as compared to an 84.
....... Also there should be a small "performance suspension" emblem on the passenger side of the dashboard, below the map pocket. If its missing the emblem .........the car was not a WS6.
The badge mentioned is not a WS6 exclusive, these are found on many non WS6 cars
The badge mentioned is not a WS6 exclusive, these are found on many non WS6 cars
I have an 89 t/a with the 16" gta rims and the (ps) badge, I read in the 89' dealer brochure that the wheels were available only on trans ams with a "level 3 suspension" does that mean its a ws6 also?
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p.s. I have rear drums.
Last edited by gon8go; 07-06-2006 at 10:58 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
I don't know how much help this is, but on my 88T/A I have the "performance suspension" under the map pocket but I don't have a WS6 on the RPO sheet. I have a WS3(Unknown) and WS4(T/A designation) listed, but no WS6.
I'm kinda lost, haha.If anyone can help explain why it's there, that would be cool.
I don't know how much help this is, but on my 88T/A I have the "performance suspension" under the map pocket but I don't have a WS6 on the RPO sheet. I have a WS3(Unknown) and WS4(T/A designation) listed, but no WS6.
I'm kinda lost, haha.If anyone can help explain why it's there, that would be cool.
Read post 15... the Perfomance Suspension badge is not WS6 specific.
OK #1 the 36mm front sway bars did NOT appear until 1986...
WS6 & WS7
1982 - 1984: 32 mm Front 18mm OR 21 mm rear (depending on your engine)
In 1985 the F41 HD suspension was upgraded to be like the WS6 suspension from 82-84
NOTE: the 1984 Special T/A's with the 16" rims got the 24mm rear stabalizer
1985: 34mm front and 24mm rear
1986 - 1992 36mm Front and 24mm rear, there was few 1LE cars that got a 23mm rear sway bar for racing in the later years, apparently the cars were too "tight" to correct this they used 23mm sway bars.
ALL WS6 cars from 1985 - 1992 I thought used the 16x8 rims... BUt 85 may be an exception BUT I doubt it. the 16" rims ARE NOT an indicator of the WS6 package, from 1988-1992 a Trans Am without WS6 could be had with 16" rims.
1984 was the LAST year for WS7 which was the same suspension as WS6 BUT with drum brakes, starting in 1985 the WS6 suspension was specific to the suspension and did not determine rear disc brakes.
John
__________________ 87 FORMULA - 5.1 LB9/A4 T-tops 3.73 Modified (Yellow/Black)
87 FORMULA - 5.0 LB9/M5 T-tops 3.45 (Yellow/Gray)
89 FORMULA 350 - CONVERTIBLE 3.27 All original (Red/Gray) www.3rdgenformula.com
My 1985 Trans am was definalty a WS6, had the rpo sheet and all, but had 15 inch wheels. It also had the performance suspension emblem. The 15" wheels were verified by the door sticker so maybe not all 85TAs had the 16" wheels. Maybe something to look into.
You must have had an 84...... this is very odd indeed
A pic of your RPO sticker would help, one of those deals where you have to see it yourself to totaly comprehend it.
I re read the brochure and it said that a standard trans am came with level 2 suapension which was 34mm front+23mm rear swaybars and 15" turbo wheels
level 3 was the gta package (ta option) with 16" spoke wheels 36mm+24mm bars. but it mentions it like it is separate from ws6 even though it sounds the same.
I re read the brochure and it said that a standard trans am came with level 2 suapension which was 34mm front+23mm rear swaybars and 15" turbo wheels
level 3 was the gta package (ta option) with 16" spoke wheels 36mm+24mm bars. but it mentions it like it is separate from ws6 even though it sounds the same.
This is a 89 Brochure right? The option packages varied from year to year so it gets confusing.
This is a 89 Brochure right? The option packages varied from year to year so it gets confusing.
If it helps WS6 was standard on GTA and Formulas
its an 89 brochure, I'm just confused as to weather rear discs were part of the ws6 pkg in 89 or an option. I thought someone mentioned that they weren't included in the package after 85 or something.
my 88 formula had the WS6 package (bigger front sway bars than an IROC, 16 inch wheels that said WS6 in the centers, a 3.23 pos rear but with drum brakes, the little performance suspension tag on the dash, etc. It was a 305 TPI with 700r4.
just checked my rpos and its there. I guess they only badged it on the formula and gta. I noticed it designated on the wheel center cap, mine just has birds.
I guess I would have to see an 85 WS6 w/o rear disks, because it was SUPPOSED to be included in 85, thats the way it was sold and advertised at least.
Its VERY possible that they still combined the options together, HOWEVER instead of WS6 including disc brakes within the RPO code itself, rear disc brakes got a seperate RPO. Its like the B2L Option from 87-92, it included the L98, Engine Oil Cooler, etc...
just checked my rpos and its there. I guess they only badged it on the formula and gta. I noticed it designated on the wheel center cap, mine just has birds.
Also the plastic trim on the passenger side may have been replaced if it was cracked (the screw holes get opened up very easily) and the replacement pieces didn't have the Performance Suspension badges on them.
The standard T/A did have the Y99 suspension which had the same swaybars as the Iroc's but the WS6 upgraded to the 36/24 starting in '85 if I remember correctly. The 9 bolt I pulled out of an '85 L69 car has the big 24mm rear bar, and has the 36mm front bar (which reminds me I need to go pull it) and it had the Performance Suspension badge on the trim on the passenger side.
I have an '87 Trans Am (Which appears to be a debadged GTA) and an '88 Formula.. both have WS6 in the RPOs.. both have 16" wheels.. both have Rear Drums.. and both have the "Performance Suspension" badge inside. So I'm guessing that rear discs were a sepparate option from the WS6.. atleast during those years...
__________________ -Mac
1985 Blue Camaro 173 a4 T-top 17.2@78.6 (sold)
1985 Brown Firebird 360 m5 hard top (sold)
1987 Black Trans Am LT1 m6 T-top (WS87)
1988 Blue Firebird Formula 305 a4 T-top (sold)
1995 Green Camaro Z28 LT1 m6 T-top (sold)
2002 Black Trans Am WS6 346 a4 T-top ASC# 5986, 12.15@109.28 (Silver Streak)
I have a 85 TA with the ws6 suspension that I'm getting parts off of before I call someone to come get it. Is there anything desirable or beneficiary about this option that would warrant me pulling off before I let the car go?
If I end up buying a 3rd gen Camaro Z28, would it have a similar suspension or would I benefit from swapping over parts?
I guess what I'm asking is does the 88-92 Z28 have rear disc brakes?
I would grab the 12.7:1 ratio steering box, the rear disc setup and the sway bars. If its an early build car is may have the 25mm rear bar which it the largest the 3rd-gen ever got from the factory.
I'm trying to find a car more complete and drivable, I was talking to the guy that owns the salvage yard down the road that has a 91 Camaro Z28 TPI that's pretty clean. He said he wanted $1500 for the car but when I got there the engine was out of it. Why I don't know, he babbled something about the PO putting in the wrong computer.
Other than that it would be a good car, it's pretty clean. Red w/white rally stripes and a red interior. Has some enkei wheels on it.
Having said that, my brother bought this Trans Am I currently have from this same guy 3 years ago. My brother never did anything with the car so I traded a older big screen TV for it. I had to jump through hoops to get the title work done. It wasn't as easy as I though it would be.
Anyway, this guy asked me what I was going to do with the Trans Am and said they guy that sold it to him wanted it back. I explained it was just a shell and I would take $300 for it.
I think I'm going to keep it and pull the tranny, suspension, harness, and a few other things out of it to keep for myself. The transmission was rebuilt and hopped up shortly before the engine blew up and it ended at that guys yard.
I hate to part it out, but unless I find a clean firebird as a donor it's would be pretty expensive to fix up. I don't have that kind of money.
Bad thing is it's never been wrecked and rust free It was just badly neglected and sat for a long time so all the rubber is shot and deteriorated.
You might be able to fix it up cheaply by buying a complete parts car. I recently bought a '82 T/A with a hacked and blown up drivetrain and picked up a complete and running rust bucket '84 T/A from a local junkyard. All together I have less than $1000 into both cars and I still haven't parted out the '84 T/A for the parts I won't be needing.