Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum, been reading alot, found tonns of helpful info about firebirds. Great site and forum! I'm in the process of buying a firebird. There's one which i cannot positively identify by production year. Here's how it looks: It has front bumper from 90-92, rear from prior to 90s. It has a high mounted 3rd stop light (so probably '86). It has airbag equiped steering wheel (so probably 90s). It has a turbo hood (so <85/>87) If i remember any other stuff, that confuses me, i'll add. It's 5.0 auto. Any suggestions?

The Formula model from 1987 to 1992 had that hood. But on the picture of the hatch, is that rectangular thing on top the high mount brake light? The 1991-1992 had it mounted from the inside top of the hatch.

Yep, that's the brake light and as far as i know they only put those in 86...

The dash has hatch and defogger buttons placed far from each other, like on later models i guess.

Definitely has had a few parts replaced, due to owner choce, wreck or???

Get the VIN & we can tell you the true year. The way it is now, there's no way to visually tell.

Yep, the VIN would help alot, but i have doubts the VIN is it's own, 'cause it might have been that the car got "wrecked" VIN plate from some other bird.


1G2FS87H9GL21I306

10th digit 'G' would make it a 86.

Swapping VIN plates is illegal in all 50 states, so if it has been swapped, it could spell trouble for Registration.

I'm not from the states...and the VIN plate passed the inspection with special notes about the plate, so there won't be any problems.

Is there any way to identify the engine? I mean not from the VIN.

What year did they put those side mirrors? Cannot find any other firebird with those although i have seen them before.

Those mirrors are the paddle type export mirrors. A few early 1987 GTA's had them installed before going with the non export mirror that the majority of us have on our cars. Camaro and Firebirds alike.

Wow.....I didn't even notice the Paddle Mirrors.

In the states, they were started for 87 but quickly discontinued early 87.

On European Exports, they were pretty standard all the way through the years, because of the other countries regulators for cars to have fold-able mirrors, due to their narrower streets.

Ok, so i'm thinking this probably makes it a 86 export model with the nose changed.
What about the dash? When did they stop making narrowly situated buttons in the center?

The dash designs ran from 82-84, 85-89 and 90-92.

The 90-92 has a trim piece that is centered above the radio pod and is black in the middle with small gray sections on the ends. There is a much larger black vinyl-covered hush panel under the steering column that wraps all the way up on each side of the column.

The 85-89 dash has a longer trim piece that is all gray plastic going from the ignition switch all the way to the edge of the guage trim bezel and has a similar piece on the drivers side of the steering wheel.

If the car is an export, which it looks like it may be the motor in '86 would probably an LG4 which the VIN does show H for the 8th digit that would co-incide with the LG4.

I would say that it's an '86 base model Firebird with the LG4, '91-92 nose and spoiler

This isn't the best picture, but it shows the dash they used from '85 until sometime in mid '90

I agree,
A 1986 Firebird, was wrecked, they found a 1991 or 1992 Formula in a junkyard for parts and got the front clip, and the rear spoiler...

The reason I say it is a 1986 is the following:
1) Obviously the VIN is 1986
2) the rear hatch mounted brake light on the outside is specific to 1986
3) The Windshield Mounted antenna, was last used in 1986.

The car has been repainted, you can see that from the Red painted door handles. And the lack of any Black on the mirrors. Your location, or the car has been at one time, I suspect is Europe especially from the front License plate bracket on the nose of the car.

The mirrors are definitely Euro Export or the 1987 GTA type.

The only questions I have are these:
1) What is with the small dots in front of the headlights on the bumper fascia?
2) The rear compartment shade is different, it does not attach to the hatch like mine, but appears to attach to the rear trim piece, I have never seen one like that. I would be interested in more pictures of those areas.

I'm always amazed at how observant you are! Whatever it is in front of the headlights, it looks like the same thing is on the b-pillar (looks like some kind of decal/sticker). I never heard of a windshield mounted antenna. Do you mean they offered an antenna that was integrated into the windshield?!?! If so, I'd like to get one as a replacement for mine while it's being repainted since I'm having the antenna shaved. How were you able to tell that this car has one?

My guess is headlight washers nozzles, to spray stuff, like a windshield sprayer does, onto the headlights.

Yup, Most good glass shops should be able to get one for you. From 1982 - 1986 the Windshield Mounted antenna was for export, and I think you could have opted for it on a Berlinetta. Just call a glass place and ask for availability, I know they were available last year.

I am not sure how they hook into the antenna, but I was really close to installing one into my car when I painted it. I cannot imagine it being too complicated or unique to connect to the radio as many cars have had them over the years.

John

It could be, I suspect it would be aftermarket, as I am unaware of anything like that from the factory, I have never seen or heard of it before, nor I have stumbled on it in the Parts catalogs... The easy way to hook it up would be to get some squirters from a car with hood mounted windshield squirter and it would be to hook it into your Windshield pump, when you ran your windshield wash it would clean your headlights... not so convenient with your headlights down tho...

Actually my first thought was the radar that they are installing on some cars for backing up... It would be handy for a nose you cannot see the end of...

JOhn

Thanks everyone for your answers!

The black things on the front bumper are in fact headlight washers. It also has xenon installed.

Okfoz, you are right, this is Moscow, Russia.

Cocerning compartment shade, if i end up getting this bird, i'll make some good photos and post them here.

The car has been painted like most Firebirds i have seen unfortunately.
It hasn't been painted well, so my intentions are to fully take it apart, sandblast everything, make the whole body more tough, even maybe add a rollcage.

Other than that this particular one is in good shape, not much rust (mostly on lower pars of the doors), runs healthy, everything seems to work fine (all interior accessories, headlight motors, etc.)

Do you have any suggestions what to look at to be sure it hasn't beet totaled...?

By the way, i have made this photo of the engine when i was checking the car out:





Do these figures tell anything?

18436572...

As the words above above the #s indicate.....That is the Firing Order of the cylinders.

That's the same firing order for ALL Gen1 engines. Truck, car, station wagon...All the same.

Do they have engine model written anywhere? LG4...?

On the back of the motor behind the distributor there is a set of numbers cast into the block, and on the front passenger side there will be a pad that has some numbers stamped into it. You can look and see if the last set of numbers matches the last part of the vin which will let you know if the motor has been changed, if it matches...then it's an LG4.

Thanks, i'll look into it today.
Probably will make some new photos, especially of the underbody to see the condition of the car.

So, had another look at the bird.
The underbody isn't in best shape, has some rusty holes under doors area...needs to be fully restored, as i suspected. But overall is ok.

Took the intake out and found out that the engine has throttle body injection!
So this would make it at least '88, right?

Really??? It originally had a 4BBL... Considering that the front end is completely wrong I imagine that they got the engine from the 1991/2 Formula that they got the front end and spoiler...

John

Should have just gone '91 for that matter

Chrome valve covers aren't stock, right?

The LG4, LO3 both had BLACK valve covers from the factory. The TPI (both the 305 "LB9" & 350 "L98" versions) had Silver metallic painted valve covers. You are correct, Chrome would be an aftermarket add-on.

John

I BOUGHT IT!

Freakin awsome! Best thing i have ever driven!
Yep, it needs some work done on it... but i have been smiling like an idiot the whole day today!
And i dont think i will stop tomorrow...



Thanks everyone for your help.