88 GTA, IS IT AN L98? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

86WS6 · 07-01-2009, 07:14 PM

I am in the process or buying a 1988 GTA coupe. The car has a solid body, but is pretty well worn out. The engine smokes, but it is quiet, and I believe that I can have it professionally rebuilt, and keep the numbers matching block. The current owner says that the RPO codes are not in the car, as another PO removed and lost the pad off of the center console. The current owner also says that he checked the vin and it is in fact a 350/ L98 car. The car has the digital dash, the rear disc brakes, a 3:27 nine bolt diff, and an aluminum driveshaft. Is there a quick and dirty way for me to verify that the car is infact a 350 engine? It is a TPI set-up, but to me the 305 TPI and 350 TPI look pretty much alike. I am looking at this car as a restoration project. I live 400 miles from the current owner, and this car is iffy as far as trying to drive it any distance, so this involves a trip with a car trailer to pick it up. If it is a L98 car, I think that it might be worth a restore, or atleast a lot of fun. Thanks,
Charles

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Thirdgen Ranch · 07-01-2009, 07:33 PM

The 8th spot in the VIN tells will tell you what engine the car came with. If it's an "8" it's an original 350 car. Of course, that doesn't mean that's what's in it now.

JT · 07-01-2009, 07:38 PM

I want to point out that, according to Frankie's website, there was 9,765 GTAs in the 1988 model year with 6,913 of them being the L98. The digital dash, of the 9,765 GTAs, were installed in 5,102 (slightly over half of all GTAs came with the digital dash). Rear disc brakes were standard and 6,913 GTAs had the aluminum driveshaft.

My point being, don't feel the need to buy the GTA based on those figures, especially one that sounds like it needs a lot of work, as it's not usual and you could probably find one that doesn't need work and might be cheaper in the long run. Unless you have a desire to restore something.

86WS6 · 07-01-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thirdgen Ranch

The 8th spot in the VIN tells will tell you what engine the car came with. If it's an "8" it's an original 350 car. Of course, that doesn't mean that's what's in it now.

Thanks for that information. I will get the owner to send the vin number, and at least I'll know what came in it from the factory.

86WS6 · 07-01-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

I want to point out that, according to Frankie's website, there was 9,765 GTAs in the 1988 model year with 6,913 of them being the L98. The digital dash, of the 9,765 GTAs, were installed in 5,102 (slightly over half of all GTAs came with the digital dash). Rear disc brakes were standard and 6,913 GTAs had the aluminum driveshaft.

My point being, don't feel the need to buy the GTA based on those figures, especially one that sounds like it needs a lot of work, as it's not usual and you could probably find one that doesn't need work and might be cheaper in the long run. Unless you have a desire to restore something.

Thanks, I get the point. It's not rare, and there are a lot of nice clean GTA's out there. There may be no reasonable rational for doing full restoration on this car. It might be a good canidate for a resto-mod? The main attraction for me is that the car may be a factory 350, does not to appear to have any serious body issues, is pretty much complete, and it is still a stocker that has not been molested. If it's going to be modified, I kind of like to be the first one to do it. It mostly looks like a car that has been used up without much maintenance done to it. The car is listed here on this site in the Firebird's For Sale, if anyone wants to look at the pics.

86WS6 · 07-04-2009, 05:43 AM

The car is a factory L98. I also ran a Car Check, sort of like a Car Fax, and she came up with a history of four owners, spending most of it's life in and around Macon GA. No major issues or accidents documented. It's last documented odometer check was 71K in 1993. It reads 19K now, so I am thinking 219K is probably right. The owner says that the bushings in both doors are worn completly out, so that the doors don't fit right, and the sway bar bushings are missing completly, so there is also where I thinking 219K. No way to know for sure. I have gotten information and documentation from Pontiac Historical Society on several of my T/A's, but can they reproduce a RPO code sheet?

okfoz · 07-05-2009, 10:02 PM

Unless you are getting the car for a bargain, I would personally hunt around. I know of a 87 L98 GTA in MI with 9500 miles for under $12K... Right now if you have the money is a great time to get into one of these cars for a really good deal. The prices were on a steady incline from 2000 until November of 2008 hit and they never did their summer rebound this past spring.

86WS6 · 07-12-2009, 07:19 PM

I looked at the car in person. It needs more than I want to tackle. It is an original car, and does not have any rust, but needs a total restoration. I am going to look for a L98 T-top car in mint or very good condition. Thanks for the advice.
Charles

okfoz · 07-13-2009, 10:10 AM

Keep in mind that 1989 was the only year you could get T-tops and the 350 with a GTA or Trans Am in the US. You can find some Canadian destined cars with the combination however. This hopefully will narrow down your search some.

John