Hello,

I just registered in here and I need a little help with a Trans-Am GTA I want to buy. I found a Trans-Am GTA for sale and here it's info:

Year: 1992
Color: Black
Body Style: Hard Top
Engine: He said I don't know. I'll go and check the VIN code, but it's probably a 350TPI.
Transmission: Automatic.
Asking price: 1500BD (4000USD)

But I got a little confusing thing in here:
The owner told me it was 92 and it's ground effects says I'm 1991-92. OK but the front nose isn't 1991-92 as I know, it's belong to a 1987-90 Trans-Am so I was wondering am I correct or 1991-92 models did came with the older front nose, to understand me better I added photos. The owner also said it got a problem with temperature. He said it go high and he changed the radiator, but still it go high, he said maybe they will remove the thermostat (It's in a repair shop at the moment). Is that good or this is a big problem and will cost me a lot after I buy it and try to fix it.

The 1991-92 ground effects:
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/91ta50/i...210031_JPG.jpg
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/91ta50/i...210041_JPG.jpg
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/91ta50/i...210040_JPG.jpg

The 1987-90 ground effects and nose:
http://www.firebirdmania.com/main1987.jpg

The front nose it should have:
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/91ta50/i...210037_JPG.jpg

The front nose it has:
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/89ta50blau/89ta50-04gr.jpg
Except for the color thing.

The back taillights were like this:
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/91ta50/i...210044_JPG.jpg
I think they are the originals. What do the pros says?

So Am I wrong? Or the owner did have an accident and didn't find a 92 nose and replaced it with an older model nose? Also the steering wheel wasn't as 1991-92:
http://www.8ung.at/firebird/91ta50/i...210050_JPG.jpg
But was as this:
http://paulglover.net/ezboard/ta-in-1.jpg


Thanks for spending some of your precious time helping a teenage kid getting his DREAM.

 

Welcome to the boards AliHawk.

The 91-92 models did not come with anything but the 91-92 style nose. If there is an older style nose (85-90) on the car, it is not original.

Most all fuel injected f-bodies run up to 238ºF before the electric fan turns on because of preset fan turn on tempratures. Removing the thermostat is never a real solution (IMO- in my opinion), just a band-aid to the problem. You might want to go to the Cooling it Down forum to see other problems that can cause overheating.

Those are standard firebird tail lamps, not Trans Am or GTA lamps.

I'd question the car being an actual GTA or if it is, question how bad it's been damaged previously.

GTA tails look like the ones below on the 91-92's

 

maybe the airbag was spent in a accident so instead of paying it to be repacked, a cheaper alternative was to get a different sterring wheel.....

See if you can run the vin number in the decoder if you got it written somewhere. That will tell you exactly what enigne is supposed to have and the year it is .. if its really a GTA or T/A.

 

i don't know about anyone else but i think the guy's trying to scam him =/

there are too many things that don't add up ... my GTA doesn't have the right dash pouch or steering wheel but the right wheel came in a spare parts box with the car and i have the tattered remains of the GTA pouch in ... a landfill somewhere =D. still, those are VERY minor discrepancies and more importantly - there are explanations and the seller gave me a detailed history of the car. none of this " i don't know anything about it ... it's broken but pls buy it i'm lying to you it isn't a GTA so here give me your money" crap from a shady seller

 

All i have to say is to take your time look around. If theres something funny about i wouldnt get. You can always run the vin #(ex. carfax.com) and see what they have to say about it. Or take a mech that you trust to the car and have him/her look at. Unless the owner will let you take to a mech. Wait to see his react to your question if he gets upset then theres something wrong with it.

 

Thank you all for your help.

deadbird, thanks for the tail light tip, I knew something was wrong with his tail lights, but didn't know what!!!

You guys made me think again; do I know a GTA when I see it or not? GTA emblems were on the car and the GTA wheels also were on the car.

The next first thing I'm going to do is checking the VIN# then I'll see what do I get with? A real GTA or a T/A?

Thanks again.

 

FYI I believe that over sea exported GTA's had the base model tail lights.

 

But we have Trans-Am's & GTA's with the tail lights deadbird posted!!!

 

They probably swiched them out because they looked cooler!
Just check the vin in the thirdgen.org decoder, it will tell you the correct year: https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/vin/

 

Give me the VIN and I'll run a Carfax for you to see if there's anything fishy there and post it. (I have a 30-day account still active)

 

wanna run my vin also??

 

Thank you FyreLance, but I currently don't have the VIN#. I'll get it after I go to test the car... Maybe next Saturday.

Thanks all for the great help. but you just made me think again about that car...

 

Sure, if you want me too... post or PM it.

 

k

 

ill give it to you tonight when i get my car back

 

On your overheating. Check to make sure you have the plastic air panels in front of the radiator and the panel under the radiator. All these panels will direct the air flow to the radiator. JIM

 

Thanks jimmyd37, but I'm not planning on buying the car anymore. Just the body parts replacment made me sick.

 

FYI all base model firebirds got the older T/A noses.

The GTA tail lights were illegal for export to france I think, or it might have been UK. Was because of the colorization. Also the side mirrors were different.. I dunno about where this guy is from, however.

Its hard enough finding a good 92 nose around here.. I can imagine outside US its a nightmare.


-- Joe

 

Hey anesthes, Thanks for the comment. I'm from Bahrain a small island in the middle east.

That GTA wasn't a base model firebird am sure. And about the GTA tail light to tell the truth I prefare the base firebird lights

Side mirrors, not sure hadn't took a look at them and about finding a nose our Junk Yards are full with them.