Hellooo all, been a few months since I posted here. Sold my Camaro... gas was killing me. somewhere around 7-10mpg is just brutal.
But this time I'm going with a Trans am, I think the front end is just a little sexier

So I still want a V8, but hopefully a stock 350 will still get some ok gas mileage.

First question is: with a good exhaust, and a mild cam. Am I gonna get a nice low rumble? Also is working on a Pontiac just about the same as working on a chevy? Trans Am some of them come with carb? or are they TBI/TPI?

Thanks everyone, nice to be back

 

if you get a t/a with an lg4 it will be carbed. what year T/a are you looking at? the 350's a are tpi...i'm pretty sure

 

well i believe in 1991-1992 the front end changed, I dont like them. But I also dont want all the electronic dash stuff. I liked my chevy with the cable speedo. Is it 1990 that the dash changed. If so earlier than that, but newer than about 1985...

so i guess 85-89 I think... sound about right? So I could get a Trans Am with a 350 carbed? I believe....

 

There never was a carbed 350 available in a third gen at any time. The front end changed in '91 and '92 and I also think its hideous.

Don't know about the dash changing, but I know my '88 has a VSS speedometer. I'm pretty sure the '87s did as well, but I don't recall if the '86 model year had that.

 

you might hvae to go pre - 85 for a stock carbed 350...but you could always buy one with a swapped 350...

p.s i dont like the 91-91 t/a front end either..

 

what about on the other end. Mild 305 with exhaust and cam, perhaps a few bolt ons. Something that I can get sound and mpg out of... I want to buy the newest I can without getting into too many electronics.

 

There....NEVER....was a third gen with a "stock" carbed 350.

Also, all of the third gens had an ECM that at least controlled something. Though obviously some more than others..

 

Anyone know when the speedo went from cable to vss?

 

I think '87 was the first year for the VSS. Mine has VSS, it's an '87 Formula.

 

I think it was '86, but as mentioned above, '87 definitely did.

 

Try to find a G92 '89 LB9 (305 TPI) 5 speed. Nice rumble and only a tenth or two slower than the 350. 91-92 f-bird front ends aren't ugly, just not as good as 85-90...

~Matt

 

well then what did they use before tpi? or maybe they didnt have an option for a 350 before tpi?

 

Dash changed three times in Firebirds.

82-84, 85-89, and 90-92.

Cable speedo was 82-85.

 

The L98 was the only 350 3rd gen. Birds are no different than camaros since they are the same car with a different skin.

 

LG4 305 or L69 305 (HO), both Qjet cars. Not sure if the crossfire is worth adding....

 

Except for Canadian cars... I had an 85 SC with LG4 & no ECM. My Brother's 84 Berlie had no ECM, for the engine, either. Not sure what the digital dash used tho

 

mines 86 it has vss no cable here

 

I have an 87 with the digital dash,not accurate either.I also have a tpi 305 with a flowmaster american thunder cat back on it.It has a nice deep rumble and it gets loud when I hit it.

 

my 85 trans am with tpi has a cable driven speedo and vss . 82-84 didnt have vss , i dont think , but 82-85 is cable . so 85 is the only one from 85-90 , that style with a cable driven speedo .

 

get headers, high-flowing cat, and 3inch exhaust all the way back w/ muffler of your choosing and you will be "rumbly" any of the 350s will be fast enough to back it up atleast... I believe mid 14s were their 1/4 miles.

Since you want a good gas mileage car, TPI is probably the best way to go. If you dont want much electronic crap... too bad lol, welcome to the 21st century