I have a slick 91 GTA found, I was told its a 350, but read on here 350s werent an option, no biggie...

My question is, its not a TPI but a TBI, is this correct?

 

No third gen ever came with a 350 TBI Motor from the factory

 

GTAs were aval with 350s and 305s... if the 8th diget in the VIN is an 8 its a 350 if its an F its a 305...all GTAs were TPI

 

Since this is posted in the Convertible forum, and you're referring to the GTA as a 1991 - there was no 1991 or 1992 GTA Convertibles. There was, however, 1991 and 1992 Trans Am Convertibles.

It's common (either intentional or ignorance) for many to list their Trans AM as a GTA. GTA was the top model of the Firebird lineup.

Also, the 350 was not an option in the 1991/1992 Trans AM Convertibles.

 

So the gold package is not GTA but added? What exactly is GTA? So could it be a 305 TBI car in 91?

 

When the GTA was introduced in 1987, the gold PW7 rims were only available on the GTA and not the Trans AM. In addition, the metal GTA badges were also only available on the GTA. In general, the GTA came well equipped as standard. However, many of the options on the GTA were optional on the Trans AM (except the gold wheels and metal badges).

In 1991, the gold PW7 rims, which previously were only available on GTA, became an option on the Trans AM with the Beige interior and Beige top. In addition, Trans AM script would come in gold lettering if the Convertible had Beige interior and beige top.

If the 1991 Convertible you're looking at has GTA badges, it's not original. The 1991/1992 GTA could not be ordered as a Convertible.

If the 1991 Convertible you're looking at has gold PW7 rims and gold Trans Am scripts, it very well could be factory as those were optional by then.

Some people market their Trans AM as a GTA because the GTA is known to be the top model of the Firebird line up and it's assumed it commands more value, while some market their Trans AM as a GTA out of ignorance. When the gold PW7 rims became an option on the Trans AM in 1991, after having been only a GTA option, even some magazines mistaken the difference between a Trans AM and GTA.

The 305 TBI (L03) was not available on the Trans AM in 1991 for US. The Trans AM, in 1991, came with the 305 TPI (LB9). If the car is export, it might have an L03?

Is it possible it's not even a Trans AM? But a base Firebird? There was an option (W68) that would make a base Firebird appears as a Trans AM by adding the Trans AM ground effects. Many people mistaken a Firebird as a Trans AM because of this factory option.

If you have the first 5 digits of the VIN, we can answer that for you. 1G2FW is a Trans AM (or GTA) and 1G2FS is a Firebird (or Formula).

 

Thanks for the help so far, I will check on the VIN. I ve never been a real 3rd gen fan personally but have fallen for this car and dont want to overpay for it.....

 

1G2FS33E7

 

thats not a LB9 or L98.... guess its not a GTA

 

Got it, cause I liked it... Car has WS6 wheels

 

Deffinitely not a GTA! If it were a GTA, the fifth digit would be a "W" vice an "S".

W=Trans Am/GTA
S=Firebird/Formula

 

There is nothing in a VIN to say GTA. Only the RPO code of Y84 to indicate a GTA "status".

 

While the VIN does not directly tell if the vehicle is a GTA specifically, as you pointed out - RPO Y84 must be present to verify a GTA, all GTAs do have the 1G2FW VIN prefix (except TTA) as do Trans AMs. Both share the same VIN prefix. So if a VIN prefix is 1G2FW, there is a possibility the vehicle could be a GTA as it will be a Trans AM.

If the VIN was 1G2FS (such as in the original author's post), then it most certainly is no GTA or Trans AM as that VIN prefix indicates Firebird or Formula.

 

And that is my point....VIN cannot tell a TA from a GTA, which the post alluded to, which isn't true. Only Y84 can.

I was just clarifying a bit of misinformation that was posted.

 

well my point was that as were the VIN might not say its def a GTA , it does say its def not a GTA being the 8th diget isnt a "F" or "8"

 

the 8th digit is an E, its a 305 tbi base firebird vert

 

Correct. You need the Y84 RPO to verify that it is a GTA. However, you do not need the RPO to verify that it is not a GTA. All GTAs are based on the T/A body, which is indicated by the "W" in the VIN. With a "W" in the VIN, it might be a GTA. Without the "W", it is not a GTA.

 

Here is what we know:
1) Beyond ALL misconceptions the Trans Am in 1991 AND 1992 were available with the LO3... Not in the USA, but as export cars, mostly going to Europe.
2) there were Zero, none, nada, GTA convertibles nor Formula convertibles in 1991 and 1992.
3) The VIN is for a Base Firebird note the 1G2FS, A Trans Am would be 1G2FW.
4) The car is a Convertible, from the 33 in the 6th and 7th VIN locations

Conclusion: From the information gathered, The car is a Base Firebird with the LO3 engine.

John

 

Agreed. Exports can be oddballs with combination and equipment (breakaway mirrors, base Firebird tail lamps on T/As, etc). The 1991 order sheets for US show the L03 TBI as "NA" on the Trans AM. But that only applies to US vehicles. I'm sure there was different forms for Exports - though I don't believe I've seen one.

 

There have been several hard top TA's show up with the LO3 from 91 & 92... interesting cars, some of them have the base firebird tailights, but have the VIN of a Trans Am and the breakaway mirrors etc...

Its been shown before to be the case, like I said before, all of the ones that I have seen have been exported to Europe...

John

 

Breakaway mirrors on Exports isn't uncommon. Some countries REQUIRE fold-away mirrors, due to the tight, old-world city streets.