Posting this for my brother who I guess is looking at a '87 Firebird. Just wondering what the differences were for that year. Thanks!

p.s.

It supposedly has an engine from a '87 vette in it. He's going to look for the engine stamp to confirm it.

 

In 1987 --

Trans Am's had ground effects, fender vents, and vents on the hood. They only had V8 engines

Firebirds had no ground effects, vents and a plain hood. They could have V6 or V8 power. the V8 would be carbuerated.

That is an extremely general list of what to look for. I'm sure others can add to it

 

Thanks for the start! The "base" list of included components is what I'm looking for, not the others you could add.

 

I do belive that in 87 the TPI was available at least in the 305. I also think the 350. If I am correct 87 was the first year the Formula was brought back and in a Formula350 you would of course find the L98 TPI 350. This engine was used in the Vette previously but is de-tuned for the firebird and camaro. The cosmetics described in the post above are correct.

 

In 1987 was the first year of the Forumla Firebird which could be had in a 305 and a 350 TPI. If it's a plain Firebird it would only be available in the carbed V8. Formula's could be TBI, TPI or carb. Except the 350 which was TPI only. No Firebird's came with GFX. Any option that a Trans-AM could have the Firebird Formula could have except the GTA and ground effects packages. Hope this helps.

 

What 87WS6 said, except there was no TBI in 87. You also couldn't get the WS6 suspenion or rear disc brakes in a base Firebird.

 

I had an 87 Pontiac Trans Am. It was fire engine red with silver ground effects, red spoiler, and t-tops. It was bad ***. I was 19. The 1987s were. like this
FireBird... 2.8 v6,
Trans Am 5.0 v8 (spoiler, grd.eff.,ttops. options)
GTA 5.7 v8 (spoiler and grd eff options)
the tops weren't an option on the GTA due to the fact that the frame could twist with the 5.7. Hope this helps some.

 

SMH...