I have seen people post wanted adds and such and they always want like a 85-88. what's so special about these years? why not go to 89 or 90? Obviously there is somthing I dont know, so if you gusy can fill me in, that'd be great. Thanks.

 

Do you mean for the car itself or for parts? If people have an earlier third gen and want to keep the appearance looking the same or even some technical issues, they buy earlier parts. You can check out the tech/historical data on this site for more info about the individual years.

 

I am talking about the car....it could be for different parts or sumthin that they added those years or appearance reasons. I dunno? that's why I am asking....

 

Well, as you may or may not know, from 85 to 90 there were IROC-Z's and GTA's produced. These cars have a unique style to them and are liked by most people. They also came stock much much better than 82 to 84 cars. I also believe that in 88 the IROC-Z and GTA became seperate cars, no longer an upgrade from the Z28 or Trans Am (I think, don't shoot me if I'm wrong :P ). I dunno, could be production numbers. I guess it just comes down to personal preference and what people are trying to get rid of.

 

I think it's the same for the IROC, but the GTA was just a Firebird (in the IROC's case, a camaro) package, off of the Trans Am. The Trans am, GTA, and Formula, anyway you slice it are all a Firebird. Just the performance and appearence packages were upped. The GTA is for example, the best Firebird you can get, it even spawned the TTA. For a run down it sorta goes: Firebird, Trans Am, Firebird Formula, Trans Am GTA, with the TTA tossed in there somewhere. GTA's and Formula's will only have 8cylinders, and GTA's only with TPI, while the others can be had with the lesser V6's.

No idea why anyone would limit themselves to 85-88, except for wanting persay, a GTA (87-92 only). I can understand from 87 on, for the option of the 350.

 

I love my 88 because of the Notchback, Digital Instrument Cluster, Leather Seats, etc...... The list goes on forever. I just wish I had a 350 and a T56 (on my to do list)!

 

I know with the firebirds the VATS system was added in 89 and also the change from MAF to Speed Density not sure if that was 89 or 90, The 88 was the first full year production on the GTA and offered the digital dash, also earlier than 88 the 700R4 was also a bit weaker. There could be quite a few different reasons. I personally did not like when firebirds changed the nose in 90 and added that terrible body moulding on the doors. Personally I prefer the 88 for these reasons. As far as camaros go I think the 91-92 GFX and nose are the best looking so its all about personal taste and what exactly your looking for in a car.

 

Not to rain on your parade, but the TTA is a Trans AM, except for its looks there is nothing GTA about it, and if you ask some TTA owners about their GTA they might get offended...

As for the V6, only the Base Firebird had a V6 engine from 87-92 period, (with the exception of the Buick V6 Turbo in the TTA). The Firebird and the Formula shared a VIN "S" and the T/A and GTA shared the Vin "W" in thier 5th didget. The Firebird & Formula as the TA & GTA are seperate models, although the Firebird and the Formula they use the same platform, they are indistinguishable from their VIN.

As for the original question, the only major difference between 85-88 and 89+ TPI cars would be the lack of the 9th injector in the later years. I thought about the non-serpintine belts from 85-87, but that would not include 88. 90-92 are faster, but more difficult to modify the engine because it has the MAP instead of MAF, MAF is more forgiving. Trans AM's and GTA's had a didgital dash option from 85-88, the overhead console was also dropped I think 88 was its last year...

John

 

Not to rain on your parade, but read, The 1989 20th Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am GTA Official Press Release.

 

Yeah I was going to say something about that earlier and didn't want to start a war, but the TTA is basically a GTA with different badges and motor. Same body, chassis, and interior.

Sure wish I had one though!

 

I stand corrected, I really had along argument prepaired, and I found information to support your arguemnt.

John

 

hey! lol no insulting '84 camaros, i own one :P your right though the performance on the older cmaros is lacking till work is put into the car....like a 383 stroker...ha, i wish......*rubs his hands in anticipation*

 

How much do the 383 strokers put out anyways?

 

Ranges actually i see it go from 400 to 500 hp/ at 10.0:1 compression, though according to a chevy high performace magazine, they took a 383 with some optium alumnium parts and had a 383 stroker at 550 hp and 750lb-ft
www.golenengineservice got the 450hp long black that i want..

 

83-84 for both Z28's and Trans Am had a great power plant.

L69 with a 5 speed + 3.73 gears would rip an 86 tpi car apart and could hold it's on on the other years.

This is all stock mind you.

 

I once told one guy that he had a nice TTA, turns out it was a white GTA... but he sure smiled real big. That was all before I got my very own GTA, so don't slap me... I have an 88, like it, wish I had another one, but I don't have a place to park it. But when I get my own house, I WILL own another one. (if house payments allow) But I think it is a preference thing - I don't like the nose redesign they did to the firebirds in the last years.

 

VATS was added midway through the 1988 model year, speed density was introduced in 1990 and 1987 was the first full production year of the GTA and 1987 was the first year the digital dash was offered in the GTA.

 

According to Pontiac at the time (I have a video from '87 that "instructs" dealers how to sell the car), the ranks go (from 'lowest' model to 'highest'):

Firebird
Formula
Trans Am
GTA

 

Thats sorta what I said.

 

The GTA in 87 was marketed as a up level Trans AM, in 88 it was marketed as a new model. There was still full production.

I am 99% positive the GTA could get a digital dash in 87, could be wrong tho.

it was in late 86 that the 700R4 Transmission was changed, when I got my rebuild kit for my trans it stated so, and my trans got the newer parts from the kit. My car is an 87.

 

check out www.gtasourcepage.com
1987 RPO codes and it will show that 5,352 T/A's and GTA's came with the digital dash option. 1988 showed 6440 GTA's with Vats or a little over 2/3 of production vehicles.