I have an 89 firebird formula WS6, it is a canadian car. Is there a differance between the us models and canadian models. I know the dashes are different. What about the frames? I was told the canadian frames are stronger, because of boxed frame sections, and the us cars are more of a c channel. Any info would be great.

 

Your dash is different ????, please show us. I know that starting about 1990 they had the daytime running lights for Canada.

I would think they would be the same since the cars were unibodies.

John

 

I've never heard about any differences in the frame unibody... and the only difference in the dash should be the speedometer (kms instead of mph)

 

The temp gauge is also in celcius.

 

You're right... forgot about the temp gauge...

 

No frame difference at all. There's no reason for that.

Engines were smogged differently, depending on the year, that's another difference. Canadian emissions/safety laws are always a few years behind the US, with the notable exception of daytime running lights.

 

Emissions are usually a few years behind, safety is usually a few years ahead. In most cases there won't be any difference in emissions equipment though, as it doesn't make sense to design a different emissions system just for Canada, when Federal emissions systems will meet or exceed Canadian standards. LG4s are a notable exception in that the Canadian version didn't get computer control. Another exception was the LQ8 2bbl carbureted L4, which wasn't available in the US.

There are no differences between the frames. Canadian cars were built on the same platform as everything else. The only differences in some cases were the engines (as noted above), DRL on some vehicles as mentioned, metric instrumentation (speedometer in km/h and mph, temperature in C, and oil pressure in kPa), and a supplementary owner's manual included with the documentation.

Canadian cars also seem more likely to have been factory equipped with a rear hatch defroster, block heater, and without air conditioning.

 

Sorry didn't mean to say dash was different. I meant the gauges were different. And my 89 fire bird formula is a WS6 car with a/c, rear defroster, no block heater. With TPI 305, and T-5, with 9bolt disc braked rear end. Power everything, except seats.