Don't know if I have this in the right froum or not. I hope so.

I recently bought a 89 Firebird and I'm wondering how to tell if it's a base models Firebird, T/A, Formula, whatever?

About all I know about it is it's a 305TPI auto, with rear drum brakes, 15in wheels, a rubber, (I think), wraparound rear spoiler and the hood has the "nostril holes" up front and the two vents toward the outside at the rear of the hood.

I'm working on pics and will post them if I can asap.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

Because of all the "Frankenstein' cars out there.The best way to tell is if you post the first 8 digits of your Vin # .

 

Pics;

 

Looks like a Trans Am to me.

 

Ok.

1st 8 are;
1G2FW21F

 

That's what I thought too!

 

Yes,Congrats you are in the Trans Am club.Time to change your sig.

 

I guess so!
It's not really mine though, it'll be my daughters car this coming March.

Curious, what's the main differences in a Firebird, T/A, Formula?
Which ones could ya get with the WS6 option?

Opinions here, Did I give to much for this car? $300!

 

I hope your daughter knows how lucky she is to have a Trans am.

To answer your First question.It's vague to answer

For '89

Firebird came only with the V6 and 305 TBI LO3

Formula had no ground efx,Standard WS6 suspension,Cowl hood,Wrap around spoiler and could have any V8 avail for that year.

Trans am same as the Formula but with grnd efx,WS6 was a option,No cowl hood.

If you look at your Rpo codes(should be in the center console)

For $300 you stole the car

Not much of a fan of that paint scheme.

 

Thanks for the info 3rd! I'll check out the RPO codes if they're still there.

I feel the same about the paint job! Even better, he (PO) did it with a spray can!
And in the interior he painted over some of the switch buttons on the dash. Now I don't even know what the turn on/off!

It needs some work (don't they all?), but for the price...

 

are you sure it was a spray can and not a roller.... YUK. i look forward to seeing pics of this in a year or so once you paint it.

 

I think a roller probably wouldv'e did a better job!

I've got alot of sanding ahead of me!

What do ya think of paint stripper on the interior parts? Would it eat the plastic too?

I'd like to have it painted by March actually. (Her B-day)
It'll probably never happen but it can't hurt to dream!!

 

most paint strippers (probably all) will melt interior plastic. just hit up junkyards and get new pieces. pic-a-part/u-pull-it places (where you pull the parts out of the car yourself, with your own tools) gave that crap away. you can come up with a verry rare hood, there lik "hood, $23". they dont care. everything is hella cheap. here are some estimates

dashpad 9$
little dash pad defogger vents. Free w/dashpad
guage bezzle 5$ or free with rest of cluster
guage cluster... probably $20
center console $15
center console lid $5
center console top plate $3
radiopod $3
radiopod trim $2
lower dash hush pannel $2
steering wheel.... good luck finding it. $10

i think thats all i saw that was the wrong color. total of $74 for your entire front interior. not bad. good luck. does she know you bought her a car yet, or are you hiding it at a friends house until her bday?

 

Yea, I try to hit the "local" U-pull-it as much as possible. Trouble is the nearest one is 150miles away!
I did get a windsheild ($30) and a left headlight assembly ($20 along with some misc interior pieces.) for it the last time I was there.

She knows the car is here but I haven't told her it'll be hers for sure. Hell, she found it!

 

i'm lucky. i have 5 within reasonable driving distance.

 

I believe you mean "power bulge hood". It is most certainly not a "cowl hood". If youve ever seen a cowl hood, you'll know what I mean.

 

Power bulge hood/Cowl hood whatever you want to call it,I wasn't taking a test