According to my vin I have a 1992 Firebird 305 TBI, but I have rpo WS6(we all know what this is) and then the next one is W66-(Merchandised Package, Formula),also FE2(Suspension system, ride handling), K41(brake system, power, front disk, rear drum, cast iron)and last but not least QLC(tire all, 245/50ZR16) Does this mean I have a WS6 Formula cleverly disguised as a base Firebird?

 

W66 is the correct RPO for a Formula. Does your car have gfx all around? You say it does have 16" wheels? Does it look like mine or like a Formula with no ground effects? What kind of spoiler does it have? True WS6 would have 4 wheel disc brakes and you mentioned drum, also K41 isn't a code I know of. Sounds fishy, but answer these questions and maybe post a pic and I can help you I am sure. I am pretty savvy when it comes to 92's.

 

No gfx, yes on the 16s, looks like a formy...Has a dash plaque that reads performance suspension that truly looks stock...see below


PE0 - WHEEL, 16X8, ALUMINUM, LIGHT WEIGHT, STYLED
D81 - SPOILER, REAR, AERO WING

I will have to wait on the pic, probably can tomorrow.

 

IIRC, Formy vs Base model is not differentiated in the VIN, same as GTA vs Trans Am cannot be told from the VIN. Not all WS6s had disk brakes in 91/92. My 91 GTA, which as a GTA requirement, has WS6 but has drum brakes in the rear. The D81 is the wrap around spoiler, which is correct for a Formula.

 

Sounds like you have a formy with the tbi engine. All formula's got the ws6 package. Not sure why it has drums....what is the gears in the rear, maybe it was switched? Does it have posi??

 

It has an RPO for 2.73 rear end...It doesn't say whether it is posi or not. I am inclined to say it is an open dif. I have a G80(posi) Caprice that is junk so I know what a worn out post feels like and this doen't feel the same.

EDIT:I am pretty sure it was not switched because of RPO K41(as seen above) says that it came factory with drums...

 

O and, the fifth digit in the VIN designates whether it is a plain Firebird or Formula/TA...

 

My bad, you are correct. However, if you center console has the Formula RPO code but your VIN does not have a W then something is really not right with the car.

 

"W" are talking about the 4th character? Because W would indicate a TA, "S" would be a Firebird or Firebird Formula. It is true, not all WS6 cars came w/4wheel disc and especially since you have 2.73s. PEO is the code for the Formula wheels. Also since it is a TB car 2.73 gears make a little more sense, it is a "not highly optioned" car. Does it have power windows and mirrors?

 

sounds like a true Formula, but very strangely optioned. I didn't know that about the drums on some................new to me.

 

From most VIN decoders I've come across W is Formula, Trans Am, or GTA.

http://www.fbodydomain.com/VIN/VIN.asp

However, that doesn't mean they are right.

I agree 100% about the drum brakes

 

I also have a 1992 Firebird Formula with the same type of deal.

 

Both my 88 and 90 formulas had drum brakes. the 88 was posi and the 90 was open, both with 3.23 gears, 88 was Auto, 90 was Manual.
my 88 had the following:
305TPI
700R4
3.23 gears
drum brakes
posi differntial
16" wheels
aluminum drive shaft
Fancy aluminum multi spoke space saver spare tire
power windows and doors
t-tops
cruise
delayed wipers
cloth seats with drivers side tilt (second lever allowed the seat to tilt back and forth)
rear defrost
trunk release

My 90 305TBI 5 speed has all the same options minus these;
fancy spare
aluminum driveshaft
posi diff

 

Yeah, its a weird one...The car has power windows, mirrors, and locks. My fifth digit is an S. It is leading me to believe that this car was optioned this way to save on insurance.

5th Digit in VIN=
Carline Series
Chevrolet:
P = Camaro (all models)
Pontiac:
S = Firebird
W = Formula, Trans Am

 

My 88 has an S for the 5th digit in the vin as well. Not sure about the 90 since I sent that one away last year and don't have any documents on it.

 

I guess it must go by year, because my '89 Formy was 1G2FS... and my '92 TA is 1G2FW... Maybe they changed the designation for Formulas to W later on?

 

reading this over the car is a 1992 formula(rare by numbers) but is a base 305tbi auto open rear...basicly a plain bird with ws6 suspention...still a rear bird:...I have a 1991 formula identical to this

 

The VIN number won't differentiate between a Formula and a base Firebird. Afterall, the Formula was an option on the Firebird while the Trans Am was it's own model.

 

My 91 Formula TPI 305 Manual has drum brakes in rear

 

OK, so it seems that it isn't so weird afterall...It looks like the VIN decoders might just have it wrong and TAs only show W as the 5th number, not Formys too. Good to know...

 

Aaaaaarrrrrgh.
Many Vin Decoders have it Wrong,
ALL Formuals from 87-92 were 1G2FS2

Only The Trans Am and GTA were "W"

FORMULA INFO
From 1988 - 1992 the Base Formula had the LO3, in 1987 it was the LG4.
- WS6 WAS standard
- Drum brakes were standard fare after about 1985 and were no longer part of the WS6 package, once the SPID sheet was intorduced there was no longer the need to distinguish WS7 & WS6 as the same except for the rear drum brakes.
- W66 is the Formula code.
- The ONLY way the Formula could be diferenciated by the VIN would be if it had the LB9 or L98 Engine, SINCE no base firebird came with either of those engines. Likewise the V6 would never be installed in a FORMULA., unfortunately the LO3 & LG4 could have gone into either car. In a way I wish they would have made the Firebird with the V6 & LO3, the Formula with the LB9 & L98 only and the Trans Am with the LB9 & L98 only as well, that way it would be a lot easier to distinguish the cars solely by the VIN. Oh well.

Your Formula should have:
- NO GROUND EFFECTS.
- Aero Spoiler
- Domed - Powerbuldge Hood
- WS6 - I see you mention that, it includes gas shocks & struts, 36mm front and 24mm rear sway bars, quick ratio steering box.
- 245/50R16 Tires - you have that listed too.

The Formula was never disguised, it was a Formula it should have Formula Decals on the doors, and on the facias, it should also have 5.0 Litre on the hood.

visit my website and learn all about it

John

 

 

Thanks for the info okfoz...
The only other thing that threw me off was the tech articles on this site for a 92 firebird don't show the 92 Formula with a L03, look here https://www.thirdgen.org/1992-pontiac-firebird

It only shows the base Firebird as having the L03. Btw, there are no formula decals or 5.0 decal. I assume they must have taken them off, sleeper look, you know with the mighty 305TBI and all. They could suprise unsuspecting.......um...Hondas?

 

Could also be that the car was repainted and the stickers were never put back on. Thats what frequently happens...

 

Sorry, that was my futile attempt at internet sarcasm...
This is most likely the case... I know it has been refinished at least once.

 

The tech portion really needs some help... :shrug: I guess someone needs to do something about it but all things take time...

John