I just bought a 1986 pontiac transam and i was wondering how you can tell if it is a ws6 model? I did a little research and found that my "new" car has the ws6 rims on it (might just be he switched them but meh). if there is another thread aboot this then if u could redirect me that would me great, if not them could anyone help me out?

 

Yes, this question gets asked frequently, but in brief, the bottom line answer is the RPO sticker, which in 1986, was located in the center console compartment. Open the center console lid, and on the inside wall of the console (may have to remove the cassette holder - if still there) will be a RPO sticker. Look for WS6.

While you could also check the suspension for WS6 parts, with a ~20 year old car, it's not also as accurate as parts get swapped, upgraded, replaced.

 

Im not sure but I would try looking up with the vin #.

 

You would have to contact GM's services or PHS, which both charges a fee. Being it is an 1986, the GM dealerships apparently don't have the ability to printout the RPOs for a VIN like they can for ~1989+ VINs

RPO sticker on the inside console is the best way, unless it's missing.

 

Yea, very true. I've been lucky, all my thirdgens had complete, legible RPO labels.

 

Apparently Canadian dealers can print out older cars. I had no problem getting the RPO codes and doc's for my 1985 L69 Iroc. (I used to live in Canada)

 

The WS6 in 1986 was the same as the 1987+ cars IIRC, 36mm (1.42 inches) front & 24mm (.945 Inch) rear sway bars would be the easiest way to tell. If you have the LG4 then you might be able to look at the steering box, there should be a wire that plugs into one of the lines on top of it. The wire is for low speed driving it helps boost the pressure, it was NA on the TPI ones... not really sure why it is there but it was on my 87.

The 16" Flat Rims would be correct, as would the Black Spoked rims (often incorrectly called GTA Rims) Your tires (obviously changed by now) should all be 245/50R16's The easiest way would be to measure the front sway bar, the dash will have Performance Suspension on ANY Trans AM as the base TA had the FE1 IIRC.

John

 

Well i went and checked the RPO paper that is in the centre console box and there is a WS6 code on there, is there a certain spot that it should be in, mine is in the second row from the bottom. and if not then i gots me a WS6!!!

 

The list is alphabetical then numaric, so A-Z then 0-9

JOhn

 

Im sure someones said it before but what is "FE1"

 

I believe that may only apply if the car was exported to Canada. I heard from a GTA owner in Canada that was able to get an RPO printout for 2-1988 GTAs that were exported to Canada. He then offered to do a few of them for us down here. However, the dealership was unable to retrieve any of the RPO codes for the non-Canadian vehicles prior to 1989.

 

My car was originally out of Miami FL. (currently in Georgia), and a Canadian dealer got me everything I wanted in about 30 seconds. My car is a 1985 L69 IROC. My car has never been to Canada.

 

well im from canada and i am able to get the print out for my 86 t/a and plus i work at a gmc pontiac buick dealership (oooohhh YEEEAAAAHH!!!) alrite so since there is a WS6 code on the RPO sheet then that means that my car is a 1986 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6.

 

CAn you get printouts for US cars too, or only cars shipped to Canada?

John

 

My 85 IROC is a US car, just owned by a Canadian living in Georgia. Yes, they seem to be able to pull up US cars. I used Alex Irvine Chevy Olds in Scarborough for mine as we used to buy parts from them when I worked at Mazda.

 

"Suspension system, soft ride"

Seems odd that they would put the soft ride springs in a WS6 car, but the RPO sheet doesn't lie.

You can look up all of the codes, and see what they mean with this little utility:
https://www.thirdgen.org/rpodecoder

Edit: if you do install it, click 'Tools > Thirgen cup holder'...

 

Can I ask, how you do know your car was not exported to Canada originally?

That said, I found the contact for the dealership you mentioned, and I've got a message to them. We'll see what happens.

I'd find it odd that Canadian dealerships have more access to the RPO databases than the US counterparts. As well, I know when some GTA owners tried this route, all 5 of the US based VINs could not get the RPOs from the Canadian dealership database. Only the Canadian exported GTA VIN got the the RPO printout from the same Canadian dealership.

 

By the way, is that PDF file in your attachments the same vehicle you're talking about? Because if so, you have

It looks like you indeed have a Canadian exported Camaro, if we're talking about the same vehicle.

Didn't mean to pry, but I was doing an account search to see if you had any posted pictures on our forum so that I could find some explanation to this interesting question.

Thanks.

 

My car has never been to Canada. According to Carfax, it was originally sold in Miami, and the second owner brought it to Georgia in 1993, which is exactly what the second owner said before I carfax'd it. He also had documentation to back it up (copy of original title from 1985, and his old title dated 1993)
To back it up, there has never been a front license plate mounted on the car, and Canada has front and back plates. There is also zero rust on the car, which even on a garage kept car is near impossible. It also is a MPH in large numbers, and in Canada since 1978 must have KPH in large numbers(mph in small if any)
Now it is probable that they built it for export not knowing where the car might eventually be sent since it was built in Ohio.
As for your contact at the dealer, just talk to anyone in the parts dept., as they have the system located there. Any GM dealer should be able to do it, some more willing than others. There are a few really bad dealers in the Toronto area. Irvine is a good dealership.

 

Well, the fact remains that according to your RPOs from your VIN, you have:

I think that supports the theory that the Canadian dealership was able to retrieve your RPOs from your 1985 VIN because that vehicle was setup to be exported to Canada.

As to if the car was actually in Canada or not, I guess that may be irrelevant as the fact you have the RPO to show that it was to be exported to Canada.