the gas tank is divided in to two sections inside, & the rear section has a white plastic bafle where the pump & filter goes. I remember reading that the 1le's had a baffle inside. can someone clear things out for me?

 

Yes, it is a "1LE"/baffled gas tank. My 1990 V-6 Firebird also had one. A lot of the later cars got them.

 

ok, but it uses the same fule pump right? cause I got a regular one for a '88.

 

Yes, as far as I am aware it is the same pump.

 

What does the "baffle" look like? Just because there's a white/off white/yellowish plastic tray that the sock sits in, doesn't mean it's a 1LE tank. The 1LE tanks just used a different baffle.

Beyond that gas tanks are commonly serviced parts, and all of the service tanks from GM after a certain point were the same part number as the 1LE tanks. If the car went to the dealer for any kind of a gas tank problem it's possible it was replaced with the improved tank.