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1988 Firebird Formula?

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Old Feb 10, 2014 | 05:34 PM
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1988 Firebird Formula?

I am looking at a 1988 Firebird Formula near my house and have a question about the VIN #.
Everything looks ok except the Fifth digit. The fifth digit is the letter S which means Firebird not the letter W which means Formula or Trans Am. It does however have the letter F as the 8th digit meaning it has the LB9 engine. I'm a little confused, any help would be great.
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Old Feb 10, 2014 | 06:00 PM
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Re: 1988 Firebird Formula?

Firebird and Formula both share the same 1G2FS vin prefix. It's the Trans Am and GTA that got the W in the 5th digit (1G2FW). Just look at the SPID sticker on the inside wall of the center console for the W66 rpo code for Formula.
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Old Feb 10, 2014 | 06:06 PM
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Re: 1988 Firebird Formula?

Thanks! I did not know about the W66 rpo code either.

Thanks again for the info!
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Old Feb 11, 2014 | 09:10 AM
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From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Re: 1988 Firebird Formula?

IIRC the W was also used on the Formula for the 4th gens, so that is where the bad information comes from.

Since the 5th digit is an S, If the 8th digit is an 8 or F it is definitely a Formula. You want either of those 8 or F IMHO. The E engines were ok, good on gas, lacking in the performance department...
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